Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1889 — THE OUTLOOK FOR CROPS [ARTICLE]

THE OUTLOOK FOR CROPS

EVERYTHING POINTS TO AN EARLY STRING—FARMERS BUSY. Preparing to Sow Wheat in Certain Localities—Winter Wheat Loginning to Grow —Little Movement of Grain—The Situation Reviewed. [Chicago telegram.] A careful review of the crop situation, as gained from correspondents throughout the country, may be summarized as follows: March so far has been favorable for all the conditions which go to make up an early seeding of spring grain. The deficiency of moisture in the winter-wheat areas still exists. The frost is cumins out of the ground all over the country rapidly, and the prospects now point to the seeding of spring wheat at least fourteen to twenty days earlier than in the spring of 1883. In Southern Minnesota recently the weather was warm and bright, the ground in fine order for seeding, and farmers will take advantages of these conditions at ouce if there are no storms or freeze-ups to prevent. The seed wheat is largely Nos. 3 and 4 shrunken wheat. The ground is dry and farmers are anxiously waiting for spring rain. Stocks of wheat in elevators are the smallest known for fltteen years. The movement of wheat is small, and what remains in farmers’ hands will not be sold until after seeding. In Western Minnesota the snow is all gone and the weather was mild last week. The weather in Dakota has been unusually mild also, and farmers are busy preparing their ground for seeding. A year ago everything was frozonup solid over the entire country. The mercury had been standing below zero in Dakota and there was eighteen inches of snow in Minnesota. There was plenty of wheat back fn farmers’ hands. Deports from Walla Walla, Washington Territory, estimate 75,000 bushels of wheut in farmers’ hands and 50,000 bushels in speculators’ hands. Some of the mills have shut down for want of wheat. The growing crop of winter wheat is looting well, and the prospects are favorable for a good yield provided the rainfall is increased. In Southern Illinois all the reports as to the growing crops are still favorable. The wheat yet has practically made but little growth; little wheat is coming to market, and what does come is taken by the mills for milling purposes. In Central Illinois and in counties bordering on the Mississippi River the wheat crop has not started to grow yet. The crop, however, is in excellent condition, and until the general breaking up of the country roads there has been a froe movement of wheat out of farmers’ hands for the last fourteen days. Reports from Southwestern Missouri show the condition of the crop of winter wheat about the same as the Ist of March, 1888. Some of tho reports say tho wheat looks better, a few the same, and some not as good as last year. Upon the whole it will average about with March, 1888. Local mills are beginning to make inquiries for wiieat, as their stocks have run down very low.

Reports from Southern Kansas show the wheat looking well, and with a continuance ot the mild weather will commence growing soon. Whoat in store is gradually getting lower, and in six weeks will all be gone. The demand for flour is good. No -them Kansas reports the wheat in excellent condition. The amount of wheat iroin last season’s crop in the hands of farmers is small, and the amount of wheat iu dealers’ hands at stations unusually so. Even with the prospects of an early liar-, vest little if any new whoat will be on the market in Kansas mush boforo the 10th of July. Reports from Southwestern Indiana show that the weather of the last few weeks has been unfavorable to the growing crop, but is now more mild and springlike, and wheat is just beginning to start to grow. The movement of wheat is light, owing to lad roads. Mills are running from one-fourth to one-half time. Stocks of wheat hold by millers about exhausod. Reports from Eastern Iniiana say that the crop has not started to grow any yet, but that it is coming through in good condition, and the outlook is much better than it was u year ago at this date. Southern Michigan reports that in the last part of February there was some cold weather, but there was snow enough on the ground to prevent injury, except in some small spots. Now the snow is mostly off and there has been a week of mild, soft weather, and the crop is in fair average condition. The next two or three weeks will toll the story. There is little moisture in the ground, and this has been the case all season. Wheat was marketed freely during February, and little remains in farmers’ hands. In Ohio the weather of the last two weeks was trying on the crop, as it was without cover. Last week the weather was mild and wheat is just commencing to groiy. The tenor -of the reports received is df an encouraging character. Farmers have marketed their crop closely, and many of the large mills will soon commence importing wheat for milling purposes. Summing up the winter-wheat situation as a whole it is found as follows: The frost is all out of the ground, the crop just beginning to grow, but the growth so small that the damage to the crop, if any, cannot yet be noticed. There has been a tree movement out of farmers’ hands lately. This has all ceased now, owing to the condition of the roads and preparations for spring work. As the season advances there does not seem to be any doubt of the closeness with which khe reserves of winter wheat have been marteted. Reports from Southwestern lowa say that there is not the usual amount of corn cribbed at this time of year, more espeally when the low price is considered. There are more cattle feeding than a year ago. The corn now in farmers’ hands will not come out unless for much higher prices. Some estimates of the amount of corn yet in farmers hands in this portion of lowa are as high as 60 per cent. Reports covering Eastern Nebraska say that the consumption of corn has been materially lessened by the mild winter, feeders claiming that cattle fattened on one-half as much as it took a year ago. There is little corn cribbed at stations, dealers having shipped their shelled corn ears in the season. Careful investigation as to the hog situation in Central Nebraska shows that, owing to almost a total absence or hog cholera and also an exceptionally mild winter, there remain fully as many hogs for the market this spring and early summer as at this time a year ago. All farmers and dealers agree that there will be a full crop of pigs. Good warm spring rains seems to be the greatest need of Nebraska at present,