Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1918 — World’s Com Acreage and Distribution [ARTICLE]

World’s Com Acreage and Distribution

By the U. S. Department of Agriculture

The world’s area annually planted to corn normally averages about 175,00Q,000 acres. Approximately 40,000,000 acres are planted In the eastern hemisphere, where the principal corngrowing areas are southern Europe. Asia, the Mediterranean countries of Africa, and the Union of South Africa. Among the countries of Europe, the greatest acreages are in AustriaHungary, Italy, the Balkan states, and Russia. A much less extensive acreage is grown tn Spain and France. In Asia. British India, Turkey, and southern Asiatic Russia have the most extensive acreages; the crop is grown less extensively in the Philippines. China, and Japan. Practically all of the African acreage Is in Egypt, the Union of South Africa, and Algeria. Australasia contributes comparatively little to the world’s corn acreage. Of the 135.000,000 acres planted to corn in the western hemisphere, 105.000,000, or three-fifths of the total world’s acreage, Is in the United States. Next to the United States, Mexico and Argentina have the greatest acreages. The crop is grown extensively in the smaller countries of South America and of Central America, and less extensively in portions of Canada. Argentina is the leading corn-pro-ducing country of South America. Its annual yield approximately is 250,000,000 bushels. More than half the Argentina crop is exported, so that, considering its production, it does not

rank high as a corn-consuming nation. The smaller countries of South 4 mer ' ica consume about all the corn they produce, for it holds an Important place In the dietary of the native population, especially in Peru, Bolivia and • Ecuador. In Mexico, corn, In one form or another, is the staple article of diet of most of the population. So is the demand, that although in normal times Mexico ranks Second to the United States in acreage and total yield, its production is insufficient for home consumption, and several million bushels are Imported annually from the United States. In a large part of M,exlco corn is the most Important agricultural crop and in some sections two crops a year are grown. Many distinct types having characters, that ’ adapt f»em apparently to certain peculiar environments have developed in Mexico. In the United States corn is grown more widely than any other crop. It is grown to some extent in every state in the Union. The acreage in the United States usually exceeds the combined acreages of wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, and rice. Annual production ranges from 2.500,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 bushels, or slightly exceeding the combined yields of the cereals just mentioned. The value is far in excess of any other crop. With the possible exception of cotton, corn is the most important and irreplaceable crop in the agriculture of this country.