Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1898 — GREAT WHEAT YIELD [ARTICLE]

GREAT WHEAT YIELD

LARGEST HARVEST IN NATION’S HISTORY PROMISED, Spring; Output, It la Stated, Will be 330,000,000 Bushels—Recent Rains Here Helped Corn—Capital of North Dakota Destroyed by Fire. To Eclipse “Bumper Crop." According to reports, the largest wheat crop in the history of the United States will be harvested within a fortnight The winter wheat yield, which aggregates front 375,000,000 to 400,000,000 bushels, will be increased to the exteqt of nearly 350,000,000 bushels from the spring wheat region. The “bumper crop” of 1891 will be eclipsed this year by 1Q0,000,000 bushels from present indications. Railroad officials who have made extended trips through the spring wheat and corn growing States make optimistic reports. State crop reports received from Kansas and Michigan say: “A bumper crop is here.” The corn crop is slightly below the average because of the wet June and dry July weather in the corn region. But the great bulk of wheat which this country will have for home consumption and export is regarded as more than sufficient to make up for the corn shortage. Furthermore, the large stock of corn on hand is thought to be more than enough to make np for the lack of production. Another feature of the general crop situation is the threatened reduction of the surplus of wheat exported from Russia, which will compel European markets to call for probably more than tbe average annual supply of 150,000,000 bushels from this country. A comparison of the wheat yields in this country since 1890, with the yield of the present year, tbe spring wheat crop being estimated, is as follows: Bushels. Bushels. 1800 390,282,000 1895 467,103,000 1891 611,780,000 1896 427,684,000 1892 515,949,000 1897 580,149,000 1893 396,132,000 1898 700,000,000 18P4 460J267.000 The Kansas State crop report for August shows that the yield there will be the second largest on record, or 60,000,000 bushels. The Michigan crop report, also received, says the wheat yield of the State will be the largest since 1892. The average yield will be the largest since 1892. The average yield per acre in Michigan is reported as 17.96 bushels, and the estimated crop is 30,700,000 bushels, against 32,700,000 in 1892. The wheat is likewise of an excelleht quality. Harvesting of spring wheat has begun in the southern portions of the Northwestern States. Tim total estimated yield in Minnesota ana Dakota this year is 210,000,000 bnshels, as against 143.000,000 last year. The “bumper crops” in Oregon and Washington are regarded as more than enough to make up for the bad crops in California. Corn Estimate. Thoman estimates the total corn yield this year at 1,825,000,000 bushels. In the August report corn is shown to have suffered during the last month and a reduction of nearly 8 per cent since July 1 is noted. According to the latest reports the yield of corn in Kansas and Nebraska will be from five-eighths and three-fourths of a full crop. The Missouri crop report for August makes the condition of corn better and the average yield of wheat per acre is placed at ten bushels. lowa also enters the field this year with a great wheat crop, but Minnesota and the Dakotas are ahead in spring wheat production. Late rains not alone have improved corn prospects, but have increased the wheat yield.