Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1901 — BIG YEAR FOR THE FARMER. [ARTICLE]

BIG YEAR FOR THE FARMER.

Bright Prospects for Heavy Yields off All Cereals. Splendid crops of all cereals and good prices for every bushel that can be marketed are conQdently expected by the grain growera of the great West. • Er* erywhere now in the West, experts aro inspecting the growing fields of wheat, oats, corn and rye and forecasting tho probable yield/ Present conditions aro favorable to a mammoth yield of all cereals, but with the next two months depends the fate of all growing crops. Should favorable weather ensue, a supply of foodstuffs sufficient to feed all Europe will be assured and a market can be found, it is estimated, very readily for all that is not consumed in the United States and paying prices are looked for. This year’s crop of wheat, from present prospects, will be greater than that of 1900, although there has been a reduction of 1,200,000 acres in the acreage of spring wheat. Last year's crop was 522,230,000 bushels, valued after harvesting at $323,525,177. From present indications, it is estimated that thin year's yield will be not less, and probably more, than 650,000,000 bushels which,, at last year's farm prices, would b* worth $419,250,000. The critical time for wheat is from now until Aug. 15. Present conditions are most favorable, but excessive moisture or prolonged drought may decrease the yield by half. The acreage in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas is not as large as last year, but the shortage there will be counter balanced by increased acreage in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Foreign conditions are expected to make the price of wheat firm. Ths French crop is reported below the average, Great Britain will be a good customer and it is believed Germany willimport 100,000,000 bushels, although her usual imports are about 40,000,000 bushels. -y • : -- The corn crop, while backward thus far and althongh the acreage devoted to its cultivation is considerably less than was the case last year, is expected to bring a good figure anj pay the growers even better than in 1900. Men who havo carefully studied the corn sitnation believe that 40 cents a bushel will be the minimum price. The total yield thin year will be, if the weather be favorable, as great as last year, 2,100,000,000, and its value will reach the tremendous sum of $840,000,000. Oats will probably show a slight decrease in production and hardly ao great a yield as was gathered last year will result It is possible, however, that the figures for 1900; a yield of 800,000,000 bushels, may be reached, which, at th* rates prevailing last year, would be worth $206,400,000. Barley and rye show a substantial increase over last year’s production. In 1900, 58,920,000 bushels of barley, valued at $24,075,271. were grown while this year 75,000,000 bushels, valued at $30,600,000, are looked for. Rye is expected to show an increase from last year’s figures, 23,995,927 bustels, valued at $12,841,413, to 20,000,000 bushels, valued at $13,312,000. From the South come reports of bright prospects for a tremendous crop of cotton. Stimulated by the high prices of last year, the planters have given over to the cultivation of cotton 2,111,000 acres more than in 1900. It is expected that this year the yield will be not less than 10,05H,000 pounds, worth $563,024,000, while last year's crop was 4,606,119,854 pounds, valued at $334,847,868. Also there are excellent prospects for hay, tobacco, potatoes, vegetables and fruits of all kinds. The fanner’s profits promise to be large, exceeding those of any year for a decade.