Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1902 — BANNER CROP SEASON. [ARTICLE]

BANNER CROP SEASON.

BIG ACREAGE AND YIELD IN THE , NORTHWEST. Total Value of Season’s Products in Three States Estimated at $300,000,000 Year of Great Prosperity for the Farmers. The Northwestern States are now In the midst of the greatest harvest ever known. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota have produced more wheat, oats, barley and flax than crop estimaters have credited to this territory, and this has been accomplished under adverse conditions unparalleled since the settlement es the country. Heavy rains and snew in March, followed by rain and destructive hail and Wind storms almost daily up to Aug. 1, with an unprecedentedly lbw temperature during this period, upset all calculations of the farmers. Seeding was delayed for weeks, and a large area that was intended for wheat was seeded to other grains, while thousands of acres of land have lain fallow for the reason that it was impossible to work in the fields. The greatest loss of grain has been from high winds and hail, which lodged it, and, while the loss of perhaps a couple of million bushels of grain in the three States will fail heavily upon individual farmers, it will scarcely be noticeable in the aggregate yield of the three States. The hot winds which usually prevail in July did not come, and grain has not suffered from this cause. Grasshoppers, rust and the Hessian fly have been in evidence, but hare done little damage, and the farmer finds himself ready to harvest Ik good average crop. Estimate as to Wheat. A conservative estimate of the wheat yield of the three States does not bring the aggregate much above the figures of a year ago. Had the conditions been right for planting last spring it is not too much to say that the combined yield would have Wen in the neighborhood of 235,000,000 bushels, notwithstanding the fact that farmers arc turning their attention to diversified farming and decreasing to n ronsiderable extent their wheat acreage. The estimate of this grain, which is adtnitteily conservative, follows: Minnesota 85,000,000 North Dakota . .7....... .... 55.000,000 South Dakota 38.000,000 Total 175.Q00.000 Good authorities put the yield in Minnesota as high as 95,000,000, North Dakota as low as 45.000,000, and South Dakota at 40,000,000, but these figures are far from correct, and are not in keeping with the acreage planted and the loss sustained since planting. In making the foregoing estimate the yield is given at thirteen and one-half bushels, though many authorities do not concede so much, for the reason that much of the wheat will not be of heavy weight or fully filled out in the berry. Oats is the best grain crop and has been carefully estimated, and while many reporters place the yield below these figures it may be safely calculated that the States have yielded thus: Minnesota 00,000,000 North Dakota 2 MM(0.000 South Dakota 20,000,000 Total 100,000,000 This is about 10,000.000 bushels greater than in IS9S, when the largest crop ever raised was harvested. Flax is the big crop, and will make up for the shortage of wheat. While this grain will not all mature it is estimated that the yield will be 100 per cent greater than a year ago. This is the result of conditions. The early rains which prevented wheat planting made it necessary to plant a late crop, and farmers turned their attention to flax. Again, hundreds of thousands of acres of new land were brought under cultivation by the vast number of farmers which settled in the Dakotas last year, and this was planted to flax as the only crop that will yield a profit on sod. The estimate follows: Minnesota 10,000,000 North Dakota . 25.090.000 South Dakota 9.000,000 Total 44.009.000 In value the flax crop of these three States will not be far behind wheat this fall. Corn Make* Record. Corn, which is full of promise for a good crop in Minnesota and South Dakota, if the weather continues favorable, will yield more than ever before. There will be between <>5.000,000 and 70.000.000 bushels raised, divided as follows: South Dakota 40,000,1)00 Minnesota 25,000.000 North Dakota 2,000.000 Total (17,000.000 Some of the corn has suffered through low temperature and hail, but <>f late the crop has forged ahead wonderfully, and if frost holds off till Sept. 10 it will practically all be gathered. The only grain that will not come up to the expectations of those who are used to talking “bumper crops” is wheat, but even this will be large enough to meet previous records, and, with the additional yield of other grains, the product of the farmers of the three States will aggregate lu value more than in any previous year. Of the four grains enumerated •hove, the realization in cash, upon a conservative valuation, will be: 178,000,(XXI bushels of wheat at 50 cents $89,000,000 ♦4,000,(XX) bushels of flux ut $1.25 55,000.000 100,000,000 bushels of Mts at 25 cents 25,000,000 H7.(XX),000 bushels 0 f corn at 35 cents 20,450,(XX) 10,(XX(.000 bushi-ls of barley at 30 cents 3,CXX),000 Total $192,450.01 X) In addition to the above products of the farm, other grains, hay, potatoes, vegetables and live stock and fruit must be taken into consideration, as well ns the dairying interests, which can safely be set down at SHX),(XX),OOO more, bringing the grand total that will be realized this fear by the farmers of these three States »P to about S3(X),(XX),(XX).