Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1914 — POOR CROP OUTLOOK [ARTICLE]

POOR CROP OUTLOOK

War in Europe and Unfavorable Growth Causes Worry. Composite Condition of American Crops August 1 Two Per Cent Below Ten-Year Average. Washington, Aug. 25.—War in Europe and unfavorable conditions for crop growth during July made the agricultural outlook on August 1 in the United States and other parts of the world less favorable than was expected, according to the Farmer’s Bulletin, issued by the department of agriculture. The composite condition of American crops on August 1 was twp per cent below the normal ten-year average," the bulletin states, “whereas on July 1 prospects were 1.4 per cent above the average.” A hopeful note i 3 sounded by the department, however, In the statement that prospects still are five per cent better than the outturn of last year’s crops, which were unusually poor. There was improvement in the crops during July in the Atlantic states, Michigan and Wisconsin and In the mountain states, says the bulletin, but in other parts of the country the crops have deteriorated materially. The “phenomenal wheat crop” in Kansas goes far to Improve the general situation, it was stated. Previous reports on the foreign wheat crop also were too optimistic, the department states, and the crops abroad generally are inferior to those of 1913. “The level of prices paid producers of the United States for the principal crops decreased about. 0.1 per cent during July, but on August 1 the index figure of crop prioes was about 9.7 per cent higher than a year ago,” says the bulletin. The price level for meat animals increased 2.6 per cent from June 15 to July 15. Of the leather trade the bulletin says: “About one-third of the cattle hides treated in the leather manufacturing industries of this country five years ago w r ere imported from other countries. In the meantime the number of cattle on the farms and ranges of the United States has diminished, the consumption of hides has increased and at present the European war has affected the international trade in hides, so that the industries that tan and otherwise treat cattle hides and use their leather are facing uncertainties in the supplv of the raw material.” . The condition of sugar beets on August 1 was 92.4 per cent of normal and the cotton crop on July 25 was 76 A per cent of normal.