REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

WASHINGTON, D. C., November 15, 1929.

To the PRESIDENT:

THE YEAR IN AGRICULTURE

Widespread drought during the growing season of 1929 dried up pastures and reduced crop yields below those of any recent year. The losses in production, however, were so evenly distributed for the country as a whole that no large area had either very bountiful or very short crops. Moreover, from the standpoint of the producers, reduced yields seemed likely to be more than offset by price advances. It is probable that the total income from agricultural production for the 1929-30 crop year will equal, if it does not exceed, that of the 1928-29 season.

Cool spring weather, with heavy rains, delayed planting in many sections of the West and Northwest. Planting was exceptionally backward in the States from Ohio to Missouri, where some corn was not put in the ground until July. Rainfall was light and spotty during the early summer, especially in the northern half of the country. A general drought developed during August, except in the far Southwest. Conditions improved somewhat during September, and some crops turned out rather better than had been expected.

Growers planted a total acreage about equal to that of 1928. Yields were disappointing in practically all crops, except irrigated crops and some varieties of hay. The hay crops that turned out well made heavy growth before the drought became severe. All crops combined gave a yield per acre 7.4 per cent below that of 1928 and 4.1 per cent below the average for the preceding 10 years. Lower than average yields were experienced in 29 States. The western Great Plains suffered most from the drought. Yields were reduced along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to North Carolina and in all the North Central States except Wisconsin. California and Washington suffered from drought during the winter of 1928-29, and California fruits were injured by a severe freeze in April. The late spring reduced yields somewhat in the other fruitproducing areas, except the apple-producing sections of Virginia and West Virginia.

Reduced Yields in Corn

Corn production was 2,528,000,000 bushels, or 308,000,000 bushels less than in 1928. With the exception of the crop of 1924, this year's corn crop is the smallest since 1918. The acreage in corn was smaller than in 1928; but reduced yields were the principal cause of the

reduced production. New England, New York, and the Southern States east of the Mississippi River produced more corn_than in 1928. Corn production in the northern part of the Corn Belt was not materially below that of the previous year. The yields were reduced most in the area just north of the Ohio River, in Missouri, in Kansas, and in the far Southwest. The production of grain sorghums, which supplement corn for feed in the southwestern area, totaled only 93,000,000 bushels, as compared with 142,000,000 bushels in 1928 and an average of 128,000,000 bushels for the past five years. Wheat production, winter and spring varieties combined, totaled about 792,000,000 bushels, as compared with 902,000,000 bushels in 1928. This output was between 4 and 5 per cent less than the annual average for the previous five years, though the harvested acreage was about 9 per cent larger. The greatest decline was in spring wheat, the production of which was only 224,000,000 bushels, as compared with 324,000,000 bushels in 1928. Durum wheat production was only 53,000,000 bushels, against 93,000,000 bushels in the previous year. The acreage in durum wheat was only 80 per cent of the 1928 acreage. Production of winter wheat was about 10,000,000 bushels less than in 1928, though the acreage harvested was 10 per cent greater. The hard winter wheat crop in the western Great Plains was reduced materially. Soft winter wheat production, however, was somewhat above the unusually small crop of 1928 and nearly equal to the average for the previous five years.

Oats Production Below 5-Year Average

Oats production was about 120,000,000 bushels less than the average for the preceding five years, and barley production was 104,000,000 bushels above that average. Output of both crops was smaller than in 1928. Their production was fairly well distributed over the country. Flax production was only 16,600,000 bushels, as compared with 18,700,000 bushels in 1928 and an average of 23,200,000 bushels for the preceding five years. Acreage seeded to flax was 17 per cent greater than in 1928, but yields were greatly reduced by frosts early in the year and by drought early in the summer. The yield per acre averaged only 5.4 bushels, the lowest since the unusually dry year,

1919.

Cotton production, according to the October estimate, was 14,915,000 bales, as compared with 14,478,000 bales ginned last year. This output was grown on an acreage only slightly below the record acreage of 1926. Yields, however, were greatly reduced by drought in Oklahoma and in much of Texas. The eastern part of the Cotton Belt had about an average yield. In that section heavy weevil infestation in the fall of 1928 and a mild winter in 1928-29 threatened heavy losses from the boll weevil. The dry summer, however, helped to control the insect. Potato production was about 345,000,000 bushels, as compared with the excessive production of 454,000,000 bushels in 1928. Drought and excessive heat in many States were unfavorable to the crop. In the Northern States rains in early September were so closely followed by frosts that the crop could not recover. Yields of potatoes were light everywhere, except in northern New England and a few of the Western States. The acreage planted to potatoes was very close to the average for recent