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Show I' ' ' - 'I i - i ) I . . J ' 1 L ' " - J V i ' I . k iy " a i . j LL- i o V f '..Vv ..." -.- r ' - . I "'"xv- j o . . CHERRY HARVEST By GARY R. BLODCETT Despite the worst drought in Davis County in many years, this year's agricultural crops are "amazingly good," according to County Agent L. Parrel! Stokes. "I THINK we are going to :come out of this year's hardest har-dest in better shape than even "the best optimists expected," he said. "It's going to be nip j and tuck throughout the season because of lack of iwater but so far things look "pretty good." He said most crops that . were planted have done quite well despite the lack of irrigation water. However, -rthere was a shift of some crops because of the water shortage. FOR EXAMPLE, fewer . farmers planted corn this year than usual because corn , requires more water over a - longer period. Instead, more acreage was put into spring grains. ; There was also a shortage this summer of sugar beets, Jim Stettler of Fruit Heights shows the plump, delicious cherries that are being harvested in Davis County. Cherry crop is reported to be lighter in yield but of better quality than past years. but an increase in onions and alfalfa, he said. "FARMERS planted only about half the sugar beet acreage as past years because they realized that they could not afford to irrigate the larger acreages. Instead, most farmers put in more grains," Mr. Stokes said. "It's too bad, too, because our beet yields have been getting smaller each year and we now have only one sugar beet plant left in the county and many more years like this and sugar beets will be a thing of the past in this area." TOMATO acreage is about the same as last year, and "looks very good so far," he said. "Most grains, onions, alfalfa and fruit crops are doing better bet-ter than expected. Com and sugar beets are only average or below for this season." CHERRIES ARE fewer in yield but of better quality than in past years. Peaches also look very good for this time of year, but the first won't be ready for harvest har-vest for about another month. Apricots are of good quality, but few are grown for commercial com-mercial use. HE SAID most farmers have been able to get their cherries harvested without too much trouble. "I think the May rains may have been a lifesaver for many farmers," said Mr. Stokes. "Now if we could just get some more showers to help us through the season. If we don't, it's going to be nip and tuck to see if the irrigation irriga-tion water holds out." |