Show FIVE BILLION N OC DECREASE AS IN I 1 2 c r i it t I I Shrinkage in i Value Shown Despite Record Breaking Breaking Break Break- ing Harvest WASHINGTON Dec Dee 15 Shrinkage of ot values lues of tho the country's farm crops I has placed th their lr total worth this thia year at almost less than last year although tho the 1920 harvest was one of oC the mo most t abundant in the nations nation's history with half a dozen crops breakIng breaking breaking break break- ing records The rhe Important farm crops which comprise about 90 per cent of the value of all farm crops were valued this year at by the department year o of agriculture today in Its final estimates Last year rear these crops were valued at Acreage devoted demoted to the Important crops also decreased the tho total to total total to- to tal this year as compared compared compared com com- pared with last year ear earThe The extraordinary character of oC the tho harvest which has hns proven to be among I the most abundant in tho the country's history history his his- tory notwithstanding beginnings about as unpromising as ever is emphasized emphasized emphasized em em- by tho December revisions of I estimates tho the department said in a a. statement commenting on today's re re- re port The final outcome of tho the 1920 wheat harvest winter and spring combined combined com com- is now estimated at bushels compared with bushels in 1919 this being an increase over o the earlier estimates for 1920 of oC bushels COMPARATIVELY SMALL The 1920 acreage abandoned from winter killing was J less than expected and indicated by the very bad and unpromising unpromising unpromising un un- un- un promising conditions on May 1 I and the increasingly favorable character of oC the later season permitted much wheat then considered hopeless to develop and come to harvest The reports of Increase in increase increase in- in crease over earlier ex expectations of oC winter winter winter win win- ter wheat produced came from almost every important winter wheat state The Therea neatest greatest rea test gain is in Kansas Kansas Kan Kan- sas th the leading producer of winter wheat In that state the increase was helped by an area of over 1000 acres of volunteer wheat sprouted from shattered grain In the autumn of C 1919 which despite its unpromising begin begin- II I I I nin fling ning and doubtful prospects in the ate spring of oC 1920 came finally to harvest In general it appears that the tho re reduction reduction reduction re- re in crop acreage in 1920 below 1919 is less than was thought and re reported reported reported re- re ported ate at the beginning of oC the crop season Notwithstanding the tho early unfavorable unfavorable unfavorable un un- un- un favorable conditions for farm work the efforts of or the farmers to fully seed their fields assisted by favoring days that came late in the planting period results in plantings greater than anticipated an an- 1 FIGURES INCREASE i Increases in almost every crop were reported in the revised production figures figures figures fig fig- ures as compared with the preliminary estimates announced in November Corn with a record crop shows an in increase increase increase in- in crease of about bushels winter winter winter win win- ter wheat an increase of almost bushels spring wheat a decrease of bushels oats an increase of ot al almost almost almost al- al most 70 bushels barley increase almost bushels potatoes increased increased in increased in- in creased bushels and tobacco increased pounds The yield of corn per acre set a a record with an average production of 30 9 bushels Only once before has the average yield per pcr acre aero exceeded 30 bushels and that was In 1906 w when n 30 3 bushels was made While tho the corn crop Is a record one its value this year is less than last years year's crop which was smaller small small- er by bushels The price being paid to farmers for corn on December December December De De- cember 1 was announced by the department department department depart depart- ment at 67 7 cents a bushel as compared compared com com- pared with 1 1349 a a. year ago I Productions of the various crops are arc estimated in the following terms bu bushels bushels bush bush- h els cIs corn winter wheat spring wheat oats barley rye buckwheat flax seed cd rice potatoes sweet potatoes peanuts beans and peaches tons hay and cotton cotton cotton cot cot- I ton seed pounds tobacco beet sugar and cane sugar gallons sorghum syrup sy syrup sy- sy rup bales cotton boxes botts oranges and SY-j SY barrels apples |