OCR Text |
Show v FARMERS LOSE MONEY One hundred thousand dollars is a very conservative estimate of the loss sustained by the grain growers of Utah every year on account of the growing of mixed varieties of the small grains, according to Prof. Geo. Stewart, in charge of Field Crop investigations in-vestigations for the Utah Agricultural Agricultur-al Experiment station. This loss became evident and was easily calculated following the enactment en-actment of the Crain Standards act. The total number of cars graded, bushels in each car, the average dockage dock-age and the annual grain cron of the state were the factors used in arriving arriv-ing at the loss which the farmers were sustaining. ' Immediately following the disclosure disclos-ure of this enormous loss, the Utah Experiment station authorized Prof. Stewart to make a variety survey of the small grains grown in the state with the view of determining some of the sources and causes of the mixtures mix-tures and methods by which the loss conld be reduced. Pro. Stewart began the survey in the summer of 1918 and concluded it at the close of the season of 1919. having nearly 3,000 grain fields cov ! ering practically every county in the state. Twenty-four varieties of wheat were found growing in the state and practically every field had shown evidence of being mixed. The details of the survey have been published as Station bulletin 174 entitled, "A Variety Survey and Descriptive Key of Small Grains in Utah" and contains a number of practical recommendations as to the methods by which this enormous annual an-nual loss may be reduced to the minimum min-imum which any farmer can follow. In addition to the loss from dockage, dock-age, says Prof. Stewart, other lr.rgfc losses are sustained which are very evident hut not so easily calculated. If several varieties are being grown together or even in the same community, com-munity, it is very evident that one is a better yielder than the others and one is. therefore, losing by growing an inferior wheat. The difference varieties do not ripen at the same time and as a result, says Prof. Stewart, Stew-art, another large loss is sustained through the overripe varieties shattering shat-tering and the under-ripe shrinking. |