REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Washington, D. C, Novemher 13^ 1915. 



Sir : In spite of the greatly disturbed condition of the world dur- 

 ing the last 15 months, agriculture in the United States, as a whole, 

 has prospered. In some sections the war raging in Europe has caused 

 severe hardships and great financial loss, while in other sections its 

 first result at least has been very considerable financial gain. It has 

 borne very heavily on the southern cotton farmer, forcing a great 

 reduction in the price of cotton and an attempt at a hasty read- 

 justment. It has operated to stimulate the production of food- 

 stuffs, and to producers of such conmiodities it has, in the main, 

 brought increased prices. 



The outbreak of the war found this country in a peculiarly fortu- 

 nate agricultural situation. The year 1914 witnessed an unusually 

 large production of a number of staple crops. The wheat crop of 

 891,000,000 bushels established the Nation's record and was 128,000,- 

 000 bushels larger than that of any other year. The corn crop of 

 2,673,000,000 bushels, while it was only an average one, exceeded that 

 of 1913 by 226,000,000 bushels. The oats crop of 1,141,000,000 bush- 

 els was the third largest on record. The potato crop of 406,000,000 

 bushels was 74,000,000 bushels larger than that of the preceding 

 year and the second in size in the history of the Nation. The 

 barley crop of 195,000,000 bushels was nearly 17,000,000 bushels 

 greater than that of 1913 and the second largest on record. The 

 tobacco crop of 1,035,000,000 pounds was exceeded only by those 

 of 1909 and 1910. The hay crop of 70,071,000 tons was the third 

 in size, and the cotton crop of 16,135,000 bales exceeded the next 

 largest, that of 1911, by 442,000 bales. The total estimated value of 

 all farm crops and animal products for the year is $9,873,000,000, 

 an amount greater by $83,000,000 than the next largest crop value, 

 that of 1913, notwithstanding the great decrease in the price of 



cotton. 



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