514 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Crop Service was consulted by several cattle men seeking pasturage in 

 more favorable sections of the State to avoid the use of high-priced dry- 

 feed or immature corn fodder. 



Looking forward to the winter wheat crop of 1918, it should be noted 

 that in certain portions of the State, particularly the south-central and 

 western, plowing, seeding and germination were delayed by dry, hard 

 soil and droughty conditions, and October was too cold, and in some sec- 

 tions grasshoppers kept it eaten down so that the plants are not entering 

 the winter in a resistant condition. There has been a great increase in 

 the acreage sown as compared with the area harvested in 1917, but the 

 acreage is considerably below the normal, and in order that we may 

 have a normal wheat crop next year, it will be necessary to greatly in- 

 crease the acreage of spring wheat. 



The yields and values are as follows: 



Corn. — The estimated acreage was 10,242,000 acres, or 763,000 acres 

 more than in 1916; average yield, 40 bushels per acre; total yield, 409,- 

 667,000 bushels; average price, 97 cents per bushel; total value, $397,- 

 376,990. Fifty-one per cent of the crop was reported to be soft or im- 

 mature and only 57 per cent had been husked on December 1st. 



Oats. — The estimated area harvested was 5,238,500 acres, or about 50,000 

 acres more than in 1916. Averagei yield, 46 bushels; total yield, 239,- 

 416,200 bushels; average price, 61 cents; total value, $14€,043,882. 



Spring Wheat. — Area harvested, 173,460 acres; average yield, 18 bush- 

 els per acre; total yield, 3,199,820 bushels; price per bushel, $1.94; total 

 value, $6,207,652. 



Winter Wheat. — Area harvested, 133,930 acres; average yield per acre, 

 18 bushels; total yield, 2,397,560; average price, $1.97 per bushel; total 

 value, $4,723,193. 



Barley. — Area harvested, 258,775; average yield per acre, 35 bushels, 

 which is a record for the State; total yield, 9,111,590 bushels; average 

 price, $1.15; total value, $10,478,328. 



Rye.— Average yield, 20 bushels per acre; total yield, 722,410 bushels; 

 farm price, $1.58; total value, $1,141,408. 



Flax Seed.— Average yield, 11 bushels; total yield, 80,810 bushels; total 

 value at $2.87 per bushel, $231,925. 



Timothy Seed. — Area harvested, 290,000 acres; average yield, 4.5 bush- 

 els; total yield, 1,306,093; total value, at $3.37 per bushel, $4,401,533. 



Clover Seed. — Area harvested, 61,560 acres; average yield, 1.5 bushels; 

 value at $14.00 per bushel, $1,292,760. 



Potatoes. — Area harvested, 99,610 acres; average yield, 109 bushels; 

 total yield, 10,793,600 bushels; average price, $1.32; total value, $14,- 

 247,552. 



Hay (Tame). — Average yield, 1.3 tons per acre; total yield, 3,584,400 

 tons; average price, $18.82 per ton; total value, $67,458,408. 



Hay (Wild).— Average yield, 1.2 tons; total yield 636,947 tons; aver- 

 age price, $14.79 per ton; total value, $9,420,446. 



Alfalfa.— Area 103,215 acres; average yield, 3.4 tons; total yield, $353,- 

 830 tons; average price, $23.40 per ton; total value, $8,279,622. 



