FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II. 113 



IOWA CROPS— FINAL REPORT, 1903. 



WBRAGE YIELD PER ACRE; TOTALS FOR THE STATE; CURRENT 

 FARM PRICES, DECEMBER 1, 1903. 



Following is a summary of crop reports from correspondents of the 

 Iowa Weather and Crop Service, showing the average yield per acre and 

 totals of staple soil products, and the average prices at the farnts or 

 nearest stations December 1, 1903. In this showing of the value of 

 the season's output of grain, forage, etc., no reckoning is made of the 

 increment in value gained by consumption of soil products on the farms 

 in the production of beef, pork, mutton, horses, butter, poultry, eggs, 

 etc. Usually the prices obtainable for ^he crops at the close of the 

 season do not express more than two thirds of the actual value of the 

 staple products of the soil. 



The Corn Crop. — In estimating the output of this crop the most 

 difficult problem is to determine the extent of loss of acreage caused by 

 floods and adverse weather conditions in the season of planting and 

 cultivating. As a result of inquiry and careful computation it appears 

 that the corn area actually cultivated and harvested this season is ap- 

 proximately 7,398,320 acres. The returns of township assessors show 

 that the area planted in 1902 was 8,925,068 acres, and by comparison it 

 is shown that the reduction this season amounted to about 1,526,748 

 acres. The average yield per acre for the State this year was 31 bush- 

 els, and the aggregate product is estimated at 230,511,310 bushels. The 

 average farm price on December 1st was 36 cents per bushel, making the 

 aggregate value $82,984,071. Last year the product was much inferior 

 in quality though much larger in amount, and the value was computed 

 at $83,000,000. The yearly average for thirteen years has _been 

 .569,633,000. 



In respect to quality of the grain and actual commercial value, the 

 corn crop of this season is fully 20 per cent better than the output of 

 1902. 



Wheat. — Winter wheat acreage harvested 84,934 acres; yield per 

 acre, 16.9 bushels; total yield, 1,435,380 bushels; average price 70 cents 

 per bushel; total value, $1,004,706. Spring wheat area harvested, 752,488 

 acres; average yield 12.6 bushels per acre; total product, 9,481,350 bush- 

 els; price per bushel, 65 cents; total value, $6,162,877. Aggregate value 

 of wheat, $7,167,643. Last year the value was $7,062,640. Average 

 yearly value for past thirteen years, $10,524,000. 



Oats. — The oats crop this season has been below the averag? in 

 yield per acre and weight per bushel, as a result of adverse conditions. 

 The area harvested was 3,822,882 acres; average yield, 25.9 bushels per 

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