106 



WHEAT 



wheat production, due to the fact that rye is so extensively used in 

 that country for bread. Wheat is usually raised in great level plain 

 regions, where the climate is rather dry, and the average yield per 

 acre low. The yield is higher in the humid regions, but there other 

 crops are often raised more profitably. It will also be noted that the 

 average yield of wheat per acre is increasing, when the two last 10- 

 year periods are compared. 



Wheat in the United States. The great wheat belt lies some- 

 what west of the oats region and corn region, though they all overlap 



FIG. 40. Spring wheat production. (U. S. Department of Agriculture.) 



in the Missouri River Valley. The five leading wheat states in order 

 of production are North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, 

 and Nebraska. These five states produce almost one-half the wheat 

 crop. 



Production Not Increasing. Wheat production is still increas- 

 ing in all the above states except Minnesota, where it is now on the 

 decline. Wheat production is also increasing in the Rocky Mountain 

 States, but in all other sections of the United States production is de- 

 clining. Up to the year 1899 the wheat acreage steadily increased, 

 from 15,000,000 acres in 1866 to 52,000,000 acres in 1899, but has 

 remained about stationary since then, the decline in older regions 

 offsetting the increases in newer regions. 



