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 over- 



SPR1NG WHEAT ACREAGE 

 1919 



161.875 

 146,952 

 118.905 

 109,345 ' 

 64,800 

 61,191 

 43,193 

 38,900 

 24.026 

 100,243 I 



Fia. 40. Spring Wheat Acreage, (U. S. Department of Agriculture Yearbook, 1921). 



lap in the Missouri Eiver Valley. The five leading wheat states 

 in order of production are Kansas, North Dakota, Nebraska, 

 Oklahoma, and Illinois. These five states produce almost one- 

 half the wheat crop. 



Production Not Increasing. Wheat production is still increas- 

 ing in all the above states. Wheat production is also increasing in 

 the Eocky Mountain States, but in all other sections of the United 

 States production is declining. Up to the year 1919 the wheat 

 acreage steadily increased, from 15,000,000 acres in 1866 to 52,000,- 

 000 acres in 1899 to 72,000,000 acres in 1919, but declined to about 

 58,000,000 for the two following years. 



