VALUE OF CORN CROP 



21 



The value of the annual corn crop from 1866 to 1914 may be ascertained 

 by referring to Table No. 4, on page 12. It is governed largely by produc- 

 tion, varying slightly with the demand. 



The highest average price paid for corn in this country is recorded for 

 I go I, and corresponds to the year of lowest average yield. An average taken 

 ovfer any number of years for yields per acre and price per bushel shows a 

 marked co-relation between the tvi'O. Yet this statement must be qualified 

 to meet the changing conditions of the times. For instance, the average 

 price during the last ten years has been higher than for any previous de- 

 cade following 1870. The average yield per acre for the past fifty 

 years has been 25.5 bushels, and the average price for the same period has 

 been 41.6 cents. This means only $10.60 total income from each acre de- 

 voted to corn as an average for fifty years. 



By referring to the annual report of the Department of Agriculture, 

 the average price in the different states varies greatly. The highest aver- 

 age price for the past year (1914) is recorded for Arizona and it amounted 

 to $1.20 per bushel, while the lowest price of 50 cents per bushel is found in 

 South Dakota. A close study of this table covering a term of years, shows that 

 the prices increase as you move away from the center of production and vice 

 versa, depending considerably, too, upon density of population and shipping 

 facilities. 



In comparing the value of the corn crop of the United States with that 

 of each of the other cereal crops for the period 1910 to 1914 inclusive note the 

 following chart : 



CHART NO. 7- 



VALUATION OF THE CORN CROP AS COMPARED WITH 



OTHER CEREAL CROPS IN THE UNITED STATES 



1910-1914 inclusive. Millions of Dollars. 



200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 



Corn 

 Wheat 

 Oats 

 Barley 

 Rye - 



Per cent 



of Total 



56.8 



22.3 



16.0 



3.9 



1.0 



Let us now consider from a similar standpoint each of the states con- 

 cerned in the production of corn, taking an average of five years, 1910-1914 

 inclusive. We will note first the comparative value of this crop as related to 

 that of all other cereal crops. The states will be considered separately. 

 Throughout the corn belt the annual value of the corn crop approximates 

 about 25 per cent of the total value of all farm products including livestock, 

 dairy products, etc. 



(2) 



