FORAGE CROPS IN NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS. 



45 



Table 27. — Yields of root crops at four stations in the northern Great Plains region 



in stated years. 



Station and crops. 



Yields per acre (pounds). 



1920 1921 1922 Average 



Redfield, S. Dak.: 



Mangel (Mammoth Long Red) 



Carrot (Mastodon) 



Rutabaga (Hurst's Monarch).. 



Sugar beet 



Dickinson, N. Dak. : 



Mangel ( Mammoth Long Red) 



Carrot ( Mastodon) 



Rutabaga (Hurst's Monarch).. 



Sugar beet 



Havre, Mont.: 



Mangel (Mammoth Long Red) 



Carrot (Mastodon) 



Rutabaga (Hurst's Monarch).. 



Sugar beet 



Moccasin, Mont. : 



Mangel ( Mammoth Long Red) 



Carrot ( Mastodon) 



Rutabaga (Hurst's Monarch).. 



160 

 ,635 

 538 



952 



9,130 

 0) 



710 

 Sf»0 

 995 



34, 952 

 10,120 

 5,032 

 16,995 



3,272 

 1,435 

 2,985 

 1,835 



14, 190 



O) 



( 2 ) 



11,660 



1,485 



853 



3,135 



27,352 

 5,499 

 3,930 



10, 192 



17,400 

 4,640 

 13,320 

 10, 000 



10, 862 



O) 



2,310 

 8,727 



1,953 



O) 



7,095 



41,155 

 11,751 

 9,167 

 18, 192 



11,208 

 4,654 

 7,820 

 6,784 



11,394 



2,409 

 9,216 



3,383 

 1,857 

 5,408 



1 Eaten by jack rabbits — not considered in the averages. 



2 Destroyed' by aphis— not considered in the averages. 



The experiments here reported have covered a period not long 

 enough to be conclusive, but they indicate that fairly satisfactory 

 yields can be expected in much of the region. As root crops furnish 

 succulent green feed for winter, they come in competition with corn 

 and other silage crops. Corn silage has a higher feeding value than 

 roots, and where a satisfactory yield of corn can be obtained it will 

 ordinarily be grown in preference to them. Furthermore, the cost 

 of growing root crops is much more than the cost of growing most 

 silage crops. A good deal of hand labor is required in thinning and 

 hoeing them, and unless the farmer has a family of children or can 

 procure very cheap hand labor the cost of growing any considerable 

 acreage is almost prohibitive. Where the soil continues to be dry 

 for some time after planting, poor germination commonly results. 

 Getting satisfactory stands in the drier parts of the region is an 

 important agronomic problem. 



At Redfield, Edgeley, and Havre the yields of root crops have 

 considerably exceeded those of corn for silage. However, it is 

 questionable if the difference at Redfield and Edgeley is sufficient to 

 compensate for the lower feeding value and the greater cost of 

 growing the root crops. 



At Havre, regardless of the very dry seasons, mangels have pro- 

 duced much heavier yields than corn or sunflowers, and it appears 

 worth while to give them serious consideration. While the yields of 

 such silage crops as corn and sunflowers are low at Moccasin, they 

 have given a greater tonnage on the average than any of the root 

 crops. It appears from these tests that root crops can not be 

 expected to contribute much to the forage resources of the Judith 

 Basin. 



Mangels have far outyielded all other root crops in all the tests 

 except those conducted at Moccasin, and they have been free from 

 attacks by insects and jack rabbits. Three varieties are being tested- 

 Mammoth Long 



Red, Danish Sludstrup, and Golden Tankard. 



