CHAPTER YI, HAI!,, IMPROPER CULTURAT CPERATIONS, WEEDS, 
RANGE PESTS AND DISEASES, AND FIRE 
Crop production and pastures and ranges are subject to losses from 
hail, improper cultural onerations, and other cases not. covered in 
Chapters IV ard V. Those losses ere presented in Table 9. ‘| further 
analysis of weed losses and costs is given in Table 10, 
Crops 
Hail Damage 
Hail damage to growing crops is sporadic, and no precise statistics 
on which to base an estimate are available. The ratio of losses 
paid to the total amount of hail insurance carried on growing crops 
indicates that losses average about 1 percent of the value of all 
crops, being highest in the Plains area from Montana and North Dakota 
to New Mexico and Texas, Hail losses are low from Tllinois to the 
East Coast, and west of the Rocky Mountains, Tobacco and fruit crops 
are highly vulnerable to hail, while forages crops sustain very little 
loss from this cause, Probably the only feasible means of reducing 
hail losses is by shortening the growing season. One reason farmers 
wish to harvest grain as early as possible is to avoid risk of hail 
damage. 
Mechanical Damage 
Mechanical damage to crops is due, directly or indirectly, to un- 
suitable types and improper use of machines. 
Excessive pesticide application. When pesticides are applied either 
too irregularly or with too low concentration on the plant foliage, 
larger amounts must be used than with uniform and efficient applica 
tion. The value of the material wasted is estimated at $30 million, 
which is over 10 percent of the cost of the pesticides used. Better 
design, adjustment, and operation of sprayers and dusters are required 
to avoid the loss. 
Improper fertilizer placement. Seeds and seedling roots are injured 
by the soluble salts of fertilizer placed too near or otherwise in a 
hazardous manner. When the fertilizer is too widely scattered or too 
far away, the lack of early plant stimulation, the unavailability of 
part of the plant food, or weed stimulation and competition result 
in decreased yislds. The damage varies widely with the innumerable 
circumstances. An astimated loss of $225 million is 1.5 percent of 
the total value of fertilized crops. Authoritative recommendations 
should be scrupulously followed to minimize hazards and attain effec- 
tive use of fertilizers. 
Improper planting. Planting seed either too deep or too shallow, 
insufficient compaction of the soil around the seed, moist surface 
AGS 
