426 



The 1921 Wheat Crop. 



[Aug., 



Of this quantity 16,530,000 tons came from the following 

 groups of countries: — 



T071S. 



Canada, U.S.A., Argentina 7,800,000 



Australia, India 2,800,000 



Eussia, Rumania 5,930,000 



The total wheat crop of Canada, the United States, and 

 Argentina in the five harvests 1909-13 averaged 28,200 ,.000 

 tons. On the outbreak of war wheat growing rapidly extended, 

 and, favoured by exceptional weather, the combined crops 

 reached the gigantic total of 44,100,000 tons in 1915. 1916 

 was an unfavourable year, but the average production of the 

 period 1915-19 was 33,520,000 tons, and last season's harvest 

 yielded 36,700,000 tons. 



Thus the American effort made up for the loss of the Eussian 

 crop. But what is the position in 1920? The United States, 

 much the largest contributor to the total crop, has practically 

 returned to its pre-war acreage, and although according to the 

 June forecasts the crops are promising, the total yield expected 

 is 22,000,000 tons, as against 25.600,000 tons last year and 

 18,700,000 tons in the period 1909-13. 



IMany other factors, such as the Argentine export duty, enter 

 into this complicated question of wheat prices; but the present 

 cost of American wheat appears to be chiefly due to the fact 

 that the farmers of the United States, like the farmers of the 

 United Kingdom, are rapidly reverting to pre-war farming; 

 with consequences to their respective countries, be it noted, 

 which may be very different. 



Extensive Autumn Sowing* essential.— The United Kiugdom 

 is the greatest purchaser of wheat (we took 5,880,000 tons per 

 annum out of the total exports of 18,000,000 tons in the period 

 ending July, 1914) ; the United States grows all the wheat she 

 needs and a little more. 



Americans went breadless to win the War, they have gone 

 dry since the Armistice, but we cannot expect them to go 

 hungry to oblige either the British consumer or the British 

 producer. Our wheat supply is not their business. They will 

 send us what they can spare, at a price. Other countries will 

 do the same, and if seasons are propitious all will be well. 



But do not let us forget that since 1914 wheat harvests have, 

 on the whole, been good, that seasons have an unpleasant way 

 of lapsing and that the wheat growing resources of the British 

 Isles are undeveloped. 



