6 BULLETIN 1458, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
The data are presented as moving averages to smooth the sharp 
variations that occur from year to year, principally as a result of 
weather conditions.* 
CORN, WHEAT, OATS, AND POTATOES 
YIELD PER ACRE FOR UNITED STATES 
_S-YEAR MOVING AVERAGE, I685-1923 
BUSHELS 
100 
$0 
80 
70 
60 
35 
30 
25 
20 
15 
10 
© ia95. 1690 tees i900 ~=©1905 1910 1915 i920. +=«1925 
Fig. 2.—There has been a general upward trend in yield per acre of these crops. The 
decline in wheat yields after 1916 was due in great part to the expansion of the wheat 
area into drier portions of the West 
TABLE 1.—Corn, wheat, oats, and potatoes: Five-year moving average of yield 
per acre, United States, 1885-1923 
Pota- re Pota- 
Year Corn | Wheat| Oats i vee Year Corn | Wheat} Oats Coes 
Bushels| Bushels| Bushels| Bushels Bushels| Bushels| Bushels| Bushels 
PSS hicepae soreness 23. 4 11.9 27.0 G59 | OO Sh eee ees | 28. 0 14. 0 29.9 96. 3 
TPSTS Gules eae ea 24.1 11.8 26. 6. TES 76 Wes eae e4sh oat 14. 2 29. 2 96. 5 
Tey Atos SRS ect 24.5 11.8 26. 7 ZOSORIT. LOC Teer me eee | 27.9 14. 9 28. 9 95.8 
HSB ans Mba See os 23. 4 11.9 25. 3 689) |] 21908 ss we eee es 27. 6 14.7 28. 4 97.1 
TSSOP. See a 24. 5 12.5 26. 1 722955) S1GO9 heete se oe. 26. 2 14.1 27.1 92.8 
TUCO) Gee eee cy oe aaa 25. 2 12.8 26. 0 WAT So ee ee 26. 7 14, 4 29.8 96. 4 
ol) GR ieee yee gee 24.5 12.8 25.5 MOT ALO ler eee ee ree 26. 0 14.7 30. 6 97. 2 
Ihe )o Pins 99 Sy eee e Be 22. 8 12.9 24.9 GONG RL OIQE sae ewes 25.9 14.8 30. 5 97.8 
TSGSE ee eres 24. 1 13. 4 26. 9 7 Roti Call i Uo Ae Miles See Dee es 26. 0 15. 4 31.7 98.3 
SO AR peer mes a a 24. 3 12.8 26. 1 WS2ul| OTA a Beer eof 26. 1 15. 4 32. 8 98. 2 
TOS oe Sees ee 24. 5 12.8 26.7 COAT SOILS re ee ae el 25. 6 15. 0 32.7 95. 7 
TSO Gen eeates Sores | 25.0 13. 6 27.8 SONS | GGG eee eee Down 15. 1 3.8 96.8 
NSO fpapeds peeks 2k ic | 26.3 13. 4 29. 0 R5L4 eI PIGITe oo Fe ee 26. 4 14.3 33. 7 92.9 
SOS iealee ios Sores | 26.2 12.9 29. 0 SING s | MIOISE= sae ee ae 27.0 i832 33. 2 95.7 
1 C0 [0 Fea A ae as PASS 13. 4 28.9 CGNs MONO a ee eas 28. 1 13.8 31.9 98. 0 
900 Rae Aa er. | 24, 5 lp} 7/ 30.3 82.1 1920 se Sete aoe 28. 5 13.7 30. 5 98. 9 
GOI. = Aree) ay WE 1313 30. 0 S527 ella OD Tee talk ee ae 29. 5 13. 3 30. 0 101. 5 
GO QE os cette et 24. 8 13. 3 30. 2 SSID a iL Ooo eee ee meee ae 28. 3 14.0 BE 108. 7 
LOOSE Fe Teak wads F 25. 4 13. 9 31. 0 SOT || EOS eas Soe oe eS Taupe add 13.9 30. 9 107. 4 
1G04S one ae [2st | i4ie| 32) Ode gaye | 
4 When the nine principal crops are averaged together, the composite curve trends 
downward after 1903-1907 (4, p. 464). This is due mainly te the predominant influence 
on Ene curve oi the large decrease in the yield per acre of cotton caused by the boll 
weevil. 
e 
