♦ The Plain Truth * 
ABOUT THE 1935 
FARM SEED SITUATION 
o A 
LL figures given as to pro¬ 
duction of the 1934 crops are, 
as far as possible, from the 
final Government Crop Re¬ 
port, issued December 18, 
1934, by the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture. 
Completion of the fall sur¬ 
veys of acreages harvested, 
and production secured, con¬ 
firms earlier indications of an 
unprecedented loss of crops 
from drought. Taking the 
country as a whole, crop- 
production was about 22 per 
cent less than production last 
year, and 32 per cent less than 
the average production during 
the previous 10 years. 
ALFALFA. Production is below average and there is a small carry-over. The 
crop is 20 per cent short of last year. In the Northwest, the crop, in which we are 
especially interested because of its hardiness, is too small to supply the demand, 
which has caused prices to be higher than for several years. 
SWEET CLOVER. Supplies of new- and old-crop seed are the shortest since 
this crop began to be grown extensively about 12 years ago. 
MEDIUM and MAMMOTH RED CLOVER. The production is the smallest 
on record, due to the drought conditions in producing sections, and is 49 per cent 
short of the 5-year (1927-31) average. The carry-over is smaller than usual. 
ALSIKE CLOVER SEED. I n this crop the production shows even a greater 
reduction than does Red Clover, and is 54 per cent short of the 5-year (1927-31) 
average. Because a large percentage of the Clover seedings was badly injured or 
destroyed by the drought, it is apparent that another short crop of Clover seed is 
in prospect next year. 
TIMOTHY SEED. The crop is the shortest on record. Production in 1934 is 
estimated to be 70 per cent short of the small crop harvested in 1933, and 86 per 
cent short of the 5-year (1927-31) average. The carry-over is unusually small because 
of the short crops of 1932 and 1933. This acute shortage of Timothy Seed has caused 
the price to be the highest ever known. 
SEED BARLEY. The production of 118,929,000 bushels is the smallest since 
1900, and 56 per cent short of the 5-year (1927-31) average. 
SEED OATS. In 1934 the production of Oats is estimated to have been 528,815, 
000 bushels, which is 28 per cent less than the short crop of 1933, 58 per cent less than 
the 1932 crop, and 55 per cent less than the 5-year (1927-31) average production. 
The 1934 crop was the smallest since 1881, and the yield per acre the lowest since 
1866, when the records begin. Choice heavy Seed Oats of good color and high germina¬ 
tion are not going to be easy to obtain. 
SEED CORN. The 1934 Corn crop of 1,380,718,000 bushels is 41 per cent smaller 
than the short crop of 1933 and 45 per cent less than the 5-year (1927-31) average. 
It is the smallest crop in 60 years. The unusually small Corn crop was due to the 
severe drought and sustained high summer temperatures, particularly in the western 
portion of the Corn Belt. Growing conditions in eastern sections were more favorable, 
and a small quantity of good Seed Corn was harvested. The supply of good Seed 
Corn is unusually short and prices will be much higher than for many years. 
POTATOES. The late Potato crop has again demonstrated its ability to over¬ 
come a poor beginning when favored with exceptional finishing weather, a minimum 
of blight damage, and absence of general killing frosts in September and October. 
This was the situation that prevailed from Wisconsin to the Atlantic Coast last fall 
and resulted in record high yields in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine. 
The final Crop Report shows a production of 385,287,000 bushels, largely con¬ 
centrated in the states of Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, 
and Minnesota. This crop is 20 per cent larger than last year and is a sharp contrast 
with the greatly reduced supply of the other seed crops. 
This is the year for farmers who do not change their Seed Potatoes regularly to 
obtain new seed at reasonable prices. Only a few varieties are in short supply. The 
better general outlook ahead would justify the purchase of new seed this year. 
SUMMARY. In view of the above facts we believe that seed-requirements 
should be purchased early. 
