
| The Plain Truth About the 1948 
Seed Situation 
All figures relating to the production of crops harvested in 1947 are taken from the final Govern" 
ment Crop Report Issued December 17, 1947, by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
The total production of crops in 1947 was the fourth largest on record. Only in 1942, 1944 and 
1946 was the all-crop production Jarger than in the 1947 season, and this was accomplished in spite 
_ of one of the most adverse planting seasons on record. 
ALFALFA SEED: The 1947 crop of Alfalfa seed, estimated at 1,699,400 bushels of thresher- 
run seed, is the second largest crop on record. However, production in the Northern States is be- 
low average and 22 per cent smaller than in 1946. 
_ MEDIUM AND MAMMOTH RED CLOVER: The estimated 1947 production of 1,194,800 
_ bushels is the smallest in five years and is only about half as large as the record 1946 crop. This 
_ large decrease from last year is due entirely to the 47 per cent reduction in acreage harvested. 
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ALSIKE CLOVER: The 1947 crop of Alsike Clover seed, estimated at 366,200 bushels, is 
18 per cent smaller than the 1946 crop but 14 per cent Jarger than average. Yields were also 
better than average. 
TIMOTHY SEED: Production of Timothy seed, estimated at 1,641,400 bushels, is 24 per cent 
larger than in 1946 and 10 per cent above average. Yields per acre were the largest in ten years. 
SEED BARLEY: Barley production increased in 1947, after having declined for four consecutive 
, years. The 1947 crop of 279,182,000 bushels is 6 per cent above 1946. In the Northeast much of the 
crop was seeded late and under adverse conditions. The growing season was less favorable than nor- 
mal, resulting in lower yields and lighter grain. Fortunately we carried over some excellent seed 
_ from the good crop of 1946. 
SEED OATS: The Nation’s 1947 Oat crop, estimated at 1,215,970,000 bushels, is 19 per cent 
_ below the 1946 production. This decline was due to smaller acreages and lower yields. In the North 
_ Atlantic and North Central States much of the imtended acreage was not seeded because of cold, 
wet weather at planting time. Only 80 per cent of the mtended acreage was seeded in the Northeast. 
Seed stocks are far short of normal. 
SEED CORN: The total 1947 Corn crop, estimated at 2,401,000,000 bushels, is 26 per cent smaller 
than the record production of 1946 and the smallest crop since the drought year 1936. One of the ~ 
most adverse planting seasons on record in the Corn belt and the Northeast was mainly responsible 
for the short Corn crop. With the increased use of drying equipment most of the crops grown for 
seed were saved before cold weather could hurt the germination. There should be ample supplies 
_ of most hybrid and open-pollinated varieties. 
The 1947 Crop of Potatoes 
The 1947 Potato crop, estimated at 384,407,000 bushels, is nearly 100,000,000 bushels smaller 
than the record crop produced in 1946 but 8,000,000 bushels Iarger than average. The acreage har- 
vested in 1947 was the smallest since 1881. Our stocks of Potatoes on hand January 1 were not large 
and were less than the country consumed a year ago. In all probability the price of eating Potatoes 
will be above the Government support price for the balance of the season. Because of rigid certifica- 
tion standards, the supply of certified seed is not above normal. While the supply of some varieties 
will be short, there appears to be an ample amount for this year’s planting. 

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Even though our costs may be higher in 1948 and prices for our farm products lower than a year ago, 
we believe that farming will still be a profitable enterprise in 1948. We can help to make it so by offering 
the best of seed. 
We urge our customers to place their orders as early as possible and to get their seed stocks on the farm 
well in advance of planting time. 
