The Plain Truth About the 1950 
Seed Situation 
All figures relating to the production of crops harvested in 1949 are taken from the final Govern- 
ment Crop Report issued December 19, 1949, by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
A huge outturn of principal crops, second only to the record 1948 total, was produced in 1949, 
The total planted acreage of the fifty-two principal crops was the largest since 1933. The composite 
yield index was 142 per cent of the 1923-32 average, exceeding any year except 1948. (This does not 
hold true for our legume seed, grass seeds and spring grains.) 
ALFALFA SEED: The record 1949 production of Alfalfa seed, estimated at 1,895,700 bushels 
of thresher-run seed, is 81 per cent larger than the 1948 crop and 44 per cent above the 1938-47 aver- 
age. As the Canadian crop is much smaller than in previous years, all our Northern-grown seed will 
be in demand. 
MEDIUM AND MAMMOTH CLOVER: The 1949 crop was estimated at 1,262,200 bushels, 
29 per cent below a year ago and 24 per cent below the 1938-47 average. Red Clover seed is short 
of needs. 
ALSIKE CLOVER: A small acreage was harvested for seed in 1949 and the estimated pro- 
duction of 343,600 bushels was the smallest in five years. 
TIMOTHY SEED: The 1949 crop of 825,800 bushels ts one of the shortest on record. While 
larger than a year ago, it is only 58 per cent of the 1938-47 average. Timothy seed is definitely in 
short supply and high in price. Unfortunately, other grasses such as Blue Grass, Brome Grass and 
Red-Top are also in short supply. 
With the exception of Alfalfa seed, there appears to be an insufficient supply of legumes and 
grasses to permit any increased plantings in 1950, 
SEED BARLEY: Total Barley acreage harvested in 1949 was the lowest since 1936. Total 
production was estimated at 238,104,000 bushels, or one fourth less than a year ago. Low yields were 
the result of adverse factors. 
SEED OATS: The total Oat crop, estimated at 1,322,924,000 bushels, while 11 per cent [ess 
than a year ago, was 7 per cent above the average. This was due to favorable weather in the corn 
belt where 80 per cent of the Oats were produced. In our Northeastern section conditions were not 
so favorable; yields as a rule were far below normal. Good Seed Oats of adaptable varieties are not 
too plentiful. 
SEED CORN: The 1949 total Corn crop, estimated at 3,378 million bushels, was 8 per cent 
below the previous year but 21 per cent above average. Hybrid varieties planted on 78 per cent 
of the total Corn acreage this past year contributed to the high average yield per acre. There will 
be plenty of good Seed Corn, and germination will be above average. 
The 1949 Crop of Potatoes 
The Potato crop has again exceeded 400 million bushels, even though the acreage harvested in 
1949 was the smallest since 1878. Emphasis was placed on securing high yields from a small acreage. 
Average yield was the second highest on record. We again produced too many Potatoes and under 
the Support Program the Government will have to siphon off about 65 million bushels. 
The supply of Certified Seed Potatoes will not be above normal. The acreage entered for certi- 
fication in the Northeastern States and in Canada was 10 per cent less than a year ago. 
Another factor affecting the Seed Potato crop this year ts the large size of the tubers. These large 
Potatoes must be sorted out to meet the certification standards as to size. Many growers found that 
it was not profitable to sort their Potatoes for seed and have dumped their crop on the table stock 
market. In New York State this has materially reduced the quantity of Certified Seed available. 


Even though farm costs will again be bigh in 1950 and prices for our farm products somewhat lower 
than a year ago, we believe that good farming will prove to be a profitable business in 1950. We can help 
to make it so by offering the best of farm seeds. 
May we again 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. 
