MAIZE IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18340, 5 March 1923, Page 12

MAIZE IN AMERICA.

f PRINCIPAL FOOD SUPPLY. Consumed either directly or in the form Of meat and other animal products, corn (make) is the principal source of America's food supply. The vital, importance of the corn crop and its relation to American prosperity has been reviewed by the Unftod States Department of Agriculture in » recent Year Book, just published. In a graphic survey the department has presented the story of corn in all it* details. Of approximately 64 million farms in the United States, nearly 5 million produce corn Nearly 100 million acres of farm land Is devoted to the production of this single crop, which in recent years has reached more than 3 billion bushels. During the war the value of the crop reached more than 3 billion dollars, or one-eighth the present national debt. The 1920 crop, the largest ever produced, had a value of 2,150,000,000 dollars; the IS2I crop 1,303,000,000 dollar*. It is shown that 40 per cent, of the total crop is fed to swine on farms, 20 per cent, is fed to horses and mules on farms, and 15 per cent, to cattle on farms. Only 10 per cent is used direct for human food, but 85 per cent, is used through the consumption of meat and meat products. Corn is the basis of the nation's live stock industry. Figures and charts on production show that the United States produces about three-fourths of the corn crop of the world. There are no large competing countries, but corn is an important in Argentina. Brazil, Mexico, and some of the soutberen European countries, though not vet in serious competition with the United' States product. It is shown that less than half of the corn land in the Corn Belt is allotted to corn in any given season, and that over 50 per cent of the crop land is occupied by small grains and hay. Th»- things that determine the amount of corn produced in the United States are discussed in detail: (1) The acreage planted, and (2) the acre yield. While the acreage planted is determined by farmers, the acre yield is determined by the quality of the soil, the weather, insert pests," and plant diseases. The estimated loss caused by common smut alone during the 4-ye-ir period, 1917-20, is placed at about '80 million bushels annually, or nearly 3 per cent, of the average crop. While no practical method of controlling corn emur has yet been discoveed, the most promising outlook along _ this line lies in the productive, smut-resistant strains. Of insect pests, the corn-ear worm, where abundant, causes a loss of at least 7 per cent, of the grain on the ears attacked. The European corn borer also threatens to take heavy toll of the crop. Cost of production factors are presented in a form useful to farmers in estimating eosta and returns.- Facts concerning the commercial movement of corn o,nd some of the market factors that influence and determine corn prices are discussed. The subjects considered are (1) ) quality and grading of corn : (2) surplus and deficiency of corn in different areas; (3) monthly marketings of corn: (4) moisture content and shrinkage in storage; (5) exports and imports of the United States and Argentina ; and (6) freight rates. These writers state that " the fundamental factors that will determine the profits on corn production in the future, as they have in the past, are supply and demand. The future demand for corn depends on many things, most important 0/ which is the demand for meat. If increasing supplies of meat, especially pork, are required for our own use and export, then our corn production must be increased, as we cannot grow enough meat to supply an enlarged demand with our present product of corn."