AMERICAN WHEAT CROP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19503, 11 June 1925, Page 10

AMERICAN WHEAT CROP

THE ESTIMATED YIELD. UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON. June 9. (Received June 10, at 5.5 p.m.) The Department of Agriculture predicts that the wheat crop will be smaller than any since 1917. The -winter wheat fared badly throughout most of the regular winter belt owing to the low May temperatures and drought. The quality of the wheat was weakened by the adverse winter, the hessian fly, "and other pests. These and other unfavourable factors have caused the department to forecast a total winter wheat crop of 407,456,000 bushels, compared with an average of 592,000,000 during the past 10 years. The spring wheat crop is in fair to good condition, with an increased acreage 19 per cent, over 1924. The department predicts a production of 253,729,000 bushels, compared with an average of 245,000,000 bushels over the last 10 years. Kansas, the leading winter wheat State, made an exceptionally bad showing owing to frosts, a low rainfall, and deficient sub-soil moisture in addition to pests, and the recent drought and high temperatures.—A. and N.Z. Cable.