Agriculture Report

Pleased was Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Mastick Hyde to be able to report to President Hoover a "gradual improvement" in husbandry. Farm incomes ($12,527,000,000) were higher than in the last three years. The decline in land values had been retarded. Fewer husbandmen were quitting their acres for the city. Some 1929 farm facts:

Corn. "2,528,000,000 bushels produced, 308,000,000 less than in 1928 . . . smaller acreage . . . reduced yields."

Wheat. "792,000,000 bushels . . . 902,000,000 in 1928. . . . Wheat prices have been substantially higher. . . ."

Cotton. "14,915,000 bales . . . 14,478,000 last year. . . . For the larger crop, producers received a lower price per pound.''

Livestock. "Current year has been profitable. . . . Fewer cattle and hogs slaughtered . . . higher prices."

Dairying. "Favorable . . a most satisfactory industry."

Population. "Farm population . . . smallest in 20 years. . . . In 1928 a net movement of 598,000 from farms to cities."

Pests. "In April the Mediterranean fruit fly . . . worst fruit pest known, was found well established in central Florida. . . . Control operations involved 8,100,000 acres, producing 76% of [Florida's] citrus fruits . . . 580,000 boxes of citrus fruit, 3,400 bushels of vegetables, 7,100 bushels of non-citrus fruit were destroyed. In 1930 $15,500,000 will be needed for quarantine enforcement, inspection, research . . . the object is eradication."

Byproducts. "Excellent paper can be made from straw, cornstalks . . . artificial gas from straw . . . starch, flour from sweet potatoes. . . . Rayon from the fuzz on cotton seed. . . . Dynamite, linoleum, flour from peanut shells. . . ."

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