(The wont drought in SO yean hit the nation's midsection in July and August. Drought damage was severe enough to change the outlook for U.S. agriculture impacting on farm supplies, prices, and incomes. It may take several yean before the tall ef fects of tile drought run their course. In the following article, USDA’s economist Don Seaborg of the Economic Research Service, describes the legacy of a summer many farmers would rather forget.) -XXX Farmers started the season confidently. Generous rains had left good soil moisture in most major crop areas of the country. Spring seeding ran about two weeks late because fields were simply too soggy for planting. In early June, one assessment in dicated that subsoil moisture reserves would, at least partially, offset any normal dryness during the growing season. At the same time, economists were forecasting record yields. The reasons: nearly ideal moisture conditions and reduced crop production on marginal lands because of acreage limitation programs. Super high yields, they calculated, would offset a large part of the acreage cut. However, the situation changed about midseason. Rising temperatures and cloudless skies scorched young plants as they entered the reproductive stage of develop ment. The amount of moisture needed for major field crops, such as com and soybeans, peaks from the time the crops flower until the ears or pods are fully formed. Just when the plants needed moisture the most, the topsoil dried up. High ROSKAMP: the roller mill specialists Po R SPECIAL SALE ON A DEMO UNIT - ONE ONLY Lou Sbuba 716-533-2237 PENNSYLVANIA Barrett Equipment Co. Smicksburg, Pa. 814-257-8881 Clapper Farm Equip., Inc. Alexandria, Pa 814-669-4465 Fred Crivcllaro Easton, Pa. 215-258-7584 Tom Dunlap Jersey Shore, Pa. 717-398-1391 Look at worst drought in 50 years temperatures increased evaporation. A major problem: shallow roots. Plants had not put down deep roots early in the growing season because topsoil moisture was so abundant, con sequently, they were more susceptible to heat-stress. By early August, the drought had taken its toll. Com yields were estimated at 100 bushels per acre, down from 1982’s record of 115 bushels, and substantially less than predicted in early July. Soybean yields were expected to fall about bushels below 1982’s 32.2 bushels per acre. The situation got worse with the Com Belt receiving only about half the ex pected rain in August. By early September, continued drought had further lowered com and soybean yield estimates to 85 and 25 bushels per acre, respectively. All major field crops suffered yield losses this year, expect winter wheat which was planted in the fall of 1982 and harvested as the weather began to turn dry. The 1983 drought was par ticularly devastating because it was centered in the most productive areas. In the 1974 and 1980 droughts, areas most severely affected were largely outside the Com Belt and both droughts were shorter, and August rains helped improve yield prospects. This year, rains didn’t come until early September definitely too late for com and probably too late for the soybean crop. Unless rains are very generous this fall and winter, subsoil reserves will be low, and 1984 crops will require frequent moisture during the growing season. Hot summer weather also slows the rates of weight gain for lANAjSER ' Erb A Henry New Berlmville, Pa 215-367-2169 Fickes Silo Co. Box 7 Newville, Pa. 17241 717 776-3129 Harclerode’s Dairymen Specialty Co. New Pans, Pa 814839-2790 S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc. West Grove, Pa 215-869-9440 R.T. Marklc Farm Equip., Inc. State College. Pa 814-237-3141 Yields decline SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY Marshall Machinery, Inc. Honesdale, Pa. 717-729-7117 Northeast Equipment Co. Northeast, Pa. 814-725-1888 North Penn Sealstor Bloomsburg, Pa. 717-387-1422 Atiee Hebert Littlestown, Pa. 717-359-5863 Rovendale Supply Watsontown, Pa. 717-538-5521 SoHonbergar Silos Corp. Uniontown Farm Equipmont Chambersburg, Pa. Uniontown, Pa. 717-264-9588 412-437-9851 livestock and poultry. In some cases of exceptionally high heat, animals die. Widespread broiler losses in the Southeast in late August resulted from the heat. Of course, any electrical outage that stops fans in farrowing or poultry houses can be disastrous in unusually hot weather. The liveweight of slaughtered cattle and hogs declined this summer, reflecting heat stress. Pasture and ranges were generally adequate and there was no early or large forced movement of cattle to slaughter. Good The Drought of 1983 Strikes the Heart of the Corn Belt Index as of Aug 20 1983 Workhorse SPECIAL OFF-SEAS SALE NOW IN EFFE WHILE SUPPLY LAS Stanley's Farm Service Klingerstown, Pa 717-648-2088 Stouffer Bros., Inc. Chambersburg, Pa. 717-263-8424 Swope & Bashore, Inc. Myerstown, Pa. 717 933-4138 Tam Agri Corp. Dillsburg, Pa. 717-432-9738 Terre Hill Site Co., Inc. p * * Equipment, Inc. Terre Hill, Pa. Street Md. 215-445-6736 301-452-8521 moisture in western ranges this summer and adequate forage supplies in the Com Belt and Southeast helped livestock through the grazing season. Recent rains are reviving pastures and filling stock ponds, brightening the picture for the fall and winter. Drought Changes Outlook Crop production is expected to decline 26 percent this year, based on USDA September crop report. Probably about half of this decline reflects the impact of the hot, dry summer. Planned acreage cut- Phone or send in this coupon for free literature on the Heavyweights to: Roskamp Mfg., Inc. 2167 Rush-Mendon Rd. Rush, New York 14543 O.A. Newton & Son Co., Inc. Bridgeville, Del 302-337-8211 Arnett’s Carafe RR9 Box 125 nagerstown, Md. 21740 Sharon Springs Carafe, Inc. 301-733-0515 Sharon Springs, NY 518-284-2346 Willsey Farm Center Tulljr, NY 315-696-5163 WEST VIRGINIA Tri-Stoto Firm Automation u Lipscomb’s Emiip EftooWV 301-790-3698 304-735-5239 lawcasttr Farming, Saturday, November 26,1983—A27 | 9M \ Check here I ■» I □ Stationars Peed Processi I □ Portable Ear Corn Mil! I / 0 Portable Gram Roller Mi * □ Silage Roller Mill I □ Have representative call Name R R or Box No DELAWARE MARYLAND backs account for the remainder, although production cuts were not uniform among crops. Winter wheat and barley production rose slightly, while output of com, sorghum, spring wheat, soybeans, and cotton will probably fall a third to one-half below 1962’s production. Farm market prices have risen as crop prospects declined, but increases have been tempered by huge stocks of food grains, feed grains, oilseeds, and cotton carried over from earlier years when yields were high. Large carry-over (Turn to Page A2B) V / «■*»«*■ State Phone NEW JERSEY Andover Tractor ft Equipment, Inc. Andover, NJ 201-786-5525 Brookhill Equipment ft Supply Co. PrtUtown, NJ 201-735-4142 NEW YORK mg Cen or stop m
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