(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
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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
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New Berlmville, Pa
215-367-2169
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Box 7
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717 776-3129
Harclerode’s Dairymen
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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
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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-
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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
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301-790-3698 304-735-5239
lawcasttr Farming, Saturday, November 26,1983—A27
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I / 0 Portable Gram Roller Mi
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Name
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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
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