An economic study of wheat-farms in Springs County

Abstract

“Wheat is by far the most valuable plant in the world. It is the main source of food for modern Europe, for much of Asia for America and Australasia. In view of its importance it is strange that there should be no record of its discovery.” In the words of M. Henri Fabre, “History...... celebrates the battlefields whereon we meet our death, but scorns to speak of the ploughed fields whereby we thrive .... it cannot tell us the origin of wheat.” Since the World War the centres of production of wheat have been changed. Prior to 1914 Europe produced about 50 per cent of the World’s wheat and consumed about 60 per cent. European production was centred in districts such as the Ukraine, which are now largely disorganised. Russia, once the chief exporter of wheat, has yet to recommence exporting on a large scale, of the European countries France and Italy alone have regained their pre-war production. North America is now the chief exporting country and has made up the shortage created by the collapse in Europe. Although not realised as yet, the possibilities of development in Asia are enormous. The world production of wheat in 1922 was 3,392 million bushels. At an average price of 4/6 per bushel this production would be worth £763,000,000. This emphasises the importance of the wheat crop and justifies “the large amount of money that is spent annually in all classes of work, experimental, educational and otherwise, aimed at securing maximum wheat production at the minimum cost.