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ARM AND F I ANCH B u l l e t in December 1966 Vol. 21, No. 12 A BILLIO N PEO PLE A N D TH E R IC E B O W L Every day more than one-third of the world’s people awaken to face a future that is domi nated by a single commodity, rice. Moreover, by the end of the 20th century, the number of people dependent upon rice for their staple food will be greater than the present world population, points out the Foreign Agricultural Service. Will there be enough rice for them to eat? This is the question that prompted the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to designate 1966 as International Rice Year. This promotional program has marshaled nearly every rice-growing country of the world into an all-out effort to produce more rice. The FAS says that the objective of the pro gram is not so much to increase the world’s rice acreage as it is to obtain a larger quantity of grain from the present acreage. The old methods of growing rice can no longer be used; modern technology must be fully com mitted to the task of boosting yields— through greater use of fertilizer, better seed strains, improved water management, and disease and pest control. The potential of the world’s rice production is enormous; however, a huge gap exists be tween the countries of Asia and Africa, where rice yields amount to about 1,500 pounds per acre, and the countries of Europe and North America, where yields range from 4,000 to 4,500 pounds per acre. Since the largest part of the world’s rice acreage is located in the under F E D E R A L R E S E R V E DALLAS, developed countries where yields are lowest, even a slight increase in output per acre could mean the dfference between hunger and plenty. Statistics reveal this situation very clearly. Asia, with 200.8 million acres in rice in the 1966 crop year, had a yield of only 1,406 pounds per acre. South American acreage totaled 12 million acres, and the yield was 1,489 pounds per acre. In the United States the yield was 4,291 pounds per acre on approxi mately 1.8 million acres; and in Europe it was 3,989 pounds on 813,000 acres. Australia, with only 65,000 acres in rice, reached a peak yield of 5,766 pounds an acre. Yields are increasing in practically all of the world’s rice-growing countries, but in many of them the rate of gain is very small. This is particularly true of the underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Only in Japan, the United States, Australia, the Soviet Union, and several European coun tries are rice yields mounting significantly. The great variance in yields is the factor which has created the problem in the world rice situation, namely, the need to keep pro duction rising with the rate of population growth and consumption. At an average rate of 2.5 percent annually, the increase in world rice output just barely meets the requirements of a growing population. When world rice production experiences a sharp reversal (as it did during the past year because of adverse growing conditions in many of the major pro ducing countries), the margin between enough B A N K TEXAS OF D A L L A S and not enough rice is too narrow, according to the FAS. Improved rice yields can be achieved in many ways. In the Philippines, for example, even a minimum fertilizer application usually results in a 20-percent gain in output, yet only 1 out of every 10 rice paddies is fertilized. W eather Damage to Trees Is Tax Deductible The value of an ornamental or shade tree that is damaged by high winds, tornadoes, or other acts of nature is deductible from income taxes, points out Bill Smith, Texas A&M Uni versity Extension Forester. The value of the The use of better seed is another method for tree can be determined by the decrease in the improving rice yields. The huge, complicated assessed value of the real estate or by a formula task of bringing better seed into wider use is based on tree size. The formula applies to the major goal of the International Rice Re many trees grown in Texas, including redbud, search Institute, an $8-million research com black walnut, American and Chinese elms, plex which is located in the Philippines near cottonwood, red and white oaks, and maples. Manila. Over the years, the Institute has de Mr. Smith says that $5 veloped greatly improved rice varieties, tailor per square inch of ing them carefully to the substantially different trunk at breast height local conditions. is the value determined by the National Shade During the past summer, for example, the Tree Conference Com Institute announced that a new and extremely mittee on shade tree promising rice variety would be given its first evaluation. Based on test under actual farm conditions in the Philip pines. Yields are reported to amount to be the diameter of the trunk at breast height, or tween 5,260 and 5,880 pounds per acre, in measurement at 4U> feet from the ground, the sharp contrast to the Philippines’ average of basic value of a 4-inch diameter tree would be 1,070 to 1,150 pounds per acre. About 45 about $62. A 20-inch diameter tree at breast tons of the new rice have been donated to the height is valued at more than $1,500. Small country’s Rice and Corn Administration for trees (under 4 inches in diameter) are valued distribution to farmers, and a much larger at replacement cost, plus the expense of plant quantity of seed is expected to be available ing with the same size trees. Property owners should measure the trunks of damaged trees next year, says the FAS. before removal and keep the measurements Total U.S. production of rice in 1966 is for tax records, according to the Texas A&M placed at 84.9 million bags. Output in Louisi University specialist. ana and Texas — the major rice-producing states of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District Protecting Our Food — is estimated at 42.7 million bags, or onehalf of the national output. The per acre yield The 1966 Yearbook of Agriculture, Protect in the District is placed at 4,010 pounds. ing Our Food, describes the enormous job of guarding our food against pests, disease, and damage. The Yearbook authors say that the Nonfood items account for almost 25 cents people in this country have to fight 10,000 of every dollar spent in food stores today, kinds of insects for our food. We have to com according to Texas A&M University. During bat 1,500 plant diseases and 250 animal dis the past 10 years, supermarket food sales have eases, as well as fight spoilage and decay. risen 51 percent, while nonfood sales have increased 140 percent. Texas A&M University The 1966 Yearbook of Agriculture, recently specialists say that the trend seems to be for released by the U.S. Department of Agricul the convenience of one-stop shopping instead ture, contains 416 pages and 105 photographs. of many stops at the drugstore, dimestore, and The publication follows the progress of our hardware store. food supply from the farmer’s field to the saucepan on the stove. The Yearbook de Explained in the booklet are three tax bill scribes every stage of safeguarding food from changes which apply to senior citizens and insects, rodents, bacterial contamination, and became effective in 1964. These changes in loss of body-building values. volve (1) the minimum standard deduction and how it may reduce tax liability, (2) all allow Copies of Protecting Our Food may be ob able medical expenses as fully deductible for tained for $2.50 each from the Superintendent taxpayers who are 65 years of age or older, of Documents, Government Printing Office, and (3) a revision of the income tax require Washington, D. C. 20402. The U.S. Depart ment on the sale of a personal residence. ment of Agriculture has no copies of the Following the procedures outlined in the Yearbook for public distribution or sale. booklet may result in substantial savings for some people on 1966 income taxes, states Miss Food Imports Lane. Single copies of Tax Benefits for Older Slightly over 11 percent of the food con Americans may be obtained, without charge, sumed by American civilians in 1965 was from the nearest Internal Revenue Service either imported from foreign countries or office. shipped in from U.S. territories. The U.S. De Record Breadgrain Output partment of Agriculture says that the figure is below the average for the past decade, dur World production of breadgrains in 1966 is ing which imports have comprised 12.5 per expected to reach an all-time high of 289 cent of the total U.S. food supply. Coffee, tea, million metric tons, reports the Foreign Agri and cocoa account for over one-half of the cultural Service. The figure is up 4 percent crop products imported. These commodities, from the 1965 total and is 1 percent above together with other products that do not com the previous peak of 287 million tons in 1964. pete with U.S. farm production, make up 45 percent of the total import value; competitive The 1966 world wheat crop is forecast at goods comprise the remaining 55 percent. 259 million tons, compared with 245 million tons in 1965 and the previous record of 255 million tons in 1964. Rye output, however, at Special Tax Benefits for Senior Citizens an estimated 30.2 million tons, is down 10 per A guide that outlines special tax benefits for cent from the 1965 outturn. people who are 65 years of age or over is avail able from Internal Revenue Service offices, Narrow-Row Cotton Shows Promise reports Texas A&M University. The 18-page Yields of cotton have been increased and booklet, entitled Tax Benefits for Older Amer production costs have been lowered by plant icans, was prepared by the IRS in cooperation ing cottonseed in narrow, 7-inch rows. The with the President’s Council on Aging. The narrow-row experiments are being conducted publication is especially important to retired at Texas A&M University’s South Plains Re persons who are living on fixed incomes, says search and Extension Center near Lubbock. Miss Leota C. Lane, Extension Family Life Education Specialist at Texas A&M University. Cotton production in narrow, 7-inch rows has been investigated for several years on the Included in the guide is a simplified explana Southern High Plains of Texas. Compared tion of how the provisions of the Federal in with output from standard 40-inch rows, cot come tax laws apply to older Americans. Tax ton yields have been slightly higher in nar saving information discussed in the booklet row rows and production costs have been includes an explanation of benefits for a sur reduced as much as 27 percent. viving spouse or head of a household, added exemptions for age and blindness, and the With high populations of 200,000 plants or amount of tax credit which is allowable for more per acre, leaf area increases rapidly and the rate of fruit set is very high, according to retirement income. Dr. L. L. Ray, Texas A&M University Agron Results of the survey will (1) help guide farm omist at the Lubbock Center. The seasonal and food policies, (2) serve as a basis for n u requirement for crop production has been re trition education programs, and (3) benefit duced by about 30 days, and the exposure of economic and marketing research on the de open bolls to weather has been lowered as mand for agricultural products. much as 50 days. Approximately 7,500 families of all sizes in cities, rural nonfarm areas, and farm sec Dr. Ray noted a significant relationship be tions in the N ortheastern, N orthw estern, tween the variety of cotton used and row Southern, and Western regions of the United spacing. Early varieties with small leaves grow States were surveyed, thus providing a nation ing more upright appear to be best adapted to wide picture. Comparisons between groups narrow rows. New cotton strains developed for surveyed show that in 1965 urban and farm narrow-row production are currently being tested, and an efficient finger-type stripper households consumed food worth $36 p er harvester has been designed for harvesting week, while rural nonfarm households used $33 worth. Regional variations ranged from cotton grown in narrow rows. $39 per week in the Northeast to $31 in the South. How Much Do Families Spend Average-size families with incomes near the for Food? top of the ladder had food bills which were An A gricultural R e more than twice as high as those at the bot search Service survey tom. Families with annual incomes above of household food con $10,000 consumed food that was worth $54 sumption reveals that per week; those earning less than $3,000 a the average American year used $20 worth of food per week. family of 3.3 persons used $35 worth of food Soil Micronutrient Tests per week during the Texas A&M University’s soil testing service spring of 1965. The for farmers, gardeners, and homeowners is figure represents a 17-percent increase over being expanded to include micronutrient tests, 1955, when the last national food survey was according to John E. Hutchison, Director of made. The increase in the family food bill the Agricultural Extension Service. The a n amounted to $5 per week. Included in the nouncement of the expanded service followed increase is a 13-percent rise in food prices the installation of an atomic absorption spec since 1955. It also includes an increase in trophotometer which was provided through a food purchases by farm families, together with grant from the Texas Plant Food Educational a decrease in the amount of their homeSociety. produced food. In 1955, farm families pro duced 41 percent of their food at home; in 1965, The new instrum ent can measure th e however, they produced only 31 percent. amounts of magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, Of the $35 worth of food consumed, $29 and copper in plant and soil extracts and was for food used at home, including $2 for thereby provide a scientific basis for the use the market value of home-produced food, of these elements. Previously, Texas A&M Federally-donated food, and food received as University soil tests measured only the amounts gifts or for pay. Meals and snacks away from of phosphorous, potassium, organic matter, and soil acidity and detected salinity hazards. home averaged $6 per family per week. Procedures for utilizing the capabilities of th e The survey was conducted by Faith Clark, new equipment are being developed, and in Director of ARS Consumer and Food Eco structions for collecting soil samples for the nomics Research; S. F. Adelson, Food Econo micronutrient tests will be available soon from mist; and Evelyn Grossman, Statistician. county Extension offices.
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