The purpose of this study is primarily to show the past trend in the yield per acre of certain of our food and feed crops, and to compare the general level of yields at present with those at different times in the period covered by the data, in order that we may see a little more clearly how much of the increased supply of certain foods and feeds has come from increasing yields of these crops and how much from increasing acreage. It is dangerous to hazard any prophecies as to the future, nevertheless an examination of the trend in yields in the past may give some idea of what we may expect; and even a general! idea of what may be expected with reference to crop yields will be helpful in estimating the need for more crop land in the future.
