Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-12-18
The Price OF Corn.

terested this year in the probable
price of corn. They have been ex-
pecting a very great increased yield,
reasoning that il the corn consuming
world got away with over 100000
600 bushels last year alta good price
there should be no difficulty in get
ting away with the estimated 2,500,-
900 bushels this year at better
price.
The government estimates the
amount of corn in farmers hands
November l, 1907, at I30,995,O0O|
bushels. or about A. cent Of last
years yield; and but a little more
than that proportion was on hand at
a corresponding date in 1906. In
asmuch as less than 100,000,000
bushels were exported last year, it is
evident that we consumed quarter
of million bushels more than this
years promised yield.
In considering corn prices, how
ever, we must take into account the
feeding operations. In connection
with its crop statistics each year the
government makes an estimate OF
the amount of corn shipped out OF
the country where it was grown. 1t
is most interesting table and wor-
thy Of careful study.
On an average but little more
than 20 per cent Of the corn of any
year is moved across county lines!
sometimes it runs much less than 20i
per cent; at other times perhaps 25
per cent or more. The corn that
does not move across county lines is
fed. Hence it may safely be assumed
that over three-fourths of the corn is
fed each year in the county where it.
is grown. Hence the feeding opera,
tions determine the price of corn to-
a greater extent than foreign de-
mand OF home consumption. No
one can tell, and especially in a time.
like this. just what the farmer will
do about it. He has his corn; he
may have the hogs or cattle; and he
alone must determine whether he
will sell them together or separately.
He will certainly do that which he
believes will afford him the greatest
profit Therefore, if instead Of ship
ping out 20 per cent, the farmer
ships out 80 Or possibly 40 per cent,
it can readily be seen that corn will
drop on the market until it reaches
Inheritance tax.
a point where the farmer believes
he can feed it with profit.
1t may interest our readers to no.
tice what states have furnished the
corn for shipment across county lines
in recent years. Beginning with
the crop of 1903, we find that lii
nois grew 264, 100000 bushels that
year and shipped l29,000,000 across
county lines, almost half the crop.
j In 1901 she grew 344,00O,000 bush,
els and shipped l54,000,000; in
1905, 3S2,000,OO0, and shipped l72,-
100000. Illinois, therefore, is the
great corn shipping state; and that
explains why there are such loud
complaints Of the failure Of the fer
, tility of Illinois lands.
/ The next great corn shippers are
kansas~and Nebraska. In 1903 Kan
sas grew 171,O00.00O bushels and
shipped 4l,00O,00O bushels; in 1901
she grew $4,000, 900 and shipped a
little less than 100000. In 1902
Nebraska grew l72,O00,O0O bushels
i and shipped about GS,O0O,OOO; in
!. 1904 she grew 260,000,OO0 bushels
: and shipped l22,O0O,00O.
: 1t will he interesting to compare
{ the shipments OF these states witt
J. those of Iowa. In 1903 Iowa was
credited with a crop Of 229,00O,0O(
bushels and shipped out less thar
Y 100000. In 1904 she is credited
: with 303,000,000 bushels, and ship
/ ped out 63,0OO,OQ0. In 1905 sh'
|, grew 305,O00,O00 and shipped ou
: 73,O00,000 bushels.
: AS the amount shipped by othe
d states in the west is inconsiderable
Q the price Of corn this year depend
J largely upon what the farmers il
Il Illinois, Iowa, Kansaa and Nebras
II ka do in the way Of feeding. 1t ma,
d safely be ventured that Illinois vii
j this year furnish the usual larg
amount, for the reason that he
farmers are mainly corn grower
1t and do comparatively little feedini
e except in the way of hogs. The feed
D ing question therefore depends up
G on what the farmers of Iowa, Kansa
a and Nebraska do. IL they begin
a ship corn, as Illinois does, as 500
[e as it is fit, we may figure on 10,
n prices We fear the men who fgur
h on fifty and sixty cent corn at pr
s. mary markets will be disappointed
h We do not express any opinion as
Of prices. but simply point out VIII,
to seems to us to be the situation.
Wallace Farmer.