Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-12-04
OF CATTLE
Pertinent Reasons Why Every Far
mer Should be a StOckman.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFIT
OFFERED EVERY FARMER
Chicago Banker Discusses World
Problem and Gives Reasons for
Instability of Market.

we nave Just read an appeal to
the farmers of the United States by
G. A. Ryther, vice president of the
Live Stock Exchange National Bank
of Chicago, which presents the live
stock situation so tersely and is writ
ten by one who has devoted so much
of his life to study of live stock
problems that we take pleasure in
printing it, feeling sure that will be
read with interest by all classes. 1t
is as follows:
There is in this country today a
shortage of beef cattle.
Not only are we ceasing to export
cattle, but our own food supply is
being seriously curtailed. The past
two years have witnessed an alarm
ing scarcity of feeders and conse-
quent high prices, and a steadily de-
creasing number of farmers fatten-
ing them for the market. Last sea-
son they argued that with corn at
60c and zoe per bushel and feeders"
at So cents, it would be risky prop
osition to take holland many of
them stayed out to their great re-
greet
Those who did go in and feed to
maturity made money and lots of it.
This year there is more corn at a
lower price, and the undoubted scar
city of both feeders and beef cattle
and the growing demand by a stead
lily increasing population practically
guarantee high prices on the finished
product.
History has proven, in this as in
other kinds of business, that the man
who "sticks to it"-and learns it
thoroughly-is the one who makes it
pay, and the man who gets scared
out easily usually does so at time
when the other fellow is preparing
to reap his harvest.
Another mistake some cattlemen
make, is in trying to beat the mar
ket. Like other spectators, they
will hold out as long as the market
is rising, perhaps beyond slight
slump, but invariably they ship when
a decline is well under way-and help
thereby to give the toboggan another
shove!
Why not ship when cattle are
ready for market? Is it not expen-
sive to hold them beyond maturity?
Does not the extra feed offset any
possible margin of rise in price? And
If every cattle feeder would do that
would there not be greater regular
ity of receipts at all markets, con-
sequent steadying of prices, and a
more equitable distribution of the
profits in this immense and neces-
sary industry?
Stockmen should also gradually
work into raising their own feeders
and should not begrudge the pasture
necessary for this remunerative
branch of the business. The silo
would prove mighty help in their
development. In fact, silage and alf-
alta are destined to solve the prob
lem of how to make the most money
raising live stock on corn belt lands.
There will in all probability be
Al f,,f
venting the sale of calves under six
weeks of age, which will be both a
humane and immensely beneficial
measure beef will feed 20 times
as many as a veal and to their better
nourishment. How many thousands
of young calves are slaughtered year.
ly that could be easily raised to fully
matured fine beef cattle!
Ebert Hubbard has said 1T is a
wise farmer who turns his grain in
to live stock before marketing" Not
only is it more profitable, but it puts
back into the soil that which keeps
1t rich and fertile. Rotation OF crops
will not do it alone, commercial fer
ltilizer is not sufficient, but, as DR.. w,
e. Taylor, soil specialist of Moline,
says: 1.-THE land needs a certain ele-
ment of animal matter which can
only be had from manure!" In Eur
opean countries, the soil is examined
before a tenant goes onto farm. II
during his tenancy the fertility of the
soil is depleted. he is fined according
lly. If however he leaves the land in
better shape than he found it, he Il
Rewarded in proportion.
| Must we pass laws to that enect II
this country? If the present waste
full overworking of our farm lands II
continued, it must come to that Mus
we reach such an extremity? Wh.