Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-08-02
CROP CONDITIONS
IN FEEDING STATES

The stock growers of the West
l9fe vitaIly concerned with the
crop situation in the feeding states
and especially at this time will be
interested in the following brief
summary of conditions now pre-
vailing in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois,
northern Missouri, and the terri
tory which looks to Omaha and
western markets for its supplies Of
feeder cattle and sheep.
Harvesting Of small grain will
soon be over and yields are running
better than early estimates indicat-
ed. The wheat crop is better than
the average for the past several
years Oats is a good crop and in
some sections there will be bumper
yields. Prairie hay will be more
plentiful, while the supply TO al
falfa promises to be the largest for
many years. Corn, while generally
backward a month ago, is in
growth nearly up to the average
for this season of the year and the
present condition is highly salts
factory. With favorable weather
from now on there will be more
corn in these states than there has
been in recent years.
Every one of the states mention
ed is seriously short of all classes
of cattle, due to drouthy conditions
of last year curtailing the feed
supply and to the sevefest winter
in many years, which forced the
of thousands of cattle
during the winter months which
otherwise would have been in pas
lures this summer for feeding out
the coming fall aand winter. Pros
pective high prices for meat foods
next year will naturally stimulate
feeding operations and, coupled |
with the prospects for plenty Of |
t., d, will insure a heavy demand /
At western markets for cattle and /
sheep. Last year there were sold /
o country buyers at South Omaha
;, arly 100000 feeder cattle and
, re than 100000 feeder sheep.
t supplies are available it is safe
c predict that this number Will be
Exceeded this year. Range cattle
InG sheep will come to market in
ooC flesh, in consequence of which
l:erc will be greater competition
OF offerings among packers and
eeder buyers, especially at those
;rkets which enjoy heavy feed
lg trade. The opinion is therefore h
rcouraging to the man who will .
ave cattle or sheep to market this t
all.
Regarding the situation the fol- {
wing extracts are quoted from a c
ecent issue of the Breeders Gaz- G
tie: /
"At the inception of the feeder |
Jason mutton finishers are con- Y
srned about prices. The western U
NIB crop is undoubtedly short, {
lin cattle are scarce and sheep r
,eders have had profitable sea- v
N. Iowa will be a heavier pur- q
laser than ever before and Miss u
Iri, practically out of business last Y
sar owing to drouth, will again be I
contender feeding sheep market. v
he main reason a higher feeder
arket is predicted is the fact that G
e light end of the western move Y
ent will be small and packers f
i'll buy everything fit to kill. With {,
short lamb crop and abundance o
feee the West will send mutton, e
II thin stock, to market. The East f
no longer the only market open b
the western breeder for thin |.
eep and lambs Feeder trade has !
rely opened yet. mainly because V
tie is available but Michigan s
'vers are already operating at O
issouri River markets and "
is not improbable a little b
Ter on"