The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-12-03
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3, 1913.
NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES.

In discussing the high cost Of liv-
ing, a farmer friend of the River Press
recently remarked that it requires
the returns from five bushels of wheat
to purchase a good sized ham; that
two pounds of good quality bacon sell
for as much Is sixty pounds Of wheat;
that the price paid for W. dozen eggs
is approximately the same az that re-
ceived by the Montana farmer for a
bushel Of his principal grain crop. A
number of other comparisons were
made, all of them tending to show
that raising wheat at present prices
is not a profitable occupation.
These exhibits furnish a convincing
demonstration of the desirability of
giving attention to neglected oppor.
tunities. The low price of grain is
due to the fact that 10 many farmers
are engaged in its productions; the
high cost of meat and other products
is caused largely by a shortage of
supplies. A reduction in the size of the
grain crops, Or it's conversion into
meat and other food products on the
401 ILL., WOulu C4udlAAO tAO u1oPu1AIy III
price that now operates against the
farmer who depends upon the market
price for grain as his principal u
of income.
The opportunities offered by the
Montana home market have been neg
lected ever since the pioneer resi-
dents came to this state. In the early
sixties, very little attention was given
to anything except miningu farm pro-
ducts and other supplies being
brought in from distant states. In
later years, the livestock industry
was given exclusive attention by a
large number of Montana citizens, to
the neglect of other products which
were supplied to the Montana market
from outside suorces. At the present
time Montana is producing a surplus
of certain products that has to be
sent to distant markets, and imports
from other localities a large quantity
of supplies that could be produced al
home. There is a big expense for
transportation of each shipment, the
Montana producer or consumer paying
Tie freight Ill each CASE.
The Montana wheat crop of this
year, according to estimates by grain
dealers, amounted to about 10000, 900
bushels, a large proportion of which
will be shipped to eastern markets.
It is the opinion of agricultural ex-
perts that better returns would be
received by the producers by convert
ing most of this grain, Of its equiva'
lent in other crops, into products that
are now brought to Montana from 9th
er states.
Some instructive facts in this con
nection are given in a bulletin pre-
pared by state officials. from which II
about $4,000, 900 annually for supplies
from other states that could be pro
duced on Montana farms. The exhib
It includes hams, bacon and othel
meats to the amount of about 10000,
900 pounds. The annual im%portations
Of poultry and eggs are valued al
nearly three million dollars, and dairy
products, including condensed milk
and cream, are imported from Other
states at a cost of about $4,000, O0(
each year.
A large part of these imported sup
plies could be, and should be, produc
ed in Montana. In some localities the
conditions may not be favorable t.
certain branches of the farming in
dustry, but the opportunities Offered
by the Montana market for product.
that could be raised here should no
be neglected. There will be satisfac
tory returns to citizens who take ad
vantage of the situation.