The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-02-19
SHORT NEAT
SUPPLY.

Slr.ce 1910 here has been in this
country a decrease ~ 1906, coo for
animals; in the population there has
neen Tor the same pe,i an increase
OF nearly 200, 900. These figures
we're r.c ntly given cut L. Washing
ton by t e Agricu ture Department
Ahich declares tn ir mea ing to he
that sit will take rs. .255 coo more
meat animals tDan the estimates
show to give the present o pulatlou
the same meat supply that was
known to exist In 1910" Among the
causes Of this shortage In mat ami
mails the folloM Ing are named:
The encroaehment OF farms upon
the range territory.
The lack Of proper nge-leas asing
law permitting economical manage
IN MT and utilization OF r4nge.
The shortage in the corn and for
age crop due TO the severe drought in
Kansas, Nebraska ana Oklahoma in
1913, which caused the farmers Of
those states to dispose of their meat
animals.
The decline in sfock-raising on
farms ln the East ard South, because
OF poar marketing facilities, result
ing from many cal slaugnterlng es-
tablishmenss being driven cot II
business by the competition of the
great central slauGhtering establish
ments of the West and Central West.
The increase ia the value OF lard
and the increased cost of labor and
stock feed, residing in greatly in
creased cost OF production.
The tpmpta ion to sell livestock at
the prevailing hilh prices ratHer
than to carry them with high uriced
; oek feed, possible loss frcm disease
or acci1ent, and uncertain prices the
following year.
Enormous losses frou hog cnolera.
The competition of higher prices
for other farm products.
Altno the number Of meat animals
is now 1000, 600 less than 1t was in
1910, the value of tie present supply
is greater tnaD the value OF tile sup
is in 1910; according to the es imates
Of the deuattment, II is greater by
1895, 47s, 600.
In This fact We see one reason for
the increased cost OF tine food supply.
TIE farm value OF beef cattle since
1910. has increased per head frjm
Sl9.07 10 S3l.l3, that Is, abolt SO per
cent. Sheep, however, d elined
sigh ly. The department further
commsnts as lloAs;
"This Increase in The averaue val.
ue OF meat animsls does not neces-
sarily mean that farmers or stock
raisers are making more. II any,
profit. On the contrary, tie cost Of
production has probably Increased
more rapidly tran the increased SELL
ing price Of live stock.
The largely increased value Of
IL Ht abNibaio Oi tdA AlH -
accounted for by the increase CON
sumption or demand, arising frot
tine fact that prod ction has mt kept
pace with the iaerease in population,
and Ia the cas- of cattle and sheep
has actually declined. 1t Is veil
known that producers of farm prod
ucts are the last to receive any bene-
Ats from higher prices plid bY c u
sumers. yel they are among the fist
10 increase production il there Is .
prospe-t Of realizing betFer returns.
milk cows on farms have increAs-
ed in nu bsr, however. Tbere are
supp Sc to be 20, 1873, coo OF them In
the Z. S. or about half Of / per
cent more than In 1910 The farm
price Of milk producers uas increased
also. The average is $50 81 against
s35 - in 1910, an increase OF 5o.7 per
cent.
Beef catils are 1872 per cent short
Of tire number necessary TO maiutain
THE per capita ratio Of 1910, or s. 536, =
600 head Sheep are ll6 per csat
short, or 6, sos, 900 head. Swine are
80 per cent short or 3,2l4. 600 head. ="
Lileriry Digest.