The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-10-13
FARMERS ADVISED
TO HOLD WHEAT

OAA y oSA' JoAA SoOA SN>A ''AA>~s
yet," is the suggestion of Director F..
S. Cooley of the State college agricul-
tural extension service in statement
which he has just handed out, addressed
to the farmers of Montana. Mr.. Coo
ley says:
"The farmers need Of money to
meet expenses and obligations matur-
ing at this season is generally met by
selling few hundred bushels of grain
as soon as practicable after harvest.
This practice is sound and in keeping
with good farm marketing policy.
Whether part of the crop shall be
held for the normal increase in price of
May wheat as compared with the De-
cember price depends upon many con-
siderations. Among these are the
facilities at the farmers command for
storage and shipment.
This season has brought very re-
narkable market situation: the rules
may not work out with the present
wheat crop. The price at harvest time
is little short of astounding. We did
not anticipate it nine months ago. The
United States has not enough wheat
for the domestic bread supply and for
next seasons crop. We have not
enough for home consumption.
The Canadian government report
places their crop at 200, 900, 600 bushels
less than the 1915. In fact Canada has
scarcely half a crop. American millers
have small prospect of buying largely
in Canada to cover home shortage. 1t
would not be surprising in the least to
hear that England has commandeered
every bushel of surplus wheat that
Canada can spare. Foreign orders
taken months ago for American wheat
are being filled. European buyers are
actively placing contracts, even at the
present prices, which indicates anxiety
for the years supply. America is IL
able to oversell it's wheat stock. That
would send prices skyrocketing and
menace the seed supply.
~ wish that Montana farmers had
the kind of seed needed-enough for
their use and to sayre. | believe they
would make money by holding some of
the right stuff. There is no part of
grain raising more likely to pay divi-
dends than the production of first-class
seed. Selected strain of clean wheat
of superior quality, raised on we'll pre-
pared land, a little work pulling out
weeds and off-type stuff, is worth
much more than the grain market. 1t
is becoming increasingly rare. Great
possibilities are in store for Montana
farmers in seed grain when they wake
up and pull together and play the game
right.
with the American wheat crop less
than enough to feed the American peo-
pie and furnish seed for next year,
with no wheat to spare in Canada, with
foreign shippers not only taking wheat
contracted months ago but actively
buying more at present high prices,
even if we could get wheat abroad we
should have to add high ocean freight
charges to the Liverpool price. There
is little prospect of getting in outside
wheat.
I'VE may we'll wonder what the mar
ket will be next spring. The tempta-
tion TO take money now while the TAX
ing is good is very strong. The Amer-
can wheat situation doesn't look like
low prices for a good while. A few
hundred bushels of good wheat in the
bin may beat money in the bank. The
situation merits the study of every
man who has wheat to sell"