White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-10-20
HAY AND SPUD
PRICES SOARING

The returns received by the
ranchers in the Yakima valley, es.
pecially on the reservation, where
the principal crops are alfalfa and
potatoes, are proving very satisfac.
tory. Not only is the price good
but there is every indication that
it will go higher. The Daily Pro.
duce News, which is generally un-
derstood to represent the dealers,
as quoted in the Yakima Republic,
says: there is no escape from
the fact that potatoes are not only
the big thing in the world of pro-
duce just now, but they are becom-
ing bigger every day. They are
selling now in the Yakima valley
at S23 per ton f. o. b. loading sta
ton with the result that the yield
is changing hands at rapid rate,
shifting from producer to buyer.
The impetus is directly traceable
to large accumulation of orders
from the East. Buyers are bid
ding up to fill the demand. A $23
potato in Yakima means $40 or $50
in Chicago, and commission men
are wondering how much longer
this condition will continue. There
are those who think the grower is
making most of the money, for the
market has now reached the danger
point. On the other hand, there is
a quiet and unobtrusive element
believing that only the sky is the
limit. The man who is ready to
forecast the $1OO market before
spring has not yet come into the
open, but he has been heard
from"
Speaking of the hay situation the
same paper says:
"While local dealers in hay do
not show a very great willingness
to offer information concerning the
future movements, if any, of the
market, it appears from what can
be learned that the outside districts
in both Washington and Oregon
that the present price Of No. l al
falfa, $18 per ton Con the Sound)
will jump to a still higher figure
before long"
Zone dealer said last night that
he was afraid to give out much de-
tailed information for fear it
would have tendency to boost the
price of alfalfa so high that con-
sumption would be prohibitive.
Taking it for granted that this
dealers fears are well-founded, in
dications are that before next jan
uary, alfalfa and all it's products
will be scarce all over the north
west"
The PAPER goes on to say that
there is big shortage of market
able hay in Oregon and that the
coast market can not hope to be re-
lieved from that quarter.
The Prosser papers say that al
falfa is selling over there for $12
per ton delivered loose, but that
most of the farmers are holding for
higher prices. Three crops is the
limit in the Yakima valley, while
everyone in this valley got at least
four cuttings, and in some instances,
FIVE. Practically all the fourth and
fifth cuttings are in the stack now.
The season has been exception
ally good locally, and there is little,
if any, spoiled hay. Nearly all the
hay here is held by the growers,
only couple of carloads having
been shipped.
Government bulletins show
heavy shortage of spuds in the
United States and say that great
many will have to be imported.
Potato wart or black scab on the
foreign spuds, however, has caused
inspection stations to be established
at Portland, San Francisco and Sc
attic.
The first Of the week potatoes
advanced to $25 per ton over in the
Yakima valley.