The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-09-08
From the State Department of Farm
Markets
Hay

MafkeUS
Hay
There has been no material change
in the hay situation in Idaho, or in
the Pacific northwest, since my last
hay report. Latest reports on hand
from the principal hay growing dis
trlcts in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Ore
gon and Washington, besides some
personal investigation over this ter
ritory, justify me in believing that
the hay market is going still higher,
as the season advances; the present
outlook being for even higher prices
than were enjoyed by those growers
who last season sold their holdings
late. Don't allow yourselves to be
misled by the statements that certain
feeders and outside buyers are at
present circulating concerning hay
crop conditions either in Idaho or
surrounding states. There is a de-
cided shortage all over the north
west. Buyers who at the beginning
of this season claimed that they
would go out of business before they
would pay over $3.50 or Sc per ton
for hay. have long since quit such
strenuous efforts to get the needed
tonnage at So per ton, 80 days in
the stack, with a substantial cash
payment down. With hay bringing
So or more, in the stack, which is
now the prevailing price over the al
falfa growing territory of Idaho, this
office is not going to advise growers
to hold for higher prices, especially
those farmers who have obligations
to meet out of the returns from their
hay. At present prices nc farmer
can afford to speculate on a rising
market until he has met his obliga-
tions. If you are favorably situated
for hauling cheaply to loading sta
ton, can get your hay baled in time
to avoid risk of possible damage in
stack, can properly protect hay after
baling, and are financially situated
so that you can afford to speculate
a little, | would say that the present
ootlook would justify holding.
Wheat
The wheat market is an interna-
tional problem, and in the final n
alysis the answer must always come
from Liverpool. Supply and demand
of the world finally establish the
price each year. This does not lei
that the grain exchanges and the
speculative buyers do not have a ma
terial influence on the market. All
growers who have followed market
conditions for any number of years
know that these vicious interests sue
coed in depressing the market at
threshing time and generally succeed
in holding it down until the bulk OF
the crop passes out of the farmers
hands. Their influence, however, is
merely temporary. They cannot long
withstand the outside pressure.
At the present writing wheat is
higher than ever before at this time
of the season in the last 46 years,
and the sentiment prevails, among
unbiased observers in most quarters,
that the top of the market is still
out Of sight. The Equity Grain Ex-
change, comparatively representing
the growers of many millions of bus
hels of wheat in Minnesota, the Da-
kotas and Montana, is appealing to
it's members to hold onto their wheat
assuring them that thoro analysis of
the market promises much higher
prices later in the season. This adj
vice is possibly somewhat ~specula-
tive, but the crop in the northern
countries has progressed far enough
to establish a worlds wheat shortage
a sound basis Tor high 1867
wheat prices. The International In
of Agriculture, which is &C.
cepted as authoritative on worlds
supplies, places the 1916 world wheat
supply at 25 per cent less than last
year, making this years crop the
smallest since 1908. 1t is interesting
to note that about one-half of this
shortage is in North America, the
chief exporting section. The simple
fact IS that there is a natural short
age and a heavy demand.
The quality and yield hero in the
northwest is this year better
than in almost any section of the
country, and for this reason l have
found many growers prejudiced by
their local conditions. But no grain
grower can afford to be a "localizer."
He must behold the outside world.
In years past shrewd buyers have
been able to mislead many of the
growers regarding true market con
ditions. But there is no longer any
excuse for such ignorance.
Wheat in this territory is now
lowering around two cents a pound,
and when a farmer a get $1.2O I.
per bushel spot cash at this season
Of the year, the advice given above
concerning hay applies with equal
to wheat. Sell enough to meet
your obligations at present prices.
Then if you want to speculate on the
rise which seems sure to come,
go to it."
Clover and Timothy Seed !!
Glover seed, like wheat, is an in
game-and the game. SO
ar as the price in this country is
is played at Toledo, The ]