The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-08-24
CONSERVE AND
STORE POTATOES
ADVICE GIVEN IDAHO GROWERS
BY THE FARM MARKETS
DEPARTMENT.
Greatest Question Now Confronting
the Potato Grower Is the Providing
of Suitable Storage for the Pros
pective Abundant Crop.

discussed in State Farm Markets Bul- |
letin No II, by Harvey Alfred, director |
Of the department of Farm Markets. |
who says:
We are assured by authorized rep
resentatives of our railroads that there
will be greater number of ears avail
able for moving the crops of 1917 than
there has been in previous years on
the condition, however that shippers
cooperate with the common carriers
to the extent Of loading all cars to the
maximum capacity, instead of the
minimum as has been commonly done
In the past; also by shippers releas-
ing ALL cars at the earliest possible
moment after they are received.
These railroad officials inform me
that If this request be complied with
IL will be the means of providing an
additional three hundred thousand
cars for the moving of our crops. 1t
Is also desired that shippers of perish
able products use box ears, just as
long as 1t will be safe to ship in them,
before requesting refrigerator cars.
| This will enable the common carriers
| to provide as with far greater num-
Der of refrigerator cars, when 1t is
| really necessary to have them, and
thus move the crops more quickly.
Prices and Markets.
Many potato growers are much wor-
ried over what they deem indications
of a dun market or low prices for POI
tatOes this fall While ii is certain
that Idaho's potato acreage, together
| with that of many other states compet-
ing with us on the potato market, Is
| much greater than last year and above
the ten-year average, there are condi-
lions governing the demands for all
food stuffs grown i'm 1917 that have
never before existed. Among these
conditions materially affecting the po-
tato market and which will have a
tendency to stiffen the price, are:
First: The great necessity that we
as nation now must use substitute
food for wheat, flour and meats. II
we aid our allies in the supplying of
foods to the extent that their people
may live and their armies continue the
struggle, we must provide them with
wheat and flour to a far greater ex'
tent than we have ever done before
and because Of the shortage of wheat
In the United States 1t means that we
must sacrifice much and provide d
substitute for flour, and nothing We
grow so readily serves the purpose as
the potato.
Second: If this Is correct, it is alsC
| 60,
demand abroad for our potatoes thar
we have ever known before. 1t is 1
staple food with all, or nearly all O.
our allies, as well as many neutra
countries which must now depend up
on the United States for their pc
tatoes.
The greatest question now con
fronting the potato grower, and tn
world at large, is the providing o
suitable storage for this prospective
abundant crop until 1t can be move,
to the market, which we are certain
to have. All the common carriers ar
bending every effort to provide, wit
, our help, the needed cars for shipping
!. Now, l wish To warn the producers tina
= II they do not anticipate and guar
against Il probable difficulty In moN
ing their crops with profit at tn
% time of digging, their effort to inCreas
production, in answer to the nation
" CALL will in a measure be fruitless. o
X the other hand, If they will prepare
J. properly cellar their potatoes, l hav
4. every reason to believe they will nc
% have labored In vain. The people wi
Q l. 1 a.. -
:. will Justify their great efforts.
have frequently informed III
grower that he had little cause to feg
IL that ruinouS prices would prevail Il
y the early potatoes despite the fat
N that there was In the U. S. one of n
y heaviest crops of early potatoes to /
.e placed ON the market that W. Ia
n known in years. The correctness
n our forecast has been proved. as ev
!, denCe Of which l wish to cite you
}" government reports Of prices that pr
vailed August /. 1916, and those
n August l, 1917. The L. $ depar
he meut ~ agriculture. under date
- August $, 1917, makes this Statement
C The average price paid August
he 1915 for potatoes in Idaho was $ll
" per huShel, and that Of August l, 19l
~ was 81 g2 The average price pa
August 1. 1916, for potatoes in the
: was 9Il cents per buShel, viii
: that af August I. 1917. was Sill. II
ne same conditions that will effect Il
te and winter prices this year. enter
as into the cause for higher prices bell
- paid for early potatoes in 1917 tn
in were paid In 1916.
rh let the formers slogan be Go
N serve and store your potatoes"
III ,,