The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-09
FARMERS FEED
g WHEAT WHEN
CORN HITS $2.18
Cattle and Hogs Eating Staff Of
Life When Common Food
Goes Out Of Sight
HAY SELLING AT f10
IN MINNESOTA POINTS

BECAUSE corn costs North Dakota
stockmen more than wheat, they are
feeding the latter to stock, ana JUST
so much of the staff OF lie is not
available for domestic consumption
declares M. p. Johnson, president OF
the North Dakota EGalty society,"
who is here today attending meet
ing of the railway commission
Corn in my section OF the state
sells for S2.lS," said MIR. johnson,
land the best we can get for our
wheat is ST. As a result, the stock
men can see no advantage in exchang-
ing a good bushel of wheat for less
than bushel of corn, and because Of
this fact the very end at which the
regulation OF the wheat market was
aimed is being defeated. This is not
true in only few cases, but the
feeding OF wheat has become a gener'
al practice in the northwestern part
of the state, where there is practically
no forage or rOughage.'
Should Regulate Price.
The remedy, in Mr.. Johnson's estl'
nation is simple He doesn't ask a
higher price for wheat, regarding that
matter closed. He does feel that the
price of corn should be reduced
There is certainly no justice in COM
pell!ng a North Dakota farmer VINO
at the best will not average more
than Is or 1G bushels OF wheat to the
ace to accept 81 the bushel, when
the Iowa, Kansas, Illinois and Mis-
souri, corn grower, who can raise 40
TO 80 bushels to the acre, is allowed
$2.,S, or any higher price which ne
can command" said Mr.. Johnson.
There is no comparison in the value
of the two crops for food purposes.
If corn is worth $2.1S, wheat is cas-.
lily worth $4.36, on the basis OF food
values. If wheat is worth but $2.2o
at Chicago, corn certainly is not
worth more than 81. Thousands OF
farmers, tenants and renters in the
corn belt are getting rich or TINS
one seasons crop Of corn. am
glad they are, but it is not fair to US,
nor to the nation at large, to compel
us to feed TO cattle and hogs the S2
wheat which cannot be saved for hui
man consumption because the p.ice
of corn is away out of our reach
Getting in Hay. -.
Commissioner Johnson, who was in
strumcntal in gaining relief for Sec
lions OF the state in which forage
famine exists by purchasing large
quantities of wild hay in Minnesota
and obtaining cut Of fifty percent in
the freight rates on this commodity,
advises that eight to ten cars OF
hay are leaving Goodrich, Mimi, for
North Dakota points. This hay is
costing SIS per ton baled and deliver
ed on the cars at Goodrich. Commits
sioner Johnson anticipates drop in
this price as Minnesota farmers COM
plete their fall blowing and find time
to turn their attention to getting in
hay 1t must be reduced very mater
tally, however, if North .akota stock
is to be kept over the winter. "By
Apri! I, at these prices" said Mr..
Johnson, IAN average steer will have
consumed $50 in hay alone; corn is
out fthe question, and into that
steer will have gone enough good,
hard northern wheat to maintain the
average family for year. Eeef at
this rate will be mighty expensive
luxury for both producer and ron
sumer Mr.. Hoover shoeld take these
falts into consideration. Something
must be done il we are to have any
grain for our cattle. There is no
roughage | could take all the straw
| have. on my place and load it in one
wagon. and another wagon would
nicely accommodate all of my wheat"