The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-31
KANSAS MAY BE
threatened WITH
ACATTLE FAMINE
Livestock Raisers Are Rushing
Products to Market.
Dry Pastures and Damage to
Corn Responsible.
MOHLER MAKES A PLEA
He Urges Owners OF Dairy
Herds To Keep Them.
Breaking Up Fine Herds Would
Be a Calamity.
Breaking Up Fine Herds Would
Be Calamity.

tons of the state. HundredS d ctiS
of cattle will soon be forced to the
market by the drouth and the con-
sequent burning up OF pasture lanos
and of the corn crop. The markets
will be flooded, commission men IN
Kansas City stated this morning anu
the market is scheduled Tor some
peculiar antics.
A record run of 10000 cattle was
predicted this morning by Kansas
City live, stock dealer. The rush IS
coming and will reach its climax some
time within the next week, it was SAID
Receipts for the last two days have
been extra heavy in Kansas CITY,
caused partially by the weather con-
ditions in the state and partially py
the railroad trouble at Chicago Whlcn
necessitated practical closing OF
that market. Receipts at Kansas CITY
were 10000 cattle Monday and 2Z,OoO
today. At Chicago only 5000 mead
were reported Monday and an equally
light run was predicted for today.
In the face of the threatened flood
of cattle, the market at Kansas CITY
was reported as steady to strong TINS
morning, prices on corn fed stuff
climbing within Is cents of the high
est price ever paid on the Kansas Clty
market. The top Monday was SlS.
The prediction on corn led cattle
was good in spite of the heavy receipts
that are expected. Within a week top
prices on corn fed cattle will pass the
$14 mark and will establish record
high price for the Kansas City market
Feeders Cheaper.
Stockers and feeders, the lighter
class OF cattle. promise to be real
burden on the market Cattle ralsers
of the state are afraid to load up on
fairly high priced medium weight cat
tie in the face of high corn, light
alfalfa crop and poor ensilage. Pack
ers, at Kansas City, are expected to
bear the market on this class OF
cattle.
Farmers and cattlemen in Iowa and
Missouri. both states having had more
favorable weather conditions ard not
being burned to crisp by severe
6routh, are expected to unload the
market They will be the main out
let for the oversupply that is predict
et for early in August. The packers,
too. will bid on light stuff. but prob
ably will attempt to batter the market.
In Kansas crop reports from the
various sections show practical loss
of the entire corn crop south of Wich-
tia and west of Phillips county. Sor-
ghum is reported as being backward
and pastures are completely gone.
The alfalfa crop in this section OF
Kansas. too, is reported light and of
poor quality. The first cutting was re-
ported as good. But scorchirg dry
weather has nearly ruined the second
and third cuttings of this years crop.
In Mitchell county the corn is report
ed as completely dried up.
Face Cattle Famine.
In the eastern and northern sections
of the state crops promise to turn
out better than were predicted. Light
local rains proved life savers to the
corn crop in these sections.
That Kansas is facing a cattle fam
inc this winter was seconded by the
commission men of Kansas City and
Id ID arFF 1,o h
]. c. Mohler Of the state bureau of
agriculture.
In the country, traders are not act
i've. Farmers loaded with, cattle are
unable to sell to local men. CORNER
heavy country spectators have given
up business and are waiting for a
break in the market.
This means that practically every
head of cattle in the state mus soon
be shipped, to market. Even ensilage
ruined Planting of cow peas, rye
and other fan products are being en-
couraged to fill the silos this Writer.
In addition to the usual marketable
cattle that are predicted in the market
rush, thousands of Kansas dairy herds
ter. j. c. Mohler, secretary of the
Kansas board of agriculture has sent
out a report insisting that Kansas
dairymen hold on to their dairy herds
that such action may cause.
With prospects for corn and sor-
ghums maturing grain rapidly dimin-
ishing. because of the continued
drought, the feed situation is looming
up a serious problem in the larger
part of Kansas, according to a state-t
ment issued by Mohler. The situation
threatens seriously to affect the states
live stock industry says the report.
Hold Dairy Cattle.
From some sections stock cattle
are being shipped to the market"
continues the statement land MANY
dairymen report that they have been
producing milk at a loss because of
the high prices of feed Owing to the
unfaVorable crop outlook and the in
crease for rations necessary to sustain
cows and maintain a paying flow of
milk, there is apprehension that ex-
cellent dairy herds may be dispersed
Should dairy cattle be forced on the
market they will largely go to slaugh-
ter. This viii mean a setback that
will require years to overcome"
Secretary MohIer points out that
every dairyman should put forth ev-
cry effort to carry his. stock thru an
other season, even though the load
may be extremely heavy He urges
every banker to use the same diligence
in encouraging and helping the man
with a dairy herd thru the season
that he does in assisting the wheat
farmer. -. 4.
AS remedial measure, the dairy
farmers are urged TO plant up to the
middle of August the earliest variety
of cane seed that can be secured pro-
vided that. there should be a break
in thessvea ther and moisture should be
secured after crops already planted
haves spef'ished or have become so
dwarfed as to give little promise of
recuperation. Cow peas also may be
sown late, 1t is pointed out. Use of
the silo to make the most of the feed