The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-24
Wheat Growers Not Satisfied
With So a Bushel.
They Will Have No Trouble
Borrowing Money.
BIG PROFITS LURE GREAT
Potato and Corn Raisers Also
Look for Advances.
Many Sell Stock Because of
High Grain Prices.

Reports sent to Topeka during the
last few days indicate that farmers in
the wheat belt may seek to hoard
their 1917 crop in an effort to force
an advance in prices beyond the gov
eminent guarantee of 50 a bushel.
Kansas bankers, with record deposits
and a desire for an increase IN the loan
and discount column, are said to be
willing to provide credit for holding
the crop.
While no organized effort, has been
made, a report sent to Topeka has in
Dictated that the farmer organizations
may establish a mutual agreement
for holding crops to boost market
prices. In spite Of the fact that the
record crop of 1914 sold for a dollar
a bushel and less. the government
guarantee of 81 this yea- has not
aroused the enthusiasm of the farm
ers. They recall the skyrocketing in
the wheat pit last spring and many
crop producers are said to believe that
enormous increases in market values
will be gained thru boarding grains
and food stuffs.
Some Wheat Marketed.
Just at this time wheat is the big
crop which concerns Kansas and the
W
way and thousands of bushels of the
Kansas grain has already found its
way to the market centers. In many
of the eastern and central counties
the crop was the largest on record.
Top notch war prices and abnormal
production brought new prosperity
to these communities and the tempta-
ton to sell the new crop and divide
the long profits was great. In the
established wheat counties, though,
the al
These farmers had become accustom-
ed to high prices and they merely
winked when bidders offered 81 for
grain at the nearest elevators.
The majority of farmers in the
wheat counties are amply able to
finance Stheir own speculations with
funds from their private bank ac-
counts. Producers who need credit or
loans on their grain. however, will
have little trouble securing ample
credit this summer. Bankers in the
wheat district are anxious to increase
their loans and are greedi1y grab
bling for anything that looks like good
paper. With wheat in the bins at
home, the farmer can hold his wheat
and borrow such money as he may
need.
All Look for Advances.
Temptation to hoard supplies for
further advances in prices does not
affect the wheat grower alone. The
grower, the corn Planter, the
stock raiser and the alfalfa farmer
are all looking ahead to longer, big
ger profits.
In many of the counties the situa-
ton as affecting the feeding of live
stock is said to be serious. Many of
the farmers have been unable to pro-
duce their own feed and in some coun-
ties farmers are actually feeding
wheat to their live stock. Corn prices
and the outlook for the new crop have
given stockmen a big scare and in
many localities feeders and breeders
have been compelled to dispose of
fancy herds because of high prices of
feed In a number of counties alfalfa
is selling at $22 to $24 a ton, with
nothing to indicate a slump in mar
ket prices.
1t is in the matter of the boarding
of feed for stock that the farmer hits
the farmer. The town man no longer
keeps a cow or a horse and he re-
fuses to lose sleep about the price of
prairie hay and alfalfa. But when
the farmer begins to store his wheat
and potatoes and other food stuffs for
market advances, it is the town man
who is hit and the farmer smiles in
his sleep and dreams of a summer
vacation at Atlantic City.