The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-11
LOWER
Than CORN, IS
FED TO STOCK
President of Equity Society
Says Corn Sells for $2.18
and Wheat So Per Blu.

Bismarck, N. D., Oct. 11.-Because
corn costs North Dakota stockmen
more than wheat, they are feeding
the latter to stock, and just so much
OF the staff Of life is not available for
domestic consumption, declares NJ. r.
Johnson, president of the North Da-
kota Equity society, who is here at
tending a meeting OF the railway
commission.
Corn in my section of the state
sells for $2.1S," said Mr.. Johnson,
"and the best we can get for our
wheat is 81. AS a result the stock
men can see no advantage in ex-
changing a good busheI of wheat for
less than a bushel OF corn. and be-
cause 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 a few cases,
but the feeding of wheat has become
a general practice in the northwest
ern part OF the state. where there is
practically no forage or roughage."
Should Regulate Price.
The remedy. in Mr.. Johnson's
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
compelling a North Dakota farmer
who at the best will not average
more than Is or Is bushels Of wheat
to the acre to accept 81 the bushel.
when the Iowa, Kansas, Illinois and
Missouri corn grower. who can raise
40 to so bushels TO the acre, is al
lowed $2.1S, or any higher price
which he can command" said Mr..
Johnson. There is no comparison
IL h. - H. e.
food purposes. If corn is worth
$2.1S, wheat is easily worth 1896, on
the basis of food values. If wheat
is worth but 1920 at Chicago, corn
certainly is not worth more than 81.
Thousands Of farmers, tenants and
renters in the corn belt are getting
rich off this one seasons crop OF
corn. I 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 81 wheat which cannot
be saved for human consumption be-
cause the price Of corn is away out
Of our reach"
Getting in Hay.
Commissioner Johnson, who was
instrumental in gaining relief for
sections OF the state in which a for
age famine exists by purchasing
large quantities Of wild hay in Min
nesota and obtaining a cut OF so per
cent in the freight rates on this
commodity, advises that eight to ten
cars are leaving Goodrich. Mimi. for
North Dakota points. This hay Is
costing $1S per ton baled and deliver
ed on the cars at Goodrich. Com
missioner Johnson anticipates a drop
in this price as Minnesota farmers
complete their fall blowing and find
time to turn their attention to get
ting in hay. 1t must be reduced very
however, If North Dakota
stock is to be kept over the winter. |
by April /, at these prices" said |
Mr.. Johnson, IAN average steer will |
have consumed $50 in hay alone: |
corn Is out Of the question, and into |
that steer will have gone enough |
good, hard northern wheat to main |
tain the average family for a year. |
Beef at this rate will be a mighty |
expensive luxury for both producer |
and consumer. Mr.. Hoover should |
take these facts into consideration. |
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 IL in one wagon, and another
wagon would nicely accommodate all
Of my wheat"