The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-27
Moorhead News
GOVERNMENT TO
INSURE FARMER
AGAINST LOSS
Great World Shortage of
Food Explained by Ag-
ricultural Experts.

Our farmers must raise the crops to
Feed the world, and the government
will insure them against loss.
This was the essence OF statements
made by C. p. Bull and w. w. Cum
berland, both experts from the Min
nesota Agricultural college, in Moor
head last night. Both are members OF
the State Foods Production and Con-
servation committee appointed re-
Gently by Governor Burnquist. They
visited Moorhead and GAINESVILLE
yesterday to confer with Chairman
H. e. Roberts and other members of
the Clay county executive committee
on crop production. The state COM
mittee is divided into seven sub-com-
mittees-livestock, crops, home econ
omics, labor, marketing, finance and
publicity.
Mr.. Bull is head of the crop depart
ment of the agricultural college,
member of the crops committee and Is
also secretary of the Minnesota Crop
Improvement association. He said the
committee is urging an increased
acreage Of all staple crops as they are
easily stored and exported. Wheat,
corn, rye and fax were named as the
staples; and fax is included because
it is valuable for SO many purposes.
The committee has found that so
per cent OF the winter wheat area has
been killed out and this means a re-
duction Of the wheat produced in that
area of 800, 000, 900 bushels. This def
cheney must be made up by the spring
wheat area if a normal crop is to be
produced in the United States.
Argentine, one of the great wheat
producing countries Of the world, has
put ban on the exporting of wheat.
Argentine will not sell wheat, but is
shipping to England as a loan, to be
returned, bushel for bushel, from
Canada when this years crop is har-
vested. Australia, another of the great
wheat producers, has a poor crop and
will have very little wheat for ex-
port. Rumania, another wheat pro-
ducing country, can not be considered
at this time.
that the world is facing a dangerous
food shortage.
The millers will be urged to assist
by getting larger percentage of -four
out of the wheat. England now re-
quires an 80 per cent milling produc-
ton of flour. and it is considered more
wholesome than flour Of a lower per-
centage.
All of this means that the farmers
Of the spring wheat area must seed
every acre possible to wheat.
Everyone is urged to raise all the
potatoes and other staple vegetables
possible and to preserve them.
recommendations by the livestock
committee are also of the greatest i'm
portance. No lambs should be killed
this year. II left until spring the wool
clip will be doubled; and we are un-
able to get wool now from Australia
A second reason is that the supply Of
mutton next year will be increased
100 per cent.
All female animals should be kept
for breeding purposes. Calves should
not be killed, because If kept a year or
two they will greatly multiply the
supply of beef.
More poultry should be raised to
take the place Of other meat.
There is a continually increasing
demand for horses and every mare
should be bred this spring. After the
war the United States must supply
the countries Of Europe with horses
and the price cannot fail to be high.
w. w. Cumberland, of the depart
ment of economics Of the Minnesota
Agricultural college. talked Of Mar
kets and Prices.
He said that in investigating the
price situation many farmers had been
found who wondered If they would re-
ceive returns from their crops that
would warrant paying the high prices
for seed, labor and supplies, in the
event of the war ending this summer.
They fear a fall in grain prices IL the
Dardanelles should be opened and
commerce resumed. What may happen
no one can tell.
The United States government has
appealed officially, through the presi-
dent. for an increased crop produc-
ton. It is agreed that the farmer will
be taken care of in any event. Just
how it will be done has not been
worked out yet; but all that is known
is that it will be done. Again, the
farmers have the impression that a
maximum price of staples will be
established. This is wrong for when
a price is fixed it will be a minimum,
to assure the farmers reasonable re-
turns. England has already done this
for the producers Of Canada.
Secretary of Agriculture Houston
has already recommended the estab-
lishment of minimum prices to farm
ers for staples. Instead of keeping
the farmer from getting a profit on
his crops this would result in his get
ting it instead of a group of specu-
lators and traders being allowed to
take advantage of the abnormal con-
ditions.
The government actually insures
the farmer against loss if he follows
its advice.
The coal question is not quite so i'm
pressive as it was.