Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-08-08
What is a Ton of Cotton Seed
Worth.

Cotton growers are already be.
ginning to show considerable inter
est in the probable price of cotton
seed this fall, and the question is
being asked: What should a ton
of cotton seed bring the farmer at
present price of oil, meal, hulls and
linters?"
This question can only be answer
ed by first finding the amounts OF
oil, meal, hulls and linters obtained
from a ton of seed and calculating
their total value at Current quota
lions, and then deduct the cost of
handling both the seed and the pro-
ducts, the cost of milling, including
overhead expenses, and a fair profit
to the oil millers, from the total
value of the products.
This could be obtained accurately
as to individual oil mills if the oil
millers were willing to throw open
their books to inspection, which
they rightfully and naturally are
not willing to do. But so far as
we know, there are no authentic
data available for making a general
statement regarding all the mills or
of stating the average results for
all.
The best we can give TO our read
ers is an estimate based on actual
facts, as regards the results obtained
in a few individual mills. When
this is done the oil miller who does
not get as good results as those estl-
mated complains, while those farm
ers remember only results obtained
in past years, when all costs of
operating were lower or who have
information regarding some particu-
lar mill which gets better than
average results, complain that too
much profit is allowed the mills.
Only general estimates which APP
proach average results can be given,
and in considering these the farmer
must, to be fair, give due weight to
the poorer quality of the seed early
in the season, the greater amount
of moisture, the risk of decreasing
prices for the products of the cotton
seed, and all other losses and incl
dental expenses.
The oil obtained from a ton of
seed should average on the seasons
run around 40 to 40 gallons or 800
to 3l5 pounds. The meal will run
from 500 to 900 pounds according
to the grade of meal made. If az
low grade meal as made last year is
made, say I per cent of ammonia
or 5.76 per cent of nitrogen, then a
ton of seed which made 800 pounds
of meal containing s per cent OF am
monia or $50 per cent of nitrogen
should make over 900 pounds OF
meal containing Z per cent OF am
monia. The linters obtained vary
according to the ginning and de.
linting, from Is to l25 pounds, and
the bulls of course will also vary
according to the grade of meal made,
being higher the higher the grade
of meal produced. There will also
be waste ranging from so 10 100
pounds.
If We assume the following pro-
ducts as obtained from a ton of
cotton seed, at the prices quoted in
the press about July 90, these pro-
ducts are worth 500 per ton:
3l5 pds. or AZ gals. of oil at 81
per gallon-s42.OO; 900 pounds
cottonseed meal at $43 per ton
sl9.3 5 625 pounds cottonseed bulls
at SIS per ton-s4.69; 100 pounds
linters at 10 cents-Sl0.00-6O pds.
loss; total number of pounds, 1000;
total cash S76.04.
If the results obtained by the
mills vary from our estimates or If
the prices vary, of course the value
of the products will vary. From
this S76.O4 must be deducted all the
expenses of the oil miller. He has
capital invested in his mill which Is
only operated a part of the year;
all expenses Of operating are high
err than formerly; he has expense in
buying the seed and in transporting
them to the mill and money is also
invested in these until the products
are sold. In the early part of the
season seed are damp and of less
value and the risks of loss are great
er. He must also hold the products
until marketed and both operations
cost money, and he is entitled to a
fair profit. These expenses vary so
greatly that it is scarcely worth
while ATTEMPTING an estimate, but II