The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-11-06
THE SOUTHERN FARMERS BIC
ADVANTAGE IN MARKETING
GRAIN CROPS

Again it is we'll to call the atten-
ton of the Southern farmer to
the commanding advantage he holds
in the marketing of his corn, oats
and wheat, or thoes cereals which
are so much more largely produced
in ether sections. 49,.
The prices of these crops r de.
termined in the North and largely by
the size of the production of that sec.
ton. Conditions this year give a
good illustration of the advantage
possessed by these Southern farmers
who will avail them selves of it.
At the time the Southern farmer is
ready to market his corn, wheat and
oats the Northern crop is not yet
ready for the market , for at least
two months. But at the time the
Southern farmer is ready to market
his crop the years crop prospects fol
the whole country r pretty well es.
tablished and accurate government
estimates are available.
Let US take for example, the condi-
tons existing this year as regards
the corn crop and the marketing Of
any surplus produced in the South
The Northern crop determines the
price, and since it is large this year
the high prices which have existed
are certain to fall. But the Northern
crop not being ready for market un-
til December, the high prices result
ing from the short crop of last year
are still open to the Southern farmer
during October and November. For
instance, on Friday, October 10, the
future" price of corn on the Chicago
marketclosed at $1.15 3-S for Deem
Der and S1.10 3-8 for May, while
"spot" or leash" qutations were for
No. 2 yellow, S1.98 and for No. 8
yellow SLOT.
Northern corn, the season being
late, cannot reach the market for
some time yet; hence cash corn is
selling for rs cents to 80 cents a bu-
shell more than the predicted prices
for December and May. Southern
corn maturing two or three months
earlier and during dry warn wea-
Their is dry enough to market during
October and November. If the
Southern grower waits until northern
corn comes on the market he will
have to take a lower price, unless his
locality or section is short of corn
next spring. In such case he may
sell for time prices equal to present
cash prices; but whenever the South
produces corn in excess of her local
needs, then the fact that her crop
natures two or three months earlier
than the Northern crop, which de.
termines the price, may be made Of
tremendous advantage. If the croI
is large we should market early, but
if the crop is small, specially if il
follows another small crop, we may
safely hold for higher prices.
Corn has been sold in the South
this fall at around rs cents a bush.
havesold for $1.40 to $1.50 a bushe,
or highr, as the market justified.
The farmer who sold corn for less
than $1.40 a bushel this fall were
simply robbed, and this only posi-
BILE because tire is no established OF
regular market for corn in all parts
of the South and no intelligent atten.
ton has been given to the marketing
of the crop.
In short, if when the Southern
crops are ready for market a large
northern crop is in sight the South,
ern farmer should market his crops
early; but if a small northern crop is
forecast the Southern farmer may
hold with safety, especially if the
price is then low due to a large crop
the previous year.-The Progressive
Farm.