American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-10-26
LIVESTOCK SITUATION Is
CRITICAL.


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The livestock situation in this coun-
try has never ben so serious as It Is
today. The demand, both domestic
and foreign. Is SO much greater than
the supply that even unparalleled
prices do not suffice to furnish the
meat needed The long period of un-
profitable production drove growers
into other yOcatiOns. The Increased
value OF lands and lack of pasture In
the older farming districts prevented
an increase Of farm animals to keep
pace with the growth OF population.
The settlement Of the west decreased
the area of the ranges. Even when
the scarcity was felt and war demands
accentuated the situation, the unprece-
dented call for breadstuffs brot all
grains 70 a price which almost pro-
hibited their use in the making OF
meats.
The campaigns so successfully wag-
ed 20 increase hog production in Rocky
mountain territory have met their first
decided check this year, as Is shown
by a % per cent decrease in the re-
ceipts az the Denver market.
Word nov comes that the situation
among the warning countries abroad
has grown decidedly worse. The Brit
fish government has ordered two mill
lion acres more OF grass lands put in
to grain. and livestock decreased ac-
cOrdingly. A similar policy Is being
followed Ia all other European ma
tons Every stimulus that could be
employed has brOt but a very slight
increase In cattle during the past few
years. but not nearly sufficient to keep
pace with the growing demands In
tine past decade and a half, sheep have
J fallen OF in number nearly ten null
lions. and swine half as much, In
spite OF the fact that We have not only
experienced am unusual foreign de
mand. but our own population has in
creased nearly % per cent.
This Is not the worst of it. The cut
ting down of livestock in farming dis
tricts has decreased the production OF
the land Co AN enormous degree. II Is
estimated hy many good authorities
that the production per acre of the
staple crops oft wheat, corn, oats aud
POTATOES has falleu Off IN an average
in the last generation almost one
third. while large areas of farm terri
tory have been turned back TO brush
wood.
n is exceedingly unfortunate that this
condition should arise at the time Of
our entrance into the great world war.
A continuation of such conditions as
wc have recently experienced viii fur
lber reduce the productivity of our own
grain fields, the grass lands essential
Tor the growing of livestock, and Sc
riously affect the future of our farm
ing production
With our demand for an increase of
meats has come an unprecedented call
for wool. which can only be met by a
strenuous campaign of education TO
place flocks on every farm Ia the
country.
There has never been a time when
the need OF increase in livestock was
SO essential and SO advisable is the
present. The stock shows. the agri-
cultural colleges. the extension work
ers and county agents should unite I'm
their efforts with an the agricultural
pres I'm a campaign 20 relieve the
present serious situation.
No section can offer better opportu-
mites for livestock growing than are
found in the intermOuntain territory.
we have an ideal climate. the richest
lf grasses. and can produce the best
iced for the growing and finishing of
meat annals. Many Of our most
profitable crops are not needed for
brcadstuffs. The highest priced bacon
n the world is produced from barley,
which is an enormous yielder in Col
orado and adjacent territory. No bet
Ter pork is grown anywhere than thit
fed on peas, which are most profitably
grown turnout our mountain dis
tricts Our root crop is uneXcelled.
and no stronger hay is raised in the
country. Even the by-products of the
crops. such as grains and sugar beets.
have surprised the livestock world in
their value in producing meat animals.
We have another advantage, name
ly, the quality of meats Of all kinds
produced on our native feeds and
r grasses is of the highest, and there is
no doubt w can do much better in flu
ture than we have been able to do in
the past.