The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-11-15
HOG PRICES FIXED.
Food Administrators Says MinimMn
Price Will Be.$15.5O.

\ HOG PRICES FIXED.
/Food Administrator Says Minimum
Price VIII Be. $3.50.
Minimum hogs prices both for the
present market and next year have
been fixed by the United States Food
Administrator.
For the present the government
will attempt to maintain minimum
] at the Chicago market.
Prices hereafter will be based on
. minimum ratio of thirteen times
the average cost per bushel of corn
fed. The previous ratio has been
twelve to one. This step to stabilize
Der Of hogs raised. encourage the
farmer and insure the producer
against loss on any hogs raised be-
tween now and next winter, was an
nounced by Joseph P. Cotton, chief
Of the meat division of the food adj
ministration, who made the follow
ing statement:
The main purpose of the Food Ad-
ministration, relative to the prices Of
hogs are:
Ito see that the producer at all
times can count on fair price OF
hogs so that it will be profitable to
him.
2-To see that the farmer increas-
| es the number of hogs bred.
3-To limit the profit of the pack
er and the middleman.
14-To eliminate speculation.
bAll these purposes are necessary
because we must have more hogs SO
Vines get an adequate supply OF
heat at the lowest feasible price.
We shall establish rigid control of
=, the packers. Fair prices to the farm
Ter for his hogs, we believe, will be
the aim which the. food administra-
lies, our army and navy, the Red
Cross, the Belgian relief and the
neutrals, which together constitute
q considerable factor in the market.
The first step is to stop the sudden
break in prices paid for hogs at the
become stable SO that the farmer
sknows where he stands and will feel
justified in increasing hogs for the
next winter. The prices, SO far as
we can effect them, will not go be-
low minimum of $15.50 per cwt.
for the average of the packers drove
on the Chicago market until further
notice.
> We have had and shall have the
advice of board composed OF prac-
teal hog growers and experts. That
board advises that the best yard
.estick to measure the cost of produc-
ton Of the hog is the cost Of corn.
ratio of the corn prices to the prices
on the average over a series of years
has been about twelve to one Cor a
little less) in the past.
When the ratio has gone lower
fhan twelve to one the stock of hogs
Il was nignieii' than twelve, the hogs
have increased.
That board has given it's judgment
that-to bring the stock of hogs back
to normal under present conditions,
the ratio should be about thirteen.
Therefore, as to the hogs farrOW-
ed next spring: We will try to sta
bilize the price SO that the farmer
pounds of hogs ready for market
thirteen times the average cost per
bushel of the corn fed to the hog:
Let there be no misunderstanding
of this statement. 1t is not guaran-
tee backed by money. Il is not
2romise by the packers 1t is ,a,; STATE ef
the food administrations, which
means to do justice to the farmer.
, TO bring the price ratio about the
food administration will throw its
full weight into the market: 1t be,
lieves the price can DC malntai4 aea
JHC lull SOASAOA eAS
food administration has over the
buying of the allies, the army and
navy, the Red Cross, the Belgian re-
lief and the neutrals, the total OF
which makes a big factor in the mar
This does not mean any consider
able reduction, if any. to the home
consumer, but the food administra-
ton believes it will insure greater
hog supplies. In an effort, however,
prices, the meat administrator plans
to limit the profit of the packers and
xhe middleman and to eliminate
speculation.
The increase from twelve to one.
to thirteen to one, in the ratio OF |
corn prices to hog prices was deter
mined upon after numerous confer
ances with hog producers and with
the packers. 1t will continue While
the war lasts, it is said.