The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-12-04
FARM BUREAU SAYS BUY
n STOCK AND FEED HAY

The state farm market depart
ment, thru Harvey Alfred, director,
Saturday sent out to farmers OF this
state the advice to hold their hay
and buy cattle and sheep to feed 1t
to. The present high prices of beef
mutton, dairy products, etc., indicate
that to feed stock would be very
profitable, .-----------~.---'
1t is Also announced by the de-
>partment that numerous inquiries
have been received from buyers In
the states of Texas, Montana, Ne
braska, tUah, Oregon and Washing
ton. asking for hay in the bale. They
are willing to pay $40 t. 0. b. for
it. The department desires that all
growers who have hay they can bale
and wish to sell to this market to
notify it Immediately. An effort Is
being made to get cars with which
to ship for those desiring to sell.
Should Command Attention
The official bulletin of the depart
ment, issued Saturday on the hay
situation, is as follows:
I'm this writing l am going to
eliminate the ever-present thought
of patriotism, or duty to our country
under the present crisis, and briefly
consider the subject at hand from a
standpoint of individual profit.
"The present and prospective high
prices of beef, dairy products, NUT
ton and wool, should command the
attention of every thoughtful farmer
and rancher in Idaho. At no time
in the history of our agricultural
pursuits has there been brighter
prospect of large and continued
profits than present conditions offer
the careful buyer of livestock.
Southern Idaho has one of the
most abundant alfalfa crops ever
grown, and while the shortage Of hay
in nearly every other part of the
United States has made possible the
obtaining of unprecedented high
prices for our hay, l am firmly con-
WINGED that the greatest source OF
profit for our hay growers lies in
the purchase of feeders, dairy stock
or sheep, and feeding their own hay
on the farms. My reasons are
briefly these: If the present war
continues six months-and there is
little hope of its terminating within
several times six months-the price
of beef, mutton, wool and dairy
Products will, if not restricted by
government order, continue to adj
vance far Aeyond the present price,
and should there be necessity for the
governments fixing price on these
products, that price will be such that
it must be remunerative to a high
degree in order to encourage the
production
Better Profits in Sight
while the war or its immediate.
effect is upon the nations we can
conceive of no condition under
which the price paid for these prod4
ucts will be less than that now offer
ed and in the matter of some meats
and fats it will advance.
Even with the present prevailing,
high prices of hay and other stock
food there is excellent promise Of a
better profit in feeding that high
priced food to stock purchased with
borrowed money than there is in
selling the raw product. These are
facts that can be proven by anyone
from careful estimates made and
shown in reports from our govern
ment experiment stations, and from
practical stock, dairy and sheep men
all over the country. Farmers will
eventually find that the hay market
depends almost entirely upon the
livestock breeding and feeding oper-
ators.
Banks Will Loan Money
1--WE understand that banks are
anxious to loan money to responsible
farmers who have hay, at reason
able rate of interest, for the pur-
chase of cattle, hogs and sheep, TAX
ing security on the stock purchased
and the hay to be fed. To the care
full farmer, this appeals as good
investment now; especially should 1t
appeal to some of our hay growers
who do not have access to railroads
whereby they may avail themselves
o fthe outside market prices. 1t is
claimed that many of the large own
ers Of sheep and cattle who have not
already purchased their hay say they
will not buy at present. Rekardless
of this claim it is quite certain that
hap at points distant from railroads
cannot command the uniform high
price this year that will prevail for
hay that can be shipped into other
states. We suggest the purchase
and feeding of stock, especially by
owners of hay SO situated. He can
thus obtain the best values for his
hay this winter and bring his stock
thru with every promise of a good
margin of profit next year, and be
in a better position the following
year to obtain a still greater profit,
thru the converting of prospective
cheaper hay crop of 1918 into the
still high priced finished products
wool, meat and fats. By conserva-
tive investment now and diligent at
tention, the producer Of these foods
will in 1919 garner the greatest
profits he has ever known"