The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-19

so changed since the September joint
conference as TO necessitate an entire
alteration In the plans Of price stabi
IIzation. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders. of corn, and there
has been a price decline Of from 70
cents to 40 cents per bushel. The fact
that the accumulations of low priced
corn In the Argentine and South Afri
ca would, upon the advent Of peace
and liberated shipping, become avail
able to the European market has ere.
ated great deal of apprehension on
the part of corn holders. This decline
has spread fear among swine growers
that similar reduction In the prices
of hogs would naturally follow. More
over, the lower range of corn prices
would, II incorporated In lS-to-l ra-
ito, obviously result in a continuously
falling price for live hogs. In view
Of these changed conditions many
swine producers anticipated lower
prices and as a result rushed their
hogs to market In large numbers, and
this overshipment has added to and
aggravated the decline.
The information of the Department
of Agriculture indicates that the sup
ply Of hogs has increased about 8 pei
cent, while the highest unofficial esi'
mate does not exceed Is per cent In
creased production over last year. On
the other hand, the arrival Of hogs
during the last three weeks In the
seven great markets has been q pei
cent more than last year. during the
corresponding period. demonstrating
the unusually heavy marketing Of the
available supply. In the face of the
excessive receipts some packers have
not maintained the price agreed last
month. On the other hand, many
OF the packers have paid over the
price offered TO them in an endeavol
to maintain the agreed price. The re
suit in any event has been failure
to maintain the October price basis
determined upon at the September con
ference and undertaken by the pack
ers. Another factor contributing Il
the break In prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; II
has sharply curtailed consumption Of
pork products and temporarily de
creased the labor staff of the packer:
about 25 per cent.
The exports of 100000 pounds
of pork products for October com
pared with about 52,000,0O0 pounds
In October year ago, and the
export orders placeable by the Foot
Administration for November, amount
to 170,000,000 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports OF
100000 for November. 1917. The
increased demands of the allies are
continuing, and are in themselves
proof of the necessity for the large
production for which the Food Admin
listration asked. The increase In ex
port demands appears to be amply
sufficient to take up the increase in
hog production. but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing in October af
ford no fair index Of the aggregate
supply and demand.
1t must be evident that the enor
nous shortage In fats in the Central
Empires and neutral countries woult
Immediately upon peace result In ad
ditional demands for pork products
which, on top of the heavy shipment:
TO the Allies, would tend materially
TO increase the American exports, In
asmuch as no considerable reservoir Of
supplies exists outside Of the United
States. II seems probable that tbs
present prospective supplies would b.
Inadequate TO meet this world demand
with the return TO peace. SO far as I
is possible to interpret this fact, 1t ap
pears that there should be even {
stronger demand for pork products
after the war, and therefore any alarm
OF hog producers as to the effect o
peace Is unwarranted by the outlook.
! In the light of these circumstances
lit is the conclusion of the conference
that attempts to hold the price Of hog
to the price Of corn may work out Z
the disadvantage of pork producers
II is the conclusion that any interpre
tation of the formula should be 1
broad gagged policy applied over
long period 1t Is the opinion Of tn,
conference that In substitution OF thu
previous plans Of sterilization th'
Live Stock Subcommittee Of the Agri
cultural Advisory Board, together viii
the specially invited swine representa-
ltlyes. should accept the invitation O
the Food Administration to join witt
the Administration and the packers IL
determining the prices at which con
itrolled export orders are to be placed
This will be regularly done. The in
fiuence of these orders will be directed
to the maintenance of the common OBJ
iect-namely, the sterilization Of tn
price of live hogs so as to secure as ia
as it is possible fair returns to tn