The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-12-13

conference as to necessitate an entire
alteration in the plans Of price stabl-
nzation. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders Of corn, and there
has been a price decline of from %
cents to 40 cents per bushel. The fact
that the accumulations Of low priced
corn in the Argentine and South Afri-
and liberated shipping, become ayaila-
BILE to the European market has Gre
ated a great deal of apprehension on
the part Of corn holders. This decline
has spread fear among swine growers
that a similar reduction in the prices
Of hogs would naturally follow. More
over, the lower range Of corn prices
would, if incorporated in 13-to-1 IA
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 per
cent, while the highest unofficial esti-
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 y per
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 il an endeavOr
to maintain the agreed price. The re-
suit in any event has been q failure
to maintain the October price basis
determined upon at the September con-
ference and undertaken by the pack
ers Another factor contributing TO
the break in prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; it
has sharply curtailcd consumption Of
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff Of the packers
about 25 per cent.
! The exports Of 13O,OOO,O0O pounds
of pork products for October com
pared with about o2,OO0,OOO pounds
in October q year ago, and the
EXPORT orders placeable by the Food
/ Administration for November, amount
to 10000, 900 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports OF
eSOOO.OOO 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
istration asked The increase In ex
port demands appears to be amply
sufficient to take up the increase III
hog product, IN, but unfavorahle mar
ket conditions existing IN octoher az
ford nc fair index Of the aggregate
supply and demand.
It must be evident that the ehor
nous shortage in fats III the CehlF;a
E,pDires aad neutral countries "ohE'
Immediately upon peace result IN i~'
6;tional demands for pork product
, which. or top Of the heavy shinmenJ
to the Allies, would tend matef1aii.
to increase the American exports III
asfnuch as no considerable reservoir
supplies exists outside OF the nl1e'
States It seems probable tht;t IN
present prospective supplies would D
Inadequate to meet this world det1an'
with the return to peace. So far as
Is nossihle to interpret this fact. II az
pears that there should he even
stronger demand for pork product
SITTER the war. and therefore any alarr
Of hcz producers as to tie effect o
peace is unwarranted by the outlook
Tn the light of these circumstance
Il is the conclusion Of the cnnferenc
that attempts to hold the price of hog
2 to- the price Of corn may work out :
: the ciss dvantage of pork producer:
: Il Is the conclusion that any interprt
) tn ZION of the formula should se
: broad gauged policy applied ever
+ long ueric{1. It Is the opinion Of IL
J. conference that In substitution Of tn
y,~eyio.s plans of starilizaJion til
= live Stock Subcommittee of the Ayr
!. cultural Advisory Board. together Wit
: the specis7lv invited swine represent:
: t{yes. shoElG accept the invitation {
! the Feed Administration to 1oln W.T.
: the Administration and the packers
9 determining the prices at when col
= trciles7 export orders are to De place
= This WI: re regularly done. The Il
Z tiulnca Of these orders Will he cffecte
: to the maintenance of the common G
! tect-Garely the Sterilization OF ii
s nrice Of live hogs SO RS to secure as I:
: rs It is possible fair returns to ii