South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-03

1 WI - EAA lfAAS VI II wv UNN
bushels over and above actual
reeds. Unfortunately, however.
some 5OO.OOO.O0o is practically IN
available. Estimated surplus is ap-
portioned:
North America ...395. GOO. coo
Australia ........-.....20 eos. 600. 600
Argentina conference.-the ,0OO. 600
India $4,000, COO
This makes total Of S9S, 900. 900
whereas requirements are 10000
| coo. This 100000, 600 must be sup
( piled by North America, balance not
I being available, and. as the surplus
( is only 395, 900. 900. il is manifest
that still more rigid economy is i'm
perative, and that admiXture Of
corn, oats and barley -four will be-
come necessary.
| Distinctly adverse weather has
pursued the corn crop from plant
! ing 20 harvest. Excess moisture at
seeding time abnormal tempera-
lures during the period Of growth
and heavy frosts prior TO maturity
Were succeeded by the most unfa-
y ora bic conditions for curing ana
gathering and moving 10 market.
/ The planted area (121,045, 900
acres), was by far the largest ever
known, being 114.2 percent Of the
previous year. Despite the early
Ihandicaps, there was a September
promise OF 3,24S, 100000 bushels.
This prospect being reduced. by re-
peated frosts in early September
anC in October to a total yield of
3,159, 900. 00O bushels: but this yield
is 100000 in excess Of the pre-
viors record crop of 1912, and
5T6 100000 greater than last year.
| OTsetting to some extent this
abundant yield is the fact that the
quality is some 10 percent poorer
than an average.
Record Prices Made.
Record prices were made during
the year. $2.4S ID being paid at
Chicago as against $141 II in
1854, the highest previous price.
Substitution for wheat, demand
for munitions. small crop in 1915
and relative value OF wheat were
among the reasons for the level Of
| values.
Crop of 1916 was practically all
consumed, farm reserves at end of
crop year being 35,00O,0 900 bushels,
as against an average of 100, 000,0 goo
bushels. The price adjustment be
/ tween an exhausted crop and an
abundant one has been slow, delay
ed materially beyond the normal
time by lateness Of this years. crop
and prominently inadequate supply
of cars and motive power. Prices
at the close of the year are. there
fore, more a matter Of availability
than of any deficient ultimate sup
ply. Government intimated SIC as
minimum price for hogs, suggest
| ing. also. a corn feeding value OF
1900 pounds Of corn TO each 100
pounds of live hogs. which means
farm value of around $1.20 for
corn. This suggested ratio OF Is to
compares with 10 to / as COM
monty accepted by the trade.
Big Crop of Oats.
The oats crop came into greater
prominence than usual because of
the enormous foreign demand and
/ because of relative cheapness in
price.
Area seeded was 43,161, 900 acres,
as compared with 1O-year average
iof 37,O0O,OOO. Conditions during
growth and harvest were ideal, re-
sulting in a crop of 1,5S7,2S6, 600
I bushels. or 100000 more than
4 any prior record and 335,000,0 900
greater than last year.
I Delayed and inadequate move
meut has been felt in the markets,
being responsible for a price of 90
G. nts 6t Chicago in July. equalling
I the previous record OF 80 cents
made IN 1867. II is deemed impos-
sible to consume or dispose of the
crop before next harvest; but FIVE
months Of the crop year have pass
ed and the movement TO market has
rot been large enough to bring
about normal accommodations.
/ The total yield OF the five leading
grains was 963. 299,00 bushels
greater than last year.
The value is S6,718,0S1, 900 the
/ greatest known. Corn crop, alone.
/ has en- estimated value OF $4,053,-
672. 600 or nearly double that Of last
year.
Valuation Of all farm crops IS
$4,000, OOO, 600 - almost treble or
binary value.
Hogs Break Record.
: Hog products have not fallen be-
hind in the march towards prohib-
/ tive prices. Hogs sold at $50 and
pork at $50 per barrel Previous
high prices, made during and after
I the rebellion, were hogs $3.50
| and pork $44. Belgian relief Brit
I ish, French and our own army have
1 made unprecedented demands for
meats and Eats. Expectations OF
! hog products were 281.0OO,O0O.
while in 1914 they were 405, 000,-
/ COO High prices for feeds have
steadily reduced the hog production,
there being 5000 900 less hogs in
the country than a year ago. Re
punishment OF swine herds IS i'm
/ perative if we are 10 supply home
demand and feed Europe. With this
fact in mind, the government has
intimated that SIC should be a min
imum price for hogs and that the