Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-03-06
THE HOG SITUATION.

Food Administration the world is
short nearly 100000 hogs. Meas
ured against the needs of the United
States and her allies this country
should have 100000 more hogs in
1918 than were produced in 1917.
Iowa's quota for 1918 is an increase of
nearly 100000 head over the 1917
production, which was about 20 per
cent under normal.
There Is an Abnormal Demand for
Pork.
Such an increase will not mean
surplus. 1t will be merely our share
toward making up the present deficit
and filling the abnormal demand OF
the world for pork and pork products.
So far in 1917, 100000 fewer hogs
have been slaughtered at the central
markets than during the correspond
ing time last year. Our exports of
hog products so far this year have
been 9S1,OOO,0OO pounds, against 4O5,
100000 in 1914. Next years demand
for export for use in our army and
navy will be still greater.
There VIII Be Feed EnOug.
A great increase in the pork pro-
duction is not only justified by the
long shortage and the demand for pork
but by the feed situation as we'll.
While it is true that the corn crop of
Iowa and a number of the other corn
belt states has been over-estimated
both as to quantity and quality, the
nation as a whole does have tre-
mendous crop of grain suitable for
hog feeding. The Federal crop report
for November 1917 shows 07,S42,000
bushels more corn, S2S,7S2,00O BUSH
els more of oats and 29,72S,0O0 bush
els more barley, or a total Of 957,296,
900 bushels more of the three crops
combined than produced in 1916.
The south, usually a market for
corn belt grown grains, will be self
sustaining this year, and probably
will have a surplus of both corn and
protein concentrates such as peanut
meal and velvet bean meal for ex-
port. Normally around eighty per
cent of the corn crop of Iowa Is fed
to live stock. Practically thirty per
cent of it is fed to hogs This year it
is estimated that we have fewer cat
tie than usual and not more than
eighty per cent of the normal number
of hogs on feed in Iowa. While more
corn will be used directly as human
food and in manufacture this year
than usual the market will not be
able to absorb without difficulty the
great surplus thrown upon it because
of the dearth of livestock
There is much soft corn in Iowa that
must be fed before spring, as it will
not keep for summer feeding. How
ever, by sorting and saving such corn
as will keep, by making use OF the
splendid quality oats and by the pur-
chase of such by4products as mid
dlings, corn oil cake, hominy feed,
etc., for next summers feeding; there
is not a locality in Iowa where big
pig crop cannot be raised and carried
through till the 1918 corn crop Is
ready. There will be feed enough for
the biggest pig crop Iowa ever raised
if we plan for it properly.
Pork Production VIII Be Profitable.
The hog scarcity, the enlarged de-
mand for pork, the feed situation, all
indicate a sure profit in pork pro-
duction. Hogs will pay more than the
market for the feeds they consume.
Pork production in 1918 will be
safe business.
The Food Administration says:
1.-THE main purpose of the Food Ad-
ministration as to hogs are-to see
that the producer at all times can
count on a fair price for his hogs so
that it will be profitable to him; to
see that the farmer increases the
number of hogs bred; to limit the
profit of the packer and the middle
man and to eliminate speculation"
All these purposes are necessary
because we must have more hogs. so
that the ultimate consumer shall at
all times get an adequate supply OF
hogs at the lowest feasible price.
We shall establish rigid control OF
the packer Fair prices to the farm
er for his hogs, we believe will be
brought about by the full control
which the Food Administration has
over the buying of the Allies, our
Army and Navy, the Red Cross, the
Belgian Relief and the neutrals, which
together Constitute considerable fac
tor in the market.
"The first step is to stop the sud
den break in prices paid for hogs at
the central markets. Those prices
must become stable so that the far
mer knows where he stands, and will
feel justified in increasing hogs for
next winter. The prices so far as
we can affect them will not go below
a minimum of about $3.50 per humid
red weight for the average of the pack
ers' droves on the Chicago market I'M
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