The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-11-20

for pork products anu WIN tAe "'e'A0S'
foreign pork purchases.
The conclusions Of the conference
The entire marketing situation has
80 changed since the September JOINT
conference as to necessltate an ehtirs
alteration in the plans Of price stap''
lization. The current peace talk mas
alarmed the holders Of corn, ana there
has been a price decline OF from 20
cents to 40 cents per bushel. The fact
that the accumulations Of low priced
corn in the Argentine and South Afrl-
ca would, upon the advent OF peace
and liberated shipping, become avail
able 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-l IH-
ito, obviously result In continuously
falling price for live hogs. In view
of these changed conditions many
swine producers anticipated lower
prices and as 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 per
cent, while the highest unofficial estl-
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 n 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 endeavo,
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 t
the break in prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; II
has sharply curtallel consumption Of
pork products and temporarily de
creased the labor staff Of the packeri
about 25 per cent.
The exports Of 13O,OOO,OOO pounds
Of pork products for October com
pared with about 100000 pounds
in October year ago, and the
export orders placeable by the Foot
Administration for November, amour,
to 170,0OO,000 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports O,
0S,0OO,0O0 for November, 1917. The
increased demands Of the allies ars
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 ampl,
sufficient to take up the increase IN
hog production, but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing in October at
ford no fair index Of the aggregate
supply and demand.
1t must be evident that the enor
nous shortage in fats in the Contra
Empires and neutral countries would
Immediately upon peace result In ad
ditieliiii demands for pork product,
which, on top Of the heavy shipment.
to the Allies, would tend MATERIAL,
to increase the American exports, In
asmuch as no considerable reservoir o,
supplies exists outside Of the United
States. 1t seems probable that tn,
present prospective supplies would b,
inadequate to meet this world demant
with the return to peace. So far Is /
is possible to interpret this fact, It an
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 ilnwMrranted by the outlook,
In the light OF these circumstance
It Is the conclusion of the conference
that attempts to hold the price Of hog
TO the price OF corn may work out I,
the disadvantage Of pork producers
i, 1t is the conclusion that any interpre
tation Of the formula should be
broad gauged policy applied over
long period. 1t Is the opinion Of til,
conference that in substitution Of til,
previous plans Of sterilization til,
Live Stock Subcommittee Of the Agri
cultural Advisory Board, together witt
the specially invited swine representa-
tives, should accept the Invitation o
the Food Administration to join will
the Administration and the packers Ii
determining the prices at which con
trolled export orders are to be placed
This will be regularly done. The In
iluence Of these orders will be tllrecte