The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1918-11-30

foreign pork purchases.
The conclusions OF the conference
The entire marketing situation has
so changed since the September joint
conference as to necessltnte un entire
alteration In the plans of price staDi-
llzntion. The current peace talk mas
alarmed the holders of corn, and there
has been price decline of from 70
cents Ia 40 cents per bushcl. 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 nvniln-
Bile to the European market has Gre
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 q l3to-l rn-
ito, obviously result In continuously
falling price for live hogs. In view
of these changed conditions many
swine producers anticipated lower
prices and as Il 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 II per cent. IN
creased production over last year. On
the other hind, 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 In an endeavor
to maintain the agreed price. The re-
suit In any event has been failure
TO maintain the October price basis
determined upon mt the September con-
terence and undertaken by the pack
ers. Another factor contributing 10
the break In prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; II
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff Of the packers
about % per cent.
The exports of 130000,000 pounds
OF pork products for October COM
pared with about 52,000,000 pounds
In October year ago, ana the
export orders placeable by the Food
Administration for November amount
TO 17OOO0.000 pounds as contrast
cd with the lesser exports OF
$4,000 900 for November, l9lI The
increased demands of the allies are
continuing, and are In themselves
nroof OF the necessity for the large
production for which the Food Admin
IstratIon asked The Increase IN eN-
port demands appears 10 be amply
sufficient 10 take up the Increase III
huc prohuctl ~. but unfavorabie mar
ket conditions rNtslng in Octopef AZ
ford no fair index Of the aggregate
supply and demand.
II must be evident that the enor-
mons shortage In fats In the Cehtrnl
EmpIres and neutral countries wouiu
Immediately upon peace result w au'
ditionnl demands for pork products
which. on top of the heavy shipments
% the Allies, would tend materially
90 increase the American exports, In
asmuch as no considerable reservoir OF
snnplles exists outside of the United
stntes. 1t seems probable that the
nresent prospective supplies would ne
,nodeouate TO meet this world demand
with the return TO peace. So far as II
is possible to interpret this fact' II ap'
neors that there should be even
stronger demand for pork products
after the war, and therefore any alarm
OF hog producers as TO the eHect OF
peace is unwarranted by the outlook
In the light of these circumstances
Il js the conclusion of The conference
tbat attempts to hold the price OF hogs
70 the price Of corn may work oui 10
the disadvantage Of pork producers.
If is the conclusion that any interpre-
tarlon Of the fXmula should ne
broad gauged phiey applied over
Ionp period. II il the oplnlon OF the
conference that In substitution or the
previous plans of stabilizatlon the
live stock Subcommittee Of the Agyl-
cultural Advisory Board. together with
the specially invited swine representa-
tiyes. should accept the Invitation OF
the Food Administration 10 join with
the Administration and the packers IN
determining the prices at which con
trolled export orders are to he placed,
This VIII be regularly done. The IN
fluence of these orders WIZ he directed
10 The maintenance of the coplnotl'oh-
iect, namely the stnblli2nton of ihe
-. n ti., hoes, Ao ne 10 spptife as tNF