The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-08-02
ALFRED DEFENDS
ALFALFA PRICES
Outlines Position of
Markets Bureau and
Urges Acceptance of
Prices.

Director Harvey Alfred of the BIZ
reau of farm markets has received
considerable number of inquiries an
objections regarding hay prices an
grades set by the far mmarkets bu
reau recently. In explanation of tn
prices which will be inforced in Idah
this fall and winter, Mr.. Alfred said
some misunderstanding an,
many interpretations of the farm
markets department bulletin No. 9!
issued July 20, regarding hay grades
and prices in stack have been re
ported from various sources. I an
convinced that this is chiefly due tt
the fact that come of our papers pub
lished only part of that bulletin
selecting that part which NOSE an.
pealed to them and emitting other
parts that were vital to proper un.
derstanding Of the question. Some
papers omitted all that part of the
bulletin preceding the National HAY
Dealers association rules of grading
hay and prices. This is unfair ia
all concerned, especially to this de.
partment and to the producers. By
this many are led to believe that the
price mentioned for each grade is
for baled hay on board cars. This
is not correct. 1t is for hay in the
stack and as such was plainly set
forth in the bulletin.
Some papers failed to give the ex-
PLANTATION of the sliding scale as ap-
Piled to the various grades and this
has led to confusion.
The Sliding Scale
"For the benefit Of those who are
laboring under the misunderstanding
due to the omission of that explana-
ton, l will repeat it here. 1T will
Tie observed that the sliding scale of
prices given for Fancy is from
$500 to $3.50. w mean by this
that the grower who has shipping
facilities that will enable him to take
advantages of the outside market,
or the man who has choice feeding
grounds and water with other con-
veniences for feeding, should get
$3.50 the top pricefi for his Fancy
grade alfalfa; while the grower who
is not near shipping point, or does
not have superior advantages for
feeding, should receive a price rang
ing from $500 upward, according
to his facilities. This explanation
applies to all other grades and prices
given.
"The prices have given, in view
of all conditions, are as nearly just as
is is possible for men to make them.
And when men who grow cattle and
sheep and buy alfalfa in Idaho to
feed them say these prices are too
high and they will sell or drive their
stock out before they will pay them,
they know little of what they are
talking about, or they are trying to
bluff. To such men l say, If you
want to sell, advertise your good |
stock with the farm markets depart
ment and we will sell them to the |
men who grow the alfalfa. That will |
enable them to make more money
out of their hay than we are asking |
youto pay, and will retain the fert-
ility of our soils and increase the
profits of the farmer. If you contem-
plate driving them out, you had bet
,er think before you act, for there
IS no place you can drive where feed
Will cost you as little as in Idaho,
even at the highest prices l have
named for each grade, unless you
rive to the Strengthening pens.
The rOwers' Stand
"On the other extreme, we have
ome hay growers who say they will
lot sell for any price under tn high
'st named, no matter how or where
hey are located. They will ship out
lrst. ooh, consistency, thou art
ewel." Such men little understand
he labor and losses that inevitably
ttend the shipping of hay They
eem to think that because Portland :
1arket today is $29 to $50 on choice
Italia, and the freight rate is 1925
er ton, they will bet $22.75 or
1915 on board cars for. hay. And >
s they can bale and load hay for
bout IS ton, choice alfalfa should
e worth $17.75 in the stack and !.
ley will not sell for less. These
len labor under WRONG impressions.
hen they have taken into account II
leir waste hay and losses in ship 8
ent due to spoiled hay, disappoint- &
ents in grading, etc., they will n
arm that 1t would have been better +
have accepted SIG in the stack a
r their hay. "
The farmer who does not have a DC
asonable assurance that he is 60
6 to obtain better price by ship "
ng his hay will do well to eliminate
e risk and give the local buyer the
nefit Of the doubt. 1t will m can Fl
profit to both and to our state at
arge.
HARVEY ALFRED,
Director State Farm Markets Blu
reau." o.