Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1918-11-21

The CONCLUSIONS OF the conferences
The entire marketing situation has
so changed since the September joint
conference as to neCessdate an entire
alteration in the plans of price stabi
llzation The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders of corn, ana there
has been a price decline of from "a
cents to 10 cents per hushel. The fact
that the denominations Of low priced
corn IN the Argentine and South Afri
ca would, upon the advent of peace
and liberated shipping become avail
able 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 coyn Prices
would, if incorporated in a i3-to'l ra-
ito, obviously result in a continuously
falling price for live hogs. In view
of these changed conditions many
swine producers anticipated lower
prices and as a 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 s per
cent, while the highest unofficial esti-
mate does not exceed 10 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 q 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 at the September con-
ference and undertaken by the pack
ers. Another factor contributing TO
the break in prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; 1t
has sharply eurtailed consumption of
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff of the packers
about % per cent.
The exports of 130,000,000 pounds
Of pork products for October com
pared with about 100000 pounds
IN October a year ago, and the
export orders placeable by the Food
AdminiStra tion for November, amount
TO 170.000000 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports of
9S,000000 for November, 1917. The
increased demands of the allies are
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 amply
sufficient to take UP the increase in
hog production, but unfayorable mar
ket conditions existing in October af-
ford no fair index Of the aggregate
supply and demand.
1t must be evident that the enor-
nous shortage in fats in the Central
Empires and neutral countries would
Immediately upon peace result in adj
ditional demands for pork products
which, on top of the heavy shipments
to the Allies, would tend materially
to increase the American exports, in
asmuch as no considerable reservoir of
supplies exists outside of the United
States 1t seems probable that the
present prospective supplies would be
inadequate to meet this world demand
Nth tie return to peace. SO far as 1t
: possible to interpret this fact it APP
oars that there should be even
s., rcIlger demand for pork products
ffer the war. and therefore any alarm
f hog producers as to the effect of
ace Is nnwarranted by the outlook.
In tie light or these CIRCUMSTANCES
IS lhe conclusion of the conference
jat attempts to hold the price OF hogs
,-he price Of coru may work out to
'i,a5 ftage OF pork producers
Is the conclusion mat any interpre-
.at,on OF the formula should be
read rauged policy applied over
r,priod. 1t is the opinion OF the
renee that in substitution OF the |
sreun,s plans of sterilization the |
Live Stock subcommittee of the Agr-
cultural Advisory Board, together with !
the specially invited swine representa- /
tives, should accept the invitation 81
he Food Administers ioR to join WITH
he Administrators. ,ud the packers In
Determining the f.t,ss at which con-
trolled export orders are to be placed.
This vii, be regularly done. The In
.y:.ce CT these ornfis will be directed
Ia rae raintensncA ua the tonmoA OBJ
iect-nameiy. the sshilixAtien Of the i
price Of live hogs 80 as to secure NJ fss |
On II 10 pssssbss fsR sstED - -