Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-02-06

y. q. Field Agent Compares supply o,
Farm Animals With Last
Years Totals,

Fergus Falls, Mimi, Feb. /, 1915
The Bureau of Crop estimates. today
makes public it's annual estimate OF the
numbers of live stock on the form for
Minnesota and the United States.
Regarding the situation in Minnesota.
Paul H. Kirk, State Field Agent, for the
Bureau of Crop Estimates says:
"There has not been an overabundance
of feed suitable for the live stock In the
northwestern part of the state this win
ter, consequently the tendency has been
as far as possible, to reduce all surplus
live stock from the farms. However.
has been. with the possible exception
of first class feeding corn. an abundance
Of hay and roughage, so that 1t has
checked a decrease in numbers as COM
pared with year ago. .
investigations of shipments and
sales Of horses at market centers do
not indicate any heavy movement from
and show but very little change. The
number Of horses on the farms in Min
nesota on Jan. l, 1918 is reported to be
$4,000 as compared with $3.50 year
ago.
Mules have never reached any large
number in the state and. as there Is no
particular demand, the number this year
ago, 5000.
while prices of feed for live stock
and especially mich cows have been
high, the price of butter fat also has
been reasonably renumerative. The
mich COW is a source of income to the
farmer and he hesitates to reduce this
part of his income. The increasing
to keep the number of cows on the farm
increasing slightly over year ago.
There Is estimated to be 1,526,000 cows
on the farms in Minnesota, Jan. /. 1918
as compared with 100000 on the same
date year ago.
and high price of feed, good many
cattle other than mich COWS were forced
on the market from the northwestern
part of the state. However, cattle were
purchased in other parts, especially the
southwestern part Of the state so that
in reality, it was only a shifting OF
cattle from one part of the state t
| another. In other states where there
| was a scarcity of feed and consequently
| cattle sold cheaply, were purchased anG
brought into this state, so that there
has been a slight increase over tn.
| previous years. The number being esti
mated at $4,000 on Jan. /, 1918 a.
compared with 100000 a year ago.
The very attractive prices of WOO
| ana the advantageous feedlng and past
uring lots especially in cut over lands
| has resulted in a slight increase in MUM
Der of sheep over a year ago. The pub
licity showing the necessity and advis
Utility of raising more sheep in thi!
state as outlined by Government an,
| State officials undoubtedly has direc
result the past year, but the full effec
will probably be felt another year
There are estimated to be $500 sheer
on farms Jan. l, 1918 compared will
641.00O year ago. The prices Of shee]
have advanced sharply over last year
to price on Jan. I, 1918 being $11.S
for Minnesota as compared with SIS
| a year ago.
| Revision has been made in swim
for 1917. Heavy pig crop and no alb
normal marketings except some In TIL
northeastern part of the state has re
suited in an increase over a year ago
the number Jan. l, 1918 being given a
2.241,OOo compared with 2.075,000
|year ago."