The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1918-11-21


convened in Washington n meeting of
Agricultural Advisory Board and the 5
industry To consider the situation In ia
The conference lasted for three di
executive committee of the fifty ruckiI
for pork products and with the member
foreign lutl; purchases.
The conclusions of the conference
The entire marketing situation has
so changed since the September Joint
conference as 10 nccessitatc an entire
alteration IA the plans of price sabi-
li2ntiun. tDIT current peace talk has
alarmed the holders of corn, ana there
has been Il price decline of from -
cents 10 10 cents per bushel. The fact
that the nrcuinulutions of low priced
corn in ilIr Argentine and South Aifi-
ca would. upon the advent of peace
and liberated shipping, become avail
able to the European market has Gre
ntrd grent deal of apprehension on
the part of corn holders. This decline
has snreal fear among swine growers
that similar reduction In the prices
of hogs would naturally follow. More
over, the lower range of corn prices
would, If incorporated in l3-to-l ra-
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 est
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 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
rrs. Another factor contributing to
the break in prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; IT
has sharply curtailed consumption OF
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff Of the packers
about % per cent.
The exports of 13OOOO.OOO pounds
Of pork products for October com
pared with about 52,0OO,0OO pounds
| in October year ago, and the
export orders piaceable by the Food
Administration for November, amount
to 17O,OOO,OOO pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports Of
$4,000 900 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 unfavorabe 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 ad-
ditionul 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'reserv of
supplies exists outside of the United
States. 1t seems probable that the
present prospective supplies would be
Inadequate TO meet this world demand
with the return to peace. SO far as ii
Is possible 10 Interpret liis iuCl, IL APP
pears that there should be even Il
stronger demand for pork products
after the war, and therefore any alarm
of hog producers rs to the effect of
peace is unwarranted by the outlook,
In the light of these circumstances
II is the conclusion of the conference
that attempts to hold the price of hogs
to the price Of corn may work out TO
the disadvantage of pork producers.
1t is the conclusion that any interpre-
tation of the formula should be Il
broad gagged policy applied over IA
long period. 1t is the opinion of the
conference that in substitution of the
previous plans of stabil'rs;ion the
Live Stock Subconinittee of the Agri-
cultural Advisory Board, together with
the specially invited swine representa-
tives, should accept the invitation of
the Food Administration to Join with
the Administration and the packers in
determining the prices at which con-
trolled export orders are TO be placed.
4