Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-11-22

conference as to necesstate an entire
alteration in the plans Of price stabi-
lization. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders of corn, and there
has been a price decline of from 25
cents to 40 cents per bushel. 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 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 a similar reduction in the prices
of hogs would naturally follow. More
over the lower range Of corn prices
would, If incorporated in 13-to-l ra-
ito, obviously result in q 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 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 p 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 a 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; 1t
has sharply curtailed consumntion of
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff of the packers
about % per cent.
} The exports of 130,00O000 pounds
, of pork products for October COM
! pared with about 100000 pounds
in October year ago, ana the
EXPORT orders puccahle by the Food
Administration for November, amount
!: to ITOOO0.O0O pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports OF
: 3S OOO,OO for November, 1917. The
increased demands of the allies are
continuing, and are in themselves
proof of the necessity for the large
7 production for which the Food Admin
= istratiGn asked. The increase in eX
D port demands appears to be amply
/ sufficient to take up the Increase In
:. hog production, but unfavorahle mar
e ket conditions existing in October aft
y ford no fair index of the aggregate
f supply and demand
= 1t must be evident that the enOr
s nous shortage in fats in the Contra
r Empires and neutral countries woult
d Immediately upon peace result in al
: ditiOnal demands for pork products
g which, on top of the heavy shipments
s to the Allies, would tend material!
to increase the American exports, In
e asmuch as no considerable reservoir o
n supplies exists outside Of the Unitet
States. 1t seems probable that tn
4, present prospective supplies would b
a inadequate to meet this world deman
u with the return to peace. So far as |
It is possible to interpret this fact, 1t Al
pears that there should be even
d stronger demand for pork product
n after the war, and therefore any alarI
v, of hog producers as to the erect Q
peace is unwarranted by the outlook.
In the light of these circumstance
IL is the conclusion of the conferenc
that attempts to hold the price OF hoi
to the price Of corn may work out I
the disadvantage of pork producer
1t IL the conclusion that any interpr'
If tntion of the formula should be
broad gagged policy applied over
long period. It is the opinion or IN
10 conference that in substitution of tn
b previous plans of Sterilization III
re Live Stock Subcommittee OF the Agr
r cultural Advisory Board, together VIII
the specially invited swine represents
tives, should accept the invitation
the Food Administration to join VIII
the Administration and the packers
determining the prices at which col
~ trolled export orders are to be place
This will be regularly done The Il