Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1918-11-28

Inc conference iaSleI LOT lhASe
executive committee OF the fifty pack
for pork products and with the membs
foreign pork purchases.
The conclusions of the conference
The entire marketing situation has
90 changed since the September joint
conference as to necessitate an entire
alteration in the plans of price stabl-
lization. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders Of corn, and there
has been a price decline Of from %
cents 20 40 cents per bushel. The fact
that the Accommodations OF low priced
corn In the Argentine and South Afri-
ca would, upon the advent OF peace
and liberated shipping, become availa-
Bile to the European market has ere
ated a 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, IL incorporated In a 13-to-1 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 a result rushed their
hogs to market In large numbers, and
this overshlpment 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 esu-
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 10 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 ~ any event has been failure
20 maintain the October price basis
determined upon at the September con-
terence and. undertaken by the pack
ers. Another factor contributing to
the break In prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; It
has sharply curtalIed consumption OF
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff Of the packers
about 25 per cent.
The exports OF 100000 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
Administration for November, amount
to 170,O00.OOO pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports Of
eS. 200. 900 for November, 1917. The
increased demands Of theN allies are
and are in themselves
proof of the necessity for the large
for which the Food Admins
istration asked. The increase in ex-
port demands appears to be ampls
sufficient to take up the increase in
hcR PRODUCT IN, but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing In October afs
ford no fair index Of the aggregate
supply and demand.
Ii must be evident that The enor-
nous shortage IN fats in the Central
Empires and neutral countries would
upon peace result In adj
ditional demands for pork products
which, on top of the heavy shipments
10 the Allies, would tend materially
to Increase the American exports. In
asmuch as no considerable reservoir OF
supplies exists outside Of the United
states. II seems probable that the
present prospective supplies would De
TO meet this world demand
with the return to peace. SO far as IL
d possible to interpret this fact, it APP
pears that there should be even q
stronger demand for pork products
after the war, and therefore any alarm
Of hog producers as to the effect Of
peace is unwarranted by the outlook.
In the light Of these circumstances
X Is the conclusion Of the conference
Iha. attempts to hold the price Of hogs
10 the price Of corn may work out to
The disadvantage Of pork producers.
It FL Tie conclusion that any interpre-
IatIon OF the formula should be q
broad gauged policy applied over a
long period. 1t is the opinion Of the
con Inference that In substitution Of the
previous plans of sterilization the
Live Stock Subcommittee of the Agri- |
rultural Advisory Board, together with
The specially invited swine represents
Tires. should accept the invitation OF
The Food Administration TO join with
the administration and the packers in
the prices at which con-
.roIled export orders are to be placed