Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-11-16

so changed since the September joint
conference as to necessitate an entire
alteration in the plans Of price staoi-
lization. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders Of corn, and there
has been a price decline Of from 20
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 avalla-
bic to the European market has Gre
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, II incorporated In 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 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 esd-
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 n 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-
terence and undertaken by the pack
ers. Another factor contributing to
the break in prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; II
has sharply curtailed consumption oil
pork products and temporarily de
creased the labor staff Of the packers
about IS per cent.
The exports OF 130,000,000 pounds
Of pork products for October com
pared with about 52,000,o00 pounds
I'm October year ago, and th'
export orders placeable by the FOOD
Administration for November, amoun
to 17O,000,0O0 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports o.
$4,000, 900 for November, 1917. The
increased demands OF the allies arr
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 ampl!
sufficient to take up the increase IL
hog product III, but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing in October ar
ford no fair index of the aggregate
supply and demand.
It must be evident that the enor
nous shortage In fats in the Contra
EMPIRES and neutral countries woul
Immediately upon peace result In ad
ditional demands for pork product
which, on top of the heavy shipment
TO the Allies, would tend MATERIAL
10 increase the American exports, In
asmuch as no considerable reservoir o
supplies exists outside of the Unite
States. II seems probable that III
present prospective supplies would b
inadequate to meet this world deman
with the return to peace. So far as
is possible to interpret this fact, II AZ
pears that there should be even
stronger demand for pork product
after the war. and therefore any alarr
of hog producers as 10 the effect 0
peace Is unwarranted by the outlook.
In the light Of these circumstance
II Is the conclusion OF the conferenc
ItNA btttiNiAS 10 Asptu AAiC RtiNc VI Ibk
t. the price OF corn may work out (
the disadvantage of pork producer,
II Is the conclusion that any interprt
tation OF the formula should be
broad gagged policy applied over
long period. II is the opinion Of IN
conference that In substitution Of tn
previous plans OF sterilization tn
Live Stock subcommittee Of the Ayr
cultural Advisory Board. together wit
the specially invited swine represents
tiveS. should accept the invitation G
the Food Administration TO jo.r wit
the Administration and the packers 1
determining the prices at which cor
trolled export orders are to be placed
This win be regularly done. The In
huence Of these orders viii be dlrecte
To the maintenance OF the common ot
tect-namely, the Sterilization OF tn
price of live hogs 30 as TO secure as IA
rs Il Is possible fair returns to th