Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-11-22


{ The entire marketing situation has
loo changed since the September joint
conference as to necessitate an entire
alteration In the plans OF price staDi-
lizatlon. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders of corn, and there
has been price decline OF from 10
cents to 40 cents per bushel. The fAct
that the accumulations of low prices
corn In the Argentine and South Afri-
Ca would, upon the advent of peace
and liberated shipping, become aveil-
able to the European market has Gre
tated great deal of apprehension on
the part of corn holders. This decline
has spread fear among swine growers
that 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 esti-
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
tprice 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
ers. Another factor contributing to
the break in prices during the month
has been the influenza epidemic; II
has sharply curtailed consumption OF
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff of the packers
about 25 per cent.
The exports OF 130,000,00O pounds
of pork products for October COM
pared with about 100000 pounds
in October year ago, and the
export orders placeable by the Food
Administration for November amount
to 17OOOO000 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports OF
98.OOO,OOO 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 n
hog production, but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing In October at
ford no fair index OF the aggregate
supply and demand.
II must be evident that the enor
nous shortage In fats in the Contra
Empires and neutral countries woult
Immediately upon peace result In al
ditional demands for pork products
which, on top of the heavy shipments
To the Allies, would tend MATERIAL!
to increase the American exports, In
asmuch as no considerable reservoir o
iEupplies exists outside of the United
States 1t seems probable that tin
nresent prospective supplies would b
INADEQUATE to meet this world deman'
with the return to peace. SO far as I
is possible to interpret this fact, IT ap
Dears that there should be even
stronger demand for pork product
after the war, and therefore any aiarl
fof hog producers as to the erect o
peace is unwarranted by the outlook.
In the light of these circumstance
IN IN the conclusion of the conferenc
that attempts to hold the price OF hog
IN the price of corn may work out [
the disadvantage of pork producers
in IA the conclusion that any interpre
tation of the formula should be
broad gagged policy applied over
long period. 1t is the opinion OF tn
conference that in substitution OF I'll
previous plans of sterilization IN
1--we Stock Subcommittee Of the Ayr
cultural Advisory Board, together wit
Ithe specially invited swine represents
;Uves should accept the Invitation O
the Food Administration to Join WI.
the Administration and the packers
determining the prices at which col
trolled export orders are to be PLACED
This viii be regularly done. Inc u
nuence of these orders will be direc'e
70 the maintenance of the common o
iect-namely, the sterilization OF I
.nrice of live hogs so as to secure as !
as It is possible fair returns 10