The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-12-19

The entire marketing situation has
so changed since the September joint
conference as to necesSltate an entire
alteration in the plans of price stabi-
lZation. The current peace talk has
alarmed the holders OF corn, and there
has been price decline of from %
cents To 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 Gre
ated a 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, If 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
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 Y 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 offeredeto them in an endeavor
to maintain the agreed price. The re-
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; it
has sharply curtailed consumption of
pork products and temporarily de-
creased the labor staff of the packers
about % per cent.
The exports of 130000,000 pounds
of pork products for October com
pared with about 100000 pounds
In October year ago, ana the
EXPORT orders plaeeable by the Food
Administration for November, amount
to 17O,O00,000 pounds as contrast
ed with the lesser exports OF
Q9 900 900 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'
mort demands appears to be amply
sufficient to take up the increase III
hog production, but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing in october al
ford no fair index of the aggregate
supply and demand.
II must be evident that the enor
NOUS shortage In fats in the Cehtfa
Emnires and neutral countries Woul'
Immediately upon peace result III aa
ditional demands for pork produces
which. on top of the heavy shlplneht'
70 the Allies. would tend MATERIAL!
70 increase the American exports. IN
asmuch as no considerable reservoir o
sunnlies exists outside of the United
States. 1t seems probable that IN
present prospective supplies would ID
iuadpoUate to meet this world deman'
with the return to peace. 50 TAR as
is possible to interpret this fact, II ap
pears that there should be even
stronger demand for pork producN
after the war and therefore any alarm
of hog producers as to the effect o
nence is unwarranted by the outlook
In the light of these circumstance
n Is the conclusion of the conference
thai attempts TO hold the price of hog
To the price of corn may work out L
the disadvantage of pork producers
II IS the conclusion that any interpre
tation of the formula should he
broad gagged policy applied over
long period 1t is The opinion of tn
conference that in substitution of tn
previous plans of sterilization tn
Live Stock Subcommittee of the Agr
cultural Advisory Board, together wit
. the specially invited swine representa-
tives. should accept the invitation Q
. the Food Administration to join wit
: the Administration and the packers /
. determining the prices nj which cor
! trolled export orders are to be PLACED
This will be regularly done. The II
fiuence of these orders will be directe
10 the maintenance Of the common oil
: Iect-namely. the Sterilization of I'll
. price Of live hogs so rs 10 secure as fa
rs II is possible fair returns to tn