The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-11-14

executive committee OF the nfty pacRll
for pork products and with the member
foreign pork purchases.
The conclusions Of the conference
The entire marketing situation has
so changed since the September JOINT
conference as to necessitate an entire
alteration in the plans of price staDl-
ltzation. 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 accommodations Of low priced
corn I'm 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 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 corr prices
would, If Incorporated in a lo-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 8 per
cent, while the highest unofficial esti-
mate does not exceed 10 per e 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 q per
cent. more thar 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 cor-
ference 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 1905 900 pounds
OF pork products for October com
pared with about 52,G08000 pounds
in October a year ago. and the
export orders placeable by The Food
Administration for November, amount
TO 100000 pounds al contrast
ed with the lesser exports Of
9S, O00. 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-
port demands appears to be amply
sufficient to take up the increase In
hog production, but unfavorable mar
ket conditions existing In October af-
ford no fair index of the aggregate
supply and demand.
1t must be evident that the cnor-
nous shortage In fats lii the Central
Empires and neutral countries would
Immediately upon peace result in adj
ditional demands for pork products
which, on top of the heavy shipments
to the Allies. would tend materially
to Increase the American exports, in
asmuch MS no considerable reservoir f
supplies exists outside of tbs United
States. It seems probable that the
present prospective supplies would be
inadequate TO meet this world demand
with the return to pence. So far as Il
is possible to interpret this fact. it ap.
pears that there should be even d
stronger demand for pork products
after the war, and therefore any alarm
Of hog producers MS to the effect ot
peace is unwarranted by the outlook.
In the light OF these circumstances
1t is the conclusion OF the conference
that attempts to hold tllx price of hogs
70 the price Of corn may work out Il
the disadvantage Of pork producers
aIt is the conclusion that any ~interpre
tation Of the formula should be 4
broad gauged policy applied over 4
long period t Ii the ODinfon of fs,f