The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-30
.B|LlI0N-BUSHEL WHEAT
STORAGE CONGESTION
Department. Of Agriculture Urges Pren-
arstioh TO Handle Marketing 81
Great Yield.

Washington, u. G. April 2s.--With
wheat crop Of over billion bushels
III prospect in the United States THIS
season---the greatest crop the country
has ever produced-the need Tor Ell
forts by farmers and elevator con-
panes to market and store the gram
v it'll the least possible loss and con-
Restion OF traffic Is impressed by the
bureau OF markets of the United states
department Of agriculture. In Gazing
attention 10 this great marketing prob
lem the department says that every
possible measure should be taken 10
insure the safe storage and handling
Of this enormous crop.
Last year. with a crop of about 90e.-
900. 900 bushels. the rushing OF the
grain to market Immediately after
harvest caused a congestion all thu
way from the terminal markets 10
the farm. The wheat backed up
after the terminal elevators were fun
and congested the railroads and all
country elevators. The result was that
embarRoes were placed on further ship
ments until the terminals could b.
cleared. Fortunately, the winter was
an omen one. or the loss due to lack
OF proper storage would have been
heavy
Attention is called by the bureau Of
markets TO the situation that pre-
OF l9l5-1s, following a crop in that
state Of 10000 200 bushels. owing TO
q congestion of elevators at country
stations. due to the inability Of the
railroads to carry the wheat away az
rapidly as the farmers hauled it in
pla forms were built and hundreds Of
thousands Of bushels Of wheat we're
piled up In the open. In addition,
great quantities of wheat we're stored
in inproyised bins
/ One result of this condition was
that during the following summer
many farmers provided themselves
with galvanized iron storage tanks on
their farms.
In Washington and Oregon, last
year and in 1917, many farmers built
portable wooden storage bins to hold
, about ,000 bushels each.
| In some parts of the country last
| summer, especially in Indiana, for en-
ample. stacking was a feature OF crop
handling where II never had been lns-
fore. Stacking is partial solution .
( the grain congestion problem wlicl
every farmer can apply. Further
more. he is likely to be a gamer hY
the practice. for wheat that sweats i,
/ the stack. except during an UNUSUALLY
i dry harvest season. will be Of hstt"r
quality than if thrashed from the
shock. If stacked at once after harT-
J est. weather permitting, the farmer
may then thrash and market the
wheat at his convenience. There q
the further advantage that the wheat
will not deteriorste should rains com.
AZ 1t would in the shock. AS q market
ing proposition, stacking as soon a.
the wheat has become thoroughly dry
after harvest is good business" par
ticularly with billion hushel crop
and congested storage facilities IL
! sight.
! Farmers should consider the quas-
: ton of providing themselves with
! storage facilities. Provision may 10
made to store wheat in buildings al
ready constructed or farm granaries
and portable bins may be provided.
The United States Department of
! Agriculture has Specifications for a
portable farm granary, issued ~
Markets Document No. II.