The Tomahawk., 1919-10-02
WHEAT GRADE EVILS
Admittedly BARNES
Relative Prices on Low Grade
., Wheat Raised by Grain
Corporation
DR.. LADD WINS IN FIGHT
Adjustment Will Mean $25,ooo,ooo to
$4o,ooo0o0 to Raisers Of Light
Weight and Damaged Wheat
hiah Grades Too Low Now.

st. Paul, Minn.-Orders issued
by the United States Grain cor.
poration, 'suspendino In part tho
operation Of the federal grades on
Iow-arade wheat, are great VIC
tory for the advocates Of grading
according to milling value.
The new rulings set limits be.
h low which relative prices may not
40 for this wheat. Experts estl-
mate tho savings to the farmers
from the order at from $25, ,0oo, 900
to $4o,oo0,0 900.
Offsettinq this, however, 10 the
fact that great market interests
are endeavoring to bring the price
Of first-class wheat down to the
guaranteed price. With prices
warranted by market conditions
for the better wheat, the new rul-
lnos would raise tho Iow.grade
wheat to a still. higher point.
The New Rulings.
Agents have been instructed by d.
rector Barnes to pay cents less for
No. 2 than for No. /; 6 cents less for
No. 3 than for No. /; 10 cents less for
No. 4 than for No. 1: and IA cents
less for No. s than for No. l..
Where wheat falls down In test
weight special rulings are made.
Wheat in No. grade or better is to
be docked 3 cents for each pound
below the required test weight. The
limit for this price reduction is set at
20 cents below No. for 45-pound
wheat which grades No. or better.
Smutty wheat is to be reduced 2
cents q bushel for q slightly smutty
condition and larger discounts will be
made according to the degree of smut.
Mixed wheat will be discounted at
from 2 to 5 cents q bushel. Wheat
mixed with rye is to be discounted not
less than cents bushel, and the
rye is to be paid for at the rate Of 60
cents a bushel.
Light Wheat Good.
These orders were issued following
a conference In which Doctor e. F.
Ladd of the North Dakota Agricul'
tural college and the three Nonpartt'
san league congressman from that
state were prominent. In 1916, when
the wheat crop resembled the present
one in many respects, Doctor Ladd
startled the Northwest by showing
that on milling value tests q spread of
only 8 cents was warranted between
No. 1 and No. s, instead Of II or more
cents which the elevators set, and that
the special grade of Feed D." which
the milling combine set on light.
weight wheat contrary to law, was In
reality not used for feed at all but
made very good flour.
Politicians "convertsd."
These revelations did much to pro-
mote active farmer organization in tho
Northwest. and the fear OF the grow
ing independence Of the organized
farmers has now led to important con-
cessions In the direction Of paying for
wheat according to its value for the
purpose for which It IL raised and
bought.
Attending the conference with Mr..
Barnes also were several officials from
Minnesota who were decidedly op.
posed to Doctor Ladd's findings three
years ago and who have since been
shown the light by the way the farm
ers have rallied to the Nonpartisan
league. The Minnesota. warehouse
commission, for instance, not only has
been converted but has an exhibit at
the state fair showing how easy It Is
to clean low-grade wheat and what
good bread 1t makes.
Spread Still 200 Great.
The new relative prices announced
By the grain corporation director are
still unfair to wheat which grades low
under the federal grades. Other dock
age I1an rye ID of great value to the
elevators and mills and should be paid
for in other states as 1t Is now paid
for in North Dakota under state law
But the maximum spread OF 20 cents
allowed on No. S 45-pound wheat com
pares well with differences amounting
to Is to 80 cents q bushel which the
grain buyers have been Offering. In
general, the new orders should NEAR
an increase of from q few cents tt
over 40 cents on the bulk of the eroE
to be marketed from the Northwest
and practically all Of it should move
= A~ tANvpa}no1