The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-11-07
WHEAT GRADE EVILS
Admittedly BARNES
Relative Prices on Low Grade
Wheat Raised by Grain
Corporation
DR.. LADD WINS IN FIGHT
Adjustment VIII Mean $25, oo0, 900 to
100000 to Raisers of Light
Weight and Damaged Wheat
High Grades Too Low Now.

st. Paul, Minn.-Orders issued
by the United States Grain cor
poration, suspending in part the
operation of the federal grades on
low-grade wheat, are great vic
tory for the advocates of grading
according to milling value.
The new rulings set limits be-
low which relative prices may not
90 for this wheat. Experts esti-
mate the savings to the farmers
from the order at from $25 ZOO, 900
to 100000.
Offsetting this, however, is the
fact that great market interests
are endeavoring to bring the price
of first-ciass wheat down to the
guaranteed price. With prices
warranted by market conditions
for the better wheat, the new rui-
ings would raise the low-grade
wheat to a still higher point.
The New Rulings.
Agents have been instructed by Di.
rector Barnes to pay 3 cents less for
No. than for No. l; 6 cents less for
No. than for No. L; 10 cents less for
No. 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 locked 8 cents for each pound
below the required test weight. The
limit for this price reduction is set at
20 cents below No. l for 45-pound
wheat which grades No. or better.
Smutty wheat is to be reduced 2
cents a bushel for slightly smutty
condition and larger discounts will be
made according to the degree of smut.
Mixed wheat will be discounted at
from 2 to cents a 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 go
cents bushel.
Light Wheat Good.
These orders were issued following
q conference IN which Doctor E. F..
Laid of the North Dakota Agricul-
tural college and the three Nonparti-
san league congressman from that
state were prominent. In 1916, when
the wheat crop reseEnb.ed the present
one in many respects, Doctor Laid
startled the Northwest by showing
that on milling value tests spread of
onIy 8 cents was warranted between
No. | and No. 5, 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 "converted."
These revelations did much to pro
mote active farmer organization in the
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 fol
wheat according to it's value for the
purpose for which it is raised and
bought.
Attending the conference with Mr.
Minnesota who were decidedly op'
posed to Doctor Ladd's findings three
years ago and who have since beer
shown the light by the way the farm
ers have rallied to the Nonpartisar
league. The Minnesota warehouse
commission, for instance, not only hal
been converted but has an exhibit a
the state fair showing how easy 1t Ii
to clean low-grade wheat and wha
good bread it makes.
Spread Still Too Great.
The new relative prices announces
nv the grain corporation director ar
stiil unfair to wheat which grades lo'
under the federal grades. Other doch
age than rye is of great value to tn
elevators and mills and should be pal
for in other states as it is now pal
for in North Dakota under state Law
But the maximum spread OF ~ cent
allowed on No. 45-pound wheat con
uares well with differences amountln
to rs to 80 cents bushel which tn
grain buyers have been offering.
general, the new orders should mea
an increase of from few cents
over 40 cents on the bulk of the ere
+o he marketed from the NOrthWes
and practically all of it should NOV
at So or better at the terminal ma
Lnf