South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-03
BILLION BUSHEL
CROP PREDICTED
Wheat Specialists Urge Prep
aratlon to Handle Market
ing of Great Yield.

WASHINGTON. p C. May 3D.
With a wheat crop OF over "a billion
bushels in prospect IN the United
States this season-the greatest
crop the country has ever produced
the need for efforts by farmers
and elevator companies TO market
and store the grain with the least
possible loss and congestion OF traf-
nc is impressed by the bureau Of
markets Of the United states de-
psrtment Of agriculture. In calling
attention TO this gree marketing
problem 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
600. 600. 900 bushels the rushing OF
the grain 70 market Immediately
after harvest caused a congestion ala
The way from the terminal markets
20 the farm The wheat backed
M" after the terminal elevators were
full and congcsted the railroads and
ali country elevators. The result
was that embargOes were placed on
further shipments until the terminals
could be cleared. Fortunately. the
winter was an open one. or the loss
due 20 lack OF proper storage would
have been heavy.
Congestion j. Recalled.
Attention IS called by The bureau
or markets to the situation that pre-
vailed in North Dakota in the winter
Of 1876. following a crop in that
state OF 10000, 900 bushels. OWNS
TO a congestion OF elevators at coun-
try stations. due TO the inability OF
he railroads 70 carry the wheat
away as rapidly as the farmers haul
I'd il in. platforms were built and
hundreds OF thousands OF bushels of
wheat were piled mp i'm the open.
In addition. great quantities of
wheat we're stored in improvised
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
built portable wooden storage bins
20 hold about 1000 bushels each.
Stacking An Aid.
In some parts OF the country last
summer. especially in Indiana, fer
example. stacking was a feature Of
crop handling where il never had
been before. stacking is a partia.
solution TO the grain-congestion
problem which every farmer can
apply. Furthermore. he Is likely TO
ne "A gamer BY The practice, for
wheat that sweats IN the stack. eN-
cent during an unusually dry har-
vest season viii be OF bette~ quail
itv than il thTashed from the shock.
lf stacked al once after harvest
weather permitting. the farmer may
then thrash and market the wheat
at his convenience. There is the
further advantage that the wheat
viii not deteriornte should rains
come as 10 would in the shock. As
a marketing proposition. stacking as
soon as the wheat has become thor
ouchlv dry after harvest is good
business" particularly with billion
nusheI crop and ccngested storage
facilities IN sight.
Farmers should consider the ques-
ton of providing themselves with
storage facilities Provision may be
made 10 store wheat IN buildings
already constructed or farm gran
aries and portable Dins may be pro
,1ded TIE United states depart
nlent OF agriculture has specihca
tions for a portable farm granary.
issued as Markets Document No. IL.