Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-16
The Public Mind

Editor Recorder.-InaSmuch
as there has been some discussion of
the prices paid for Southern hogs as
compared with prices paid at Chicago,
Armour and Company believe that
your readers may be interested in the
following explanation of the difference
in price.
There has been some complaint on
the part of certain stock raisers in
the South because their hogs have not
brought the high prices paid in Chic
ago and other Western markets.
These stockmen have wondered
why, with minimum price established
by the government, through the Food
administration, of II IL cents pound
in Chicago, the Southern hogs can
not command, approximately, the same
price.
There is absolutely no intention on
the part of Armour and Company to
discriminate against the Southern
hog. Southern producers, however,
should not overlook the difference be-
tween the hard-ieshed, corn-fed hog
and the SOFT oily-feshed peanut-fed
hog The difference in the quality and
in the demand for the product ex-
plains the difference in price.
Armour and Company have the
prosperity of the stock raisers of Geor-
gia and other states very much at
heart The company is doing all that
it can TO encourage stock raising-the
production of more and better hogs
and cattle-in the South as we'll as in
other parts of the country.
With this thought in mind Armour
and Company have paid for hogs and
cattle at their Jacksonville plant the
highest price consistent with the quail
ty and the market ability of the
product.
Why cannot Armour and Company
pay II IL cents pound for all South
ern hogs? Because the vast majority
of such hogs are soft and oily. They
are not so much in demand as the hard
hogs of the Western states. The
Southern farmer himself when he buys
his meat, frequently expresses prefer
ence for the white meat of corn-fed
hogs. Bacon and hams produced from
Southern hogs are not acceptable in
European markets. There is too much
loss, too much shrinkage, due to the
soft and oily quality of the meat.
The great demand is for hard meat
A packing company cannot realize as
much profit from low grade hogs as
it can from more expensive corn-fed
animals. These facts were taken into
consideration by the United States
Food administration when it fixed the
minimum pirce of hogs at II IL cents.
The Southern hog with its soft oily
flesh was not included in that mini
mum price for the reason given. The
aged price for hogs wos for the Chic
ago and other principal northern mar
kets.
While the Southern hog commands
a less price than the hard, firm product
of the Northern and Western farms,
it should be remembered that costs
less to raise it. The Southern hog,
owing to favorable climatic conditions,
also is very prolific.
Armour and Company, through the
establishment of the plant in Jack
sonville, Florida, several years ago,
have done much to stabilize the pro-
and neighboring states. Previous to
the establishment of that plant the
nearest market for Florida stock was
Cincinnati or st. Louis. Hog pro-
duction in Florida practically was
limited to local trade. After the plant
at Jacksonville was opened there was
a ready, dependable all-the-year-ro
market
Armour and Company want the
oOuIueEu ldTduST 10 get lu0 ulSQ6SL
prices for his hogs consistent with
their quality and the marketability CT
the product, but the producers should
study the effect of feed upon their
stock and keep their hogs sheltered
from weather and endeavor to apply
the practices which have been sue
cessful in producing the hard-feshed
animal that is in demand.
The hog raisers of Florida and
neighboring states also should en-
deavor to distribute their shipments
more evenly. At present most Of the
hogs are shipped to Jacksonville from
October to January. 1t frequently has
happened that not single hog was
in the pens at Jacksonville. The same
uneven distribution of cattle works