South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-13
EXPORTS OF FARM
PRODUCTS VALUED
AT FOUR BILLION
Bureau Of Markets Now Ready
To Aid Growers In For
eign Trade.
BY 4. r. MEREDITH.
(Sqs.rctarv OF Agriculture. !


A knowledge or the market is es-
scutiaI II the farmer is 20 organize
and operate his business 10 best ad-
vantage. Something like one-fOurth
OF his produce goes 10 foreign coun-
tries Hence 10 know his market
conditions it Is essential that he
know something Of the foreign as
well as OF the domestic market. A
study Of foreign markets for our
farm products viii bring home to
him that IL the foreign outlet were
blocked there would be left in this
country, frequently, a surplus that
would exert "a disastrous effect on
prices TO farmers. The export bust
ness In agricultural products IS very
large. In 1919 IL constituted approx
mately So percent of all exports Ag-
ricultural products exported were
worth about $3.50. 100000. while all
other products exported were worth
$4,000. 00O, 900
should Study Foreign Markets.
The farmer ought 10 be interest
cd in knowing how and why his
prosI Gritty depends, in large meas
ure, upon foreign markets. The
farmer is in a position 10 do more
toward promoting foreign trade
than may appear ar first glance.
Practically every farm commodity is
now represented by some large or
ganization. and all OF them are keen
~ interested in export trade in farm
products. Yet the growers who com
pose the organizations have given
TOO little thought 20 what foreign
outlet means 10 them. The cotton
growers. about 60 percent OF whose
product goes to foreign markets.
knows a great deal about f. So do
the growers Of some types OF tobaC-
20 that go almost exclusively TO
specific foreign markets SO DO some
apple growers and some citrus fruit
growers. The rank and file Of farm
ers, however. give the matter Irac-
ucally no thought
1t is highly desira bic that the
farmers and their organizations avail
themselves OF all possible sources of
information on foreign marketing.
The department OF agriculture is in
q position 10 give them assistance.
The Bureau OF Markets. through its
foreign marketing service. is fur
nishing information on foreign sup
plies, assisting in esta blishing stand
ard grades not only TO improve the
quality OF American products but to
facilitate trading and is making in
vestigatiOns of shipping and storage
problems TO aid in placing the pro-
ducts-on foreign markets in good
condition.
Bureau Men Sent Abroad.
A representative is stationed in
London. devoting his time 10 putting
American producers in touch with
British markets. IL has been plan
ned 20 place six such representatives
at strategic points over the world
Trade commissioners are sent 10 for
eign countries when the opportun-
ity to open up new market appears
promising. Two livestock commits
sioners were sent TO South America
last year and two others will leave in
few days 10 spend the greater
part or the coming summer in the
same field. Several shipments Of
pure bred live stock 10 Brazil and
Uruguay have already resulted. and
prospects are good for a broad field
for future trade. Plans are now I'M
der way for sending two grain men
TO Europe to demonstrate the grades
on which trading in grain is now
done in this country. 1t is proposed
also, when the apple shipping sea-
son begins. 20 put men on the ships
carrying them 10 foreign markets to
md out the causes of losses IN ap-
pies shipped overseas and 10 devise
means for reducing them.
SUMMARIES Of foreign trade infOr-
nation are published weekly in The
Market Reporter The department
would like TO have farmers and pro-
ducers' associations make rs free
Use of this material as possible. and
to call for any other information
that our SPECIALISTS can furnish.
Condensed Milk An Example
Every farmer must have foreign
products such. for instance. as cof-
l.
tured articles. To secure these for
cign products. we must have some
thing 20 give i'm exchange for them.
10 Is a matter OF both personal and
national Importance. therefore that
the American farmer have some
thing 20 sell abroad. The falling of
ia the export demand for American
condensed milk that had been built
mp during the war has resulted I'm
the closing OF many COndenseries
during the past three months. II is
necessary 10 convert into butter and
cheese the milk that has been going
10 Europe I'm condensed form-and
milk for butter and cheese are
worth only about two-thirds as
much as Europe paid for the con-
densed milk But there should be
another outlet for condensed milk
The tropical regions that have been
taking a profit on sugar from this
and other countries need condensed
milk, and this market might have
been developed more speedily IL our
Teople generally had known more
about H.
The losses that dairy farmers are
sustaining because OF the surplus OF
fluid milk Is typical OF what Is like
ly 10 happen when any foreign out
let IS closed. IL Is essential 10 the
prosperity OF farmers that a fairly
steady stream OF farm products Is
kept flowing 20 foreign markets. The
outstanding articles will probably
continue 20 be cotton. tobacco. grain
and apples. II Is therefore OF prime
importance that producers OF these
products be keTt informed on for
Cigu market conditions
NEW YORK, June I2-Foreign
exchange was easier az the market
opening today. Demand sterling was
rT "a cents 2 o. franc Oh nrfr :