The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-09-17
SEES HOPE FOR
CONSUME T|0N Of
HAY IN IDAHO
Miles Cannon Believes
That Farmers Can Get
Rid of Surplus by Gre
ating Market.

Suggestions as the most reasonable
solution of the hay situation in Idaho
which now threatens farmers with a
considerable loss, Miles Cannon, state
commissioner of agriculture, in the
Weekly Markets Bulletin, urges that
farmers take steps to stop livestock
shipments in this state long enough
to consume the surplus. This pro-
posal is outlined as follows:
"The bureau of markets anticipated,
weeks ago, that the big surplus would
doubtless cause hay to be drug" on
the market at this time of the year
when trading is generally brisk The
serious financial condition of stock
men has taken away the big and staple
market of the Idaho farmer Breeding
ewes and cows are going to market
rapidly and the farmer is making a
serious mistake in not purchasing
enough cattle or sheep to furnish him
. means Of marketing his hay And
if majority Of producers should seek
this method of getting proper returns
from this years crop, what could be
done in the future if our flocks and
herds also decreased to the extent
that is now apparent.
Must race problem.
THE farmer must awaken to this
all important HAY problem" Al
falfa is necessity in our crop ro-
tation, and will probably continue to
be the big crop of Idaho farms. But
alfalfa will soon lose its popularity If
returns are poor. Will the farmer sit
idly and see trainloads of stock GO
ing by his door.to market when those
same sheep and cattle are the natural
consumers of his hay? Isn't it the
farmers move, who has several stacks
of hay on his hands, to intercept few
shipments of lambs or steers, If not
ewes or cows, and thereby bring the
market to his own farm? 1t appears
to us that the farmer should thus
create his market instead of waiting
for it to come to him-for it might
not come.
LAS year, with livestock consuming
their ordinary amount of hay, there
was surplus of over 10000 cars
shipped from points on the o. S. L.
railroad in Idaho. Let us suppose that
we will have one-third less stock to
feed because of excessive shipments
to market. and then attempt to guess
INV uiuSu Alfalfa AudlO must O2le ana
ship before all our farmers receive re-
turns for their 1920 labor. The prob
lem is serious and should receive i'm
mediate attention from bankers and
business men as we'll as producers"
Offering assistance in opening east
ern markets for Idaho hay, the bull
letin has the following editorial COM
ment:
"The Bureau of Markets is in touch
with many states, organizations and
individuals in the east who are inter-
ested in our alfalfa, and anyone con-
templating shipping their hay should
get in touch with the Bureau in order
to make use of the available informa-
ton. There is a demand for our al
falfa as far away as Florida on the
south and Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire in the east, but the freight
rates may prohibit any considerable
business from these distant points.
If you are prepared to quote hay
fob. your shipping point. subject to
grade of Standard or better, we
want your price, that we may in turn
communicate with the various states
and ascertain the available and prac-
ticable outlets.