Milford chronicle., 1920-10-29
WHEN TO SELL
THE POTATO CROP
GROWER HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO
SELL OR HOLD FOR BETTER PRICES
DURING THE WINTER.
FARMERS PROBLEM IN FALL
MANY FACTORS TO Be CONSIDERED
SHOULD STUDY GENERAL PRICES
AND THE MARKETS.

Whether to dispose of his potato
crop direct from the fields or to hold
il for possible later increase in price
is a problem which confronts the far
mer every fall. On the one hand is
the buyer Offering figures based on
the quantity and other conditions OF
the market. the tightness of money,
and a number of related conditions
which may depress the price. On the
other, he is confronted with the ex-
pense OF storing, the shrinkage in
volume, possibility Of rot, and the un-
certainty of the number of bushels Of
potatoes which will be carried over
by farmers throughout the United
States TO be thrown into the market
during the winter
It is a problem that has to be de-
cided, because the crop is there. 1t
is 4 problem that the farmer must
decide for himself.
Lowest in October
Prices naturally are lowest in Octo-
Der, when the crop is just out of the
ground A study recently made by the
Bureau of Markets of the United
States Department of Agriculture.
covering the last 10 years, shows that
the average price rises very slightly
until the 1st of January, and then
more rapidly until the LIST of March,
another sharp advance taking place
between April planting season and
June.
These are only averages, however
and may be varied by many conditions /
which the farmer has to study largely .
for himself Reasoning about future
prices is unusually difficult at the
present time.
study of the general tendencies
of the market. whether up or down.
must be based on facts pertaining TO
the country as Il whole. The supply
may be less than usual in a certain
county. but if the total crop is large
the size of this total crop will have
tendency to lower prices even in this
county of short production Prices in
that county may be high, but they will
not be so high as they would have I
been if the total production of the .
country had not been so large. That {
is. the conclusions drawn from the {
broad and general information may y
be modified by local conditions in each [
section, but it remains true that each {
of these sections will be influenced f
by the up and down tendencies which "
move over the country as a whole A o
grower should know the general sit e
lation in order to make proper al a
owances for local conditions. and he o
should not only study the potato mar Fl
let but should consider the size of the 81
sweet potato and other food crops A
which may influence the demand and il
consumption of white potatoes. He ST
must watch, too the trend of general te
)rices. especially food prices. If gem "
raj prices should fall decidedly, then it
he price of potatoes might be carried
over than the years production tu
would warrant III
In comparing the prices of one year in
With those of another. allowance dc
lust be made for the rapid decrease III
uring the last few years in the pur- w
hasing power of the dollar. For in in
tance, S1.61 per bushel in 1919 and aG
0 cents per bushel in 1911 does not
lean that potatoes were twice as su
aluable at the later date. The in fri
rease in price may have had nothing w
} do with the potato business. 1t may is
ave come from the general rise til
'hich increased the price of wheat, cit
lothing, and machinery as well as op
Otatoes. The effects of the general I'M
Icrease in prices must be eliminated
ON the calculation.
Potato Exports Small
Before attempting to analyze the
'lations between the figures of pro- lol
lction and stocks on the one hand WI
Id prices on the other, it should be teI
entioned that potatoes are not ex- eX
lrted to any great extent, seldom oV
ore than l per cent of the crop be- a
g carried out of the country. Neith- arl
are potatoes carried over from one col
ason to another. as is the case with an
me crops. That is, the potato crop no
practically all consumed in this ye!
'untry and each seasons crop is a gu
parate problem in itself. ha
This is one of the large potato bal
ars, and the way in which the ques- VIC
IN of time of marketing is settled by thi
e individual farmer means an inn ma
ense sum Of money in the gross re no
rms from one OF the Nations lead OF
g crops. The wise grower will n
Idy every phase of conditions, and AM
II utilize the aids which are fur eaI
shed by the crop and market reports be
the United States Department Of OF
,riculture. ms
the