The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-08-13
Caring FOR THE CEREAL
IMPORTANT THAT ALL GRAIN
SHOULD BE MARKETED
Suggestion Is Made BY Head of
The Ninth District Reserve
Agent
JOHN Fl. RICH


ninth federal reserve district are
practically assured The production OF
wheat, oats, barley, rye and flax
600 bushels, Of which wheat promises
to reach a total or approximately
200,000,000 bushels. .
The total rated elevator capacity,
including private houses owned by
mills, operated in connection with
milling enterprises and not as public
warehouses, in the states of Minnesota
North and South Dakota, and Mon
'tana, is 225,O00,000 bushels. The
actual working capacity of these ele-
vators Is probably at least 20 percent
less.
When the grain crops are cut and
threshed, the farmer will have only
two alternatives. He must deliver his
grain at the elevator where the ability
to receive it will be governed by the
car supply, or he must store 1t on his
farm. The total available farm stor-
age capacity for small grain does not
seem to be greater than 10 percent of
the promised production, and in all
probability is considerably less.
Cars Received In May.
During the month OF May GIG re-
porting elevators in Minnesota and
North and South Dakota received a
total of 1913 cars for the loading of
grain, or an average per elevator OF
PIP cars for the month. During the
month of June 759 reporting elevators
received 1883 cars for grain loading,
or an average per elevator of 2.22 for
the month. The June average rep
resents a fractional advance over
May, but nothing to give any promise
OF a normal movement from the coun-
try elevators to terminal markets
At the end of June, there was in coun-
try elevators in the same states 49,
100000 bushels Of grain, including a
small amount of corn, having total
value of $33,337,0OO There was on
bushels on the farms, valued at ap-
proximately $50,00O,000. This amount
Of grain still to be moved from country
elevators before they will be clean
and ready for the new crop and the
amount still held on the farms are
factors which tend to hurt the pros
pect Of the free movement of the new
crop. There has been some improve
ment in the traffic situation, and the
Federal authorities and operating Of
ficials Of all the grain carrying lines
are undoubtedly putting, forth their
best and most energetic efforts to
about to confront. The prospective
small grain crop involves the move
ment OF approximately $4,000 cars.
Without considering the marketing
of possibly 225,000,000 bushels or an
additional 100000 cars. The rate Of
improvement in the traffic situation
is not sufficient to justify the hope
that the grain carrying lines will be
able to effect normal movement. In
all probability the crop will move
slowly, and its progress from the
farms to the markets will be subject
to the same delays and difficulties
that Have characterized the movement
of grain, flour and mill products
throughout all of the past year.
Prompt Marketing OF Grain.
In view of this situation, 1t is of the
utmost importance that each grain
grower investigate at once the pos
sibilities for the prompt marketing Of
grain from his own farm this fall II
he cannot satisfy himself that the
elevators at This local shipping points
move his grain, he should take i'm
mediate steps to provide dry, clean
and weather proof storage on the
farm. There is sufficient time to
erect new grain bins and take other
appropriate steps for the safety of the
new crop after it is threshed. There
Is a strong probability that on most
of the farms in this district the owner
can provide emergency grain storage
by repairing existing buildings or
cleaning out sheds and outbuildings
used for other purposes, making them
ready for grain. One of the serious
dangers Is that farmers will place too
much reliance upon shipping condi-
tons, and If they are disappointed
when the grain Is ready to move, will
store 1t out Of doors. There Is no
safety in such course, and the ex-
perience of the Northwest over many
years in dictate that while grain may
sometimes be carried through with
out injury, that when stored in this
manner it is usually subject to special
hazards which should be avoided If
possible. Without much more en-
couraging and definite promise of
sufficient transportation to move the
crop, it would be very unwise for any
grain grower to discount the serious
ness of the traffic situation, and it Is
urgently recommended that all far
mers surround themselves with the
perfection that can be afforded by
enoungh farm storage space to take
care of the grain that cannot be moved
to the elevator when 1t comes from
the machine. Grain so stored will at
least ha safe from fha waafhor ord