Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-04-16
GROWING DEMAND FOR
OATS FOR CEREALS

OATS FOR CEREALS
AT time when farming is pecul-
iarly beset with production troubles
due to the scarcity of labor and nm
certainty of markets, farmers NAV
well study the oat question. The
growing of cereals is an avenue that
presents ray of hope in solving
farm problems. Specialization is the
order of the day, as is discerned in
an interview with Mrs. H. L. Nc
.Intyre, Seattle manager of Albers
BROS. Milling Co., the largest cereal
millers west of Sioux City. His
views reveal an inviting market of
large proportions. Mr.. MCINTYRE. in
discussing the oat situation of to-
day, said:
| believe that the farmers of the
Northwest are overlooking a spIen-
did opportunity in the growing of
oats. For several years there has
not been sufficient oats crown in the
Northwest to supply the local mar
ket This has been a serious handi-
cap to this industry. The scarcity
has necessitated the shipping of oats
from the Mississippi valley region on
an abnormally high rate of freight
These oats are of a much inferior
quality than those which can he
grown locally. AS an example, the
Coast market has been supplied with
oats shipped in here from the Middle
West on Chicago market basis plus
the high prevailing rate of freight.
This item of freight alone would
amount to approximately SO or $40
per ton. Wheat, on the other hand,
is shipped east and must pay cor
responding freight rate before enter
ing the eastern markets. In other
words, the grower of oats benefits by
the rate of freight, while the grower
is condition sufficient in itself to
induce the larger planting of oats
"A high grade of oats can be
raised in this Northwest well adapt
ed for cereal purposes. Cereal oats
command a premium of from three
to five dollars per ton over the or
binary grade of feed oats The Swed-
ish variety is well adapted for cereal
or milling purposes, but any heavy,
plump Oat is desirable.
THE farmers may w l avail them
selves at this time of every opportun-
ity to increase their oat acreage, Civ
ing particular attention to cereal
varieties The demand for cereals
is increasing daily. For instance
the largest milling enterprise in the
rolled oat industry on the Pacific
Slope reports that its business has
doubled within the last - months.
This increase is not only local but
due to the foreign trade which is
fast developing. The time seems op-
perfume, therefore, for the farmers
to consider this promising field very
seriously.
There is no section in the world
that can grow oats of such high quail
ity and obtain as large per acre yield
as can this Northwest country, with
the possible exception of a small area
in Scotland. This has been my OBJ
servation over a period of years. A
near rival to our Northwest oat is
the Alberta or Canadian oat, which,
however is handicapped in reaching
the American mills by a high tariff
and high rate of freight. Further
more, these northern oats are more
or less of an uncertain factor owing
to the unfavorable weather condi-
tions with which they have to con-
tend. Very frequently frOsts catch
the standing grain before it has
thoroughly matured, which of course
deteriorates their milling qualities. "