The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1920-10-14
MEAL PRICES IN EAST
HAY MEMS SALVATION
Bureau of Markets Report Printed In
Boise Has Encouraging Message
for Idaho Hay Mcn--Ap-
plies Here Too.

In a recent issue OF the Bureau OF
Markets report printed by the Idaho
Department of Agriculture with head
quarters at Boise the following study
of the hay situation was set forth,
which, since Il applies equally as well
to Malheur county, is printed in full.
The report says:
The latest crop summary issued by
Julius H. Jacobson, Field Agents OF
the Department OF Agriculture.
shows total OF 2,t63,0O0 tons Of
hay in Idaho, an increase over the
1919 crop of $4,000 tons. We pre-
sumo that approximately 100000
tons OF this output is alfalfa and II
Il could be moved at SIS per ton II
would add $3O,00O,00O to the
wealth OF the State of Idaho.
owing to the manner In which the
Federal Reserve Bank applied the
emergency brake just as the Idaho
crops we're ready TO move, we wit
messed a serious decline in wool val
ues and sheep and cattle, which In
turn was followed by a serious stag
nation In the movement Of hay. An
other disagreeable feature is In the
rates which alfalfa hay must now
sustain before reaching the eastern
markets. In 1913 the Missouri River
rate was $3.50 per ton. In 1919 the
Interstate Commerce Commission
granted them rate OF Si1.90 and
again in 1890 they we're granted n
rate OF $500 n ton. Kansas City
and Omaha are quoting hay at S22
and s2S per ton, balod and delivered.
At S22 por ton In Kansas City the
Idaho farmer would Just have suf-
flciont returns TO pay the freight and
ballng expenses.
Unfortunately. there II small
amount OF weevil In Southern Idaho,
but 80 far as we know, the fields
are not In fected sufficiently TO no.
tlco the effect OF my rayages from
this pest. Nevertheless, II his been
found In most OF the counties In the
southern part OF the state, alsi In
Malhour County. Oregon. This has
resulted In general quarantine
against Idaho by all the neighboring
states which, together with the slug
glsh market In the east, has devel-
oped In It's, ono OF our leading In
dustrles, a problem OF the first mag
nltude
We think, however. there is no
need to be discouraged, While baled
alfalfa hay Is being quoted at s23
per ton In Kansas City and omaho,
alfalfa meal Is quoted at s35 and
t39, Chicago quotes alfalfa at $50
and meal at S3S, Minneapolis quotes
alfalfa at S32,5O and meal at $40
per ton, Boston, Baltimore and At
lanta quotes meal at S4S and $50 per
ton.
We are Informed that when the
equipment is once installed, alfalfa
can be ground into meal at practical
ly the same cost that Il requires TO
bale II, Taking Kansas city, then, ~
a basis for our calculation, we find
the rate from the Boise district,
which includes Caldwell to Bliss. to
be Sl4,90 per ton. While twenty tons
Is the minimum weight meal can be
loaded to capacity, which would re-
duce the number OF cars required to
move the product anywhere from one
half TO two-thirds, Deducting the
freight from the Kansas City quo
tation. II leaves the product at ship
ping point 5000 per ton on the low
est quotation we are able to obtain,
This, OF course, would have to stand
the cost OF manufacture and sacks.
but even so II offers not only a solu-
tion to the present difficulties but
the proposition carries with II allur-
ing prospects for the future, II will
not be many years until Idaho will
produce four and five million tons OF
hay at the rate OF increase OF the past