Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-05
EXPORT MEAT
TRADE KILLED
Packer Says Exchange Situa-
ton ParaIyzed Sales.

CHICAGO, March IA statement is
sired today by the institute of American
meat packers says that there is still
very little foreign demand for American
pork but that the domestic demand cares
only for the choieer cuts. The state
ment asks the housewife to use shoulder
cuts and stew meats more. claiming that
this would equalize the demand for the
whole carcass and consequently lower
prices.
In summarizing conditions in the pack
ing industries for the month of February
the statement says
Absence of foreign demand for Amer
lean pork continued throughout February
to be vital influence upon the market.
Export business continued virtually at a
standstill
Heavy shipments Of pork last fall
have apparently put stop to any further
demand from Europe for some time to-
come. In many continental ports there
are consignments Of American pork
which are not being sold on account Of
the deprecated value of foreign exchange.
Last year all Of our surplus meats
could be disposed of through export; this
year that outlet is practically closed.
"Oyerstocked at home, Great Britain is
cold storing her more recent purchases
on this side of the water. She is waiting
Until some of the heavy supply in the
United Kingdom can be assiInilated.
HIGH WAGES BRING
DEMAND FOR CHOICE CUTS.
"At home there was a good volume Of
pork trade Throughout the month, but
consumers seemed to want the choice and
higher priced cuts. High wages in the
south have led to the purchase of choicer
cuts Of pork than in former years, and
the result is a lack Of sale for the heavier
cuts Of salt pork.
These heavy meats are being made in
good quantity. and greater cOnsumptive
demand Will necessarily have to be de-
veloped.
Hog prices were higher the last of
January and the first of February than
az any time during the winters packing
with strong demand for light hogs, the
spread between prime light and prime
heavy hogs wldened until the difference
amounted TO about 1 cent pound.
significant factor is that hog re
ceipts from the first Of January until the
present time have been from Is to 20 rer
cent lighter than last year. There is some
difference OF opinion among those in close
touch with the situation as to what this
means.
One view is that farmers have been
slow 20 market their hogs, probably be-
cause or price conditions. because they
wished TO carry on further feeding or
because OF difficulty in obtaining cars
Tor shipments. Taken in conjunction
with the government report OF Jan. l
which showed only about per cent
fewer hogs in the country than one year
ago. this would suggest that there is
large surplus on the farms. Consequent
". receipts from now until summer NAV
be as heavy or heavier in numbers and
also In weight than they were in the
corresponding period OF 1919.
Another view is that the lighter re-
ceipts so Tar this year indicate actual
decrease Of hogs upon farms.
DRESSED BEEF
SUPPLY SHOWS SURPLUS.
In the beef market the supply Of
dressed beef is considerably In excess Of
that available for home consumtion one
year ago. The government. in 1919 was
still buying beef In rather large guam
titles. Absence OF any such demand this
year leaves a great deal more beef to be
absorbed by consumers.
With demand no more than fair, a
further depressing factor continues In the
governments disposal OF considerable So
called army beef.
Another factor which has had great
influence upon the beef trade has been
the relatively strong demand for hind
quarter beef and the poor demand for
iorequarter beef. A more even demand
would be an economic gain TO the con
sumner and TO the meat industry.
Receipts Of sheep and lamb have been
less than those one year ago. smaller
number Of stock is on feed, a situation
brought about largely because Colorado
producers stayed out and did not buy
for feeding purposes at prevailing prices.
Iowa, Illinois and other central states
bought freely of lambs, but these ami
mails have for the most part been mar
keted.
Practically the entire supply from now
until the FIRST of June must come from
the SCOTS blum territory. in Nebraska
and Colorado.
"A larger demand from the housewife
for cuts from the shoulder and stew meat
would help in equaliZing the prices of all
cuts 1t would lower the cost Of more
fashionable cuts and would lead TO a bet
ter consumptiye demand for the carcass.
Previous to the war. the United States
was not an exporter of beef, and the sit
ustion can probably adjust itself TO a
basis Of domestic consumption on a line
Of prices which we hope viii be equita-
bic both to producer and consumer.
The pork situation, we believe, is
quite dependent on the foreign demand.
The situation is, Of course, complicated
by foreign exchange"
LOCAL HIDE MARKET.