The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-21
ALABAMA HARVEST
SEASON IS ENDED
Gist Says Farmers Are Now
Practically Through
Gathering Crops

O0NtSt NY vi Opo
Montgomery, November 2O.-(spe-
cial)-F. w. Gist agricultural statis-
tician of the United States govern
ment issues the following report on
crop conditions in Alabama:
The 1921 harvest in Alabama is
practically ended. Barring some peas
and velvet beams and the making of
some sugar cane syrup, farmers are
through gathering. Instnctively their
minds are turning to the problem of
disposition of the SURPRISES which
they find they win have for sale At
once they discover that this Is a big
problem, bigger by far this year than
perhaps ever before. For the past
five years since Alabama began to
have something besides cotton to sell
there has been little or no difficulty
in disposing of all SURPRISES readily
and at fair prices They have given
little or no thought to the cost of
moving these surpluses to market. 1t
has comprised small proportion of
the aggregate value of crops. Corn
went as high as $3.50 per bushel, and
more, and the cost of shipping to
ready markets only constituted about
10 per cent of its value. Peanuts
brought at one time $3.50 per bushei,
and per cent of that amount moved
them to market. Hay sold for $50
per ton and more, and SIS put 1t where
it could be readily sold.
Conditions are vastly different at
present. Local corn Is selling for SO
cents, hay for $40. peanuts for $50
per ton, syrup for 80 cents per gallon.
sweet potatoes for so cents. Markets
are dull at these prices. local demand
Is well supplied, and there remains
considerable volume seeking distant
markets to which freight costs eat up
a terrific proportion of the value.
OF the six principal field crops,
other than cotton, the following sur
pluses are reported to this office for
sale; Corn. about 100000 bushels;
peanuts. 100000 bushels; hay, 900, 900
tons; sweet potatoes. $500, 900 bush
els; sorghum and sugar cane syrup,
100000 gallons. At present prices
this volume of products Is worth
about siS.350.0o0 These crops last
year contributed to the farmers cash
income about $4,000, 900.
Probably one-half OF the surplus
corn will be absorbed by interfarm
and local sales. the remainder will
have to be shipped for various dis
tances. Most of the surplus for ship
ment exists in northern counties and
Will have to seek It's market in central
and western counties at an average
distance OF about 200 miles. The
freight rate on corn for that distance
is at present 24.5 cents per 100 pounds.
AlAha "a In, n
shuck. and 1t takes about so pounds
to shell out a bushel On this basis
the average freight is 1876 cents per
bushel. The cost of transportation is.
therefore about 80 per cent of the de-
livered value, and leaves the farmer
about 80 cents from which he must
pay for hauling, loading and dealers
profit. If this volume of corn is
moved the railroads will get s1125.-
900; II II is not moved they will get
nothing A bushel of corn is worth
about 30 cents as manure. not count
ting the humus value. The economic
solution is obvious.
Most of the surplus hay will have
to move out Of the county OF produce
ton. to find market. The freight
rate for an average of 200 miles will
amount TO about II per cent of the
NoAuC VI hOtls anu VIII ltAVe lnb
grower about 81. The manurial value
OF leguminous hay is around s12 per
ton, not to count the humus value.
Aeain the answer is obvious
The freight rate on sweet potatoes
is 40 per cent of the present value of
the commodity on an average of 200
miles Most of the surplus of this
crop is sold and consumed locally. but
perhaps a million bushels will seek a
market out Of the county OF produc-
tion and out Of the state Most Of
this latter movement Is already ac-
complished in the disposition of .he
very early crop. which brought a good
price. The present price OF so cents
will probably be net to the grower
The freight rate on peanuts and
syrup constitutes only about p to 10
per cent Of their value. The present
price of 30 cents for syrup is discour-
aging. and will not tempt repetition
of this years acreage again.
II all the surplus farm crops OF this
season were to move within the state
an average of 200 miles at present
rates, the railroads would receive
close to $6,0O0.000. which is "a per
cent of the present value of the crops.
not counting cotton and cotton seed.
II these surpluses sell at a severe loss
thew may not be reasonably expected
again. When cotton can be moved
at per cent Of its value, hay Is not
ant to move very freely at more than
80 per cent OF Its value which will be
the proportion II the present proposed
rates are put into effect