The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-16
Stock Raising Industry of Kan
sas Must Be Revived.
Mercer Advises Contract Buy
ing and Selling.
NEED new MARKET SYSTEM
GrOnna Bill and War Finance
Not Whole Remedy.
History of Industry Past Year
Has Been Tragedy.

Salina. Kan, Feb. 16-To chronicle
the financial history of agriculture for
the past year would be to relate trag-
edy ir which the live stock industry
has played the star role, declared J. H.
Mercer. secretary of the Kansas Live
Stock association, in his annual report
to the executive committee of the aSso-
citation which opened its eighth annual
convention here today.
As we are entering another year of
uncertainty" said Secretary Mercer, II
want to again urge the necessity of
close organization for all classes of
producers. Laws may be passed; new
marketing systems may be devised;
various changes may be made in the
methods of handling and distributing
farm products-but 1 am firmly con-
WINGED that the frequent and violent
price fluctuations which make live
stock production an uncertain bust |
ness, can only be eliminated when the
producers marketing is under the con- |
troll of his own organization. No mil |
Hon men can compete in selling to a |
few buyers and get full value for their |
products.
Future Help Promised.
Just what is in store for the stock |
man in 1921 no one can say. Congress |
is now at work on various measures !
which are designed to relieve the ex- |
listing conditions. But opposition to |
the plans of the western congressman |
has developed; SO it may be months
before any constructive measures are
enacted into laws. if at ALL"
Among the important bills affecting |
agriculture and live stock now being |
considered by congress. Mercer men
toned the Gronna bill which provides |.
for federal supervision of stockyards I
and packing houses, an emergency
tariff bill. and several bills the pur-
pose of which is to improve agricul-
tural credits
Referring to the revival of the War
Finance corporation, and organization
of the 100000 cattle loan corpor-
alton and the $100,000,000 Foreign
Trading corporation by members of |
the American Bankers association.
Mercer declared if they functioned as
intended an export demand for Amer
lean farm products should strengthen
prices
Altho finance and Transportation
are vital problems to be solved in re-
habilitation of the livestock industry,
the greatest stress, according to Mer-
Ger. must be placed in revision of the
marketing system
Reasonably stable market prices
Tor livestock are necessary in order |
that the industry may command suf-
ficient credit to operate" he said
The sudden and violent fluctuations
in prices which occur when heavy
runs of hogs, cattle or sheep swamp !
our markets make the business a risky
one"
AS the first step in improving the
system Mercer advocated federal /
bureau of markets devoting it's entire /
time to obtaining and compiling sta
tistics concerning future supply and /
demand for livestock. With any mar
ketlng system. he said. such informa-
ton would be invaluable
Advises Contract Buying
One plan to obtain an even flow of /
live stock to market and thus stabilize
prices, Mercer said, is to secure con-
troll of the supplies of stock cars and 1
allot them in such way as to dis
tribute the receipts at various markets
IN a steady stream Another method /
advocated by tie Corn Belt Meat Pro-
ducers' association. is to place control
of marketing in the hands of a spe-
cialist who would represent the asso-
citation at the market
But perhaps the best method of all
he sair, is that of contract buying and
selling. With this plan in vogue, the
packer buyers would contract with the
Erazer in the spring to deliver a num-
Der of cattle of certain brand in the
fall at not less than a specified weight
at Il contract price. Fed cattle would
be bought in advance on contract in
similar way. 1t is believed such a
method of marketing would remove
the speculative feature from the live
stock business. The plan is now in
operation in South America and
Brazilian stockmen commend it.
To eliminate useless transportation n
and marketing costs for stocker and
feeder cattle and stock hogs and sheep.
Tor which there is nearly always a
market at home, Mercer suggested
community auction markets. These
have worked very successfully ar
Hiawa tina. he said