Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-08-19
SOME REASONS WHY THE COTTON
CROP OF 1921 SHOULD BE MARKETED

SOME REASONS WHY THE COTTON
CROP OF 1921 SHOULD BE MARKETED
SLOWLY-There are several elements of dan
ger in the marketing of cotton this fall, which
should receive careful thought by all cotton pro-
ducers
First there is a moderately large carry
especially of low grade cotton OF curse, the
carryover is nowhere up to the exaggerated
statments made by the spinners and their South
ern bear" assistants last spring; but it is still
large, considered in connection with the probable
crop of 1921. With Moderately large carry
over and short crop in sight, prices will proba-
bly, rise slowly if at all during the early part of
the marketing season for the crop of 1921. 1t
would therefore, appear the part of wisdom for
the producers to maket their crop slowly this
fall. Indeed it is usually best to do So but there
are additional reasons for so doing this year
While it is true, that is wuld greatly profit cotton
prducers whole to market their cotton
slowly distribute its marketing over at least
ten months, it does not follow that some years
those who market their crop earliest do not get
the best prices. In fact when there is large
crop in sight, which is following short CROP the
price is apt to decline and those who market
early usually get the best prices, as was the case
for instance, last fall. But. on the other hand
when there short croo in sight which is fol-
lowing large crop as is the case this year,
prices likely to rise, especially if the new crop
is marketed slowly or distributed over the mar
keteting period
But because those who marketed early last
year got the best prices, many farmers are apt
to rush their cotton from the fields to the market
as rapidly as possible this year This marks a
cred by cotton producers. We do not pretend to
be able to forete cotton prices and don't care to
give advice to when any man should market
his products hold for higher prices If we
could tell what cotton prices were going to be
we would not need to work much longer for
living; but we have noticed that producers go
from one extreme to another in marketing their
cotton and because those who were slow market
ing their 1920 crop lost by the delay we fear
there will be too much haste this fall in rushing
the crop to market. We therefore, remind our
readers that all indications point to small crop
In l9Zl, and in the past when there has been
material reduction in the acreage there has been
a marked increase in the price We have the
largest decrease in acreage in 1921 from 1920 that
has ever been reported any one year from that OF
the proceeding year. These are the facts as we
see thin and cotton producers should consider
them carefully before rushing the 1921 crop ON
the markets during the first few months of the
marketing season.
there is however, another reason why cotton is
likely to be rushed the market this fall and
this IS the third element of danger to which we
desire to call attention. Many cotton producers
are hard pushed for money and others have debts
which are pressing them. In other words, there
VIII be motive for early marketing this wear
which has not existed to the same degree in re-
cent years. TO what extent this will add to the
other influences tending to the rushing of the
crop OF 1871 on the market as quickly as posi-
bic VIII depend somewhat on the attitude of
creditors; but these may be held in check to
certain extent by the producers refusing to be
stampeded into dumping the small crop of 1921
on depressed market, resulting from the large
crop of 1920 before it has had time to respond to
the short crop of 1921.
II the cooperative marketing organizations of
producers succeed in controlling two or three mil
hon bales OF the probable crop of around o.OOO,-
oOo bales they can largely offset the factors
mentionedabve which see to tend toward repe-
luton OF the usual practice of dumping too much
cotton on the market during the first few months
OF the marketing season.-Progressive Farmer
ROUND ABOUT