The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-10-13
POTATO CROP IS
7: 81 BELOW NORMAL
Bureau of Markets Estimates Total
Potato Crop in United States
at BAG, 100000 Bushels.
LOCAL SHIPMENTS LIGHT
Heavy Movement From Fields to
Warehouses for Both Sale and
Storage in Progress.

bureau of markets and estimates, has
just been received. It is this October
report that really tells the important
story for the potato producers in the
northern states, since fairly accurate
crop estimate for that section of the
country can be made at this time. The
potato crop estimated for the whole
country on September 1 of this year
was 323,000,000 bushels. The esti-
mate just made on October /, is $780,
900 bushels, giving an, increase of
100000 over last months figures.
This increase is of course due to the
fact that good growing weather con-
tinued throughout September and
there were no early, heavy frosts.
This last government report indi-
Gates that the potato crop in the Unit
ed: States is 54,000,000 bushels below
the normal yield which is estimated to
be approximately 100000, 900 bushels.
The October report generally comes
comparatively close to the actual yield.
Last year the crop estimate on Octo
Der 1 was 428,000,0 900 bushels, indicat-
ing an .overproduction of 28.O00,0OO
bushels. The final estimate on Decem-
Der 1 was 431 100000 bushels which
it will be noted was quite close to the
October report.
The statisticans place the normal
consumption of potatoes in this coun-
try at 3.8 bushels per capita and it is
estimated that it is short crop which
will reduce this figure to 3.4. The
October estimates this year will give
only 1926 bushels per capita. Even
making allowances for the fact that
money is scarce and that large num-
Der of men are out of EMPLOYMENT. it
seems probable that there will this
year not be enough potatoes to meet
the demand. That ought to mean Just
one thing-that the potato producer
will receive good price for his crop.
1t should also be added that the DO
tato shipments up to date are the
heaviest that have ever been recorded
Tor this/season of the year. IS i.s re-: ):
ported that $4,000 cars of potatoes t,t;3 :
have a. ready been shipped in the Unit
ed States. Last year only 1882 cars
had been shipped by October /. The
heavy shipments, even with the rela-
lively light yield, are probably due to
the fact that there has been a COM
plete failure of the potato crop in GER
tain sections of the country.
The total crop for Minnesota in 1920
was 28,000,000 bushels. The estimate
October of this year is 23,OO0,000.
A heVy movement of potatoes is in
progress from the farms to the Prince
ton MISUNDERSTANDING of wagons
are now in evidence every day await
ing their turn to be unloaded. There
are now Is buyers in Princeton. Manv
growers are still busy in the fields
digging their potatoes while others
have completed this work. There are
still many carloads undug. Large
quantities of potatoes are being sold
outright to the warehousemen and
many loads are being brought in for
storage. AS to quality the white stock,
is the best, being equally as good as
that produced in the most favorable
potato years. :, Red stock, however, is
below the standard in this respect.
Ohlos are fast arriving from the
Red River Valley for storage and ap-
proximately so carloads will be dis
trlbuted among Princeton warehouses;
for this purpose. These potatoes are
OF fine quality. w. H. Terrell & Co.
have received four cars of big Russets
from the state of Washington for
storage.
While the shipment of potatoes has
not exceeded Is carloads during the
week, the heaviest movement in the
United States has been reported dur
ing that period-10,0O0 cars having
gone from producers to market. In
this northern Minnesota and North
Dakota have led all other potato-pro-
duclng sections in the country in
quantity shipped. The biggest move
ment recorded for like period of
time in the United States was 5000
bushels.
The market today is trifle weaker.
which is naturally due to heavy ship
ments to the large central markets.
which virtually glutted them. At this
time Of the year there is invariably
congestion at the heavy receiving
points, but the market will find it's
equilibrium after the rush is over. and
then higher prices may confidently be
expected.
See today's market quotations else
where in this number of the Union.
A Farewell Party.
Last Wednesday evening large