The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-05-25
HEALTHY MOVEMENT
OF BIG RICE CROP
DUE TO EUROPEANS
Germans Need Large
Amount and Market OPP
ems as Result
PRICES ADVANCE AS
THE CALL INCREASE
Many Sections of State
Have About Shipped All
Grain Out to Mills

There is no let-up in the growing
demand for the rice grown by Louisi-
ana farmers last year. Reports from
every section OF the rice-growing reg
ion indicate that buyers and graders
are busy purchasing and loading the
stored grain in freight cars for ship
ment to the mills in Crowley, New
Orleans and other points. Buyers are
securing the country, getting line
ON farmers who have large or small
amounts, and making bids on the
grain
AS a result Of this vastly increased
demand the railroads are being called
on for empty cars in which to load
rice already bought. Prices have been
going up steadily and it is reported
that some producers have demanded
and received as high as three dollars
per barrel for their holdings, Well in
formed people state emphatically that
the market has an upward tendency
and that they would not be surprised
to see the five dollar mark reached
before long. -Four dollars barrel is
sure to get here soon, they are posi-
tive. and their assertion has acted as
a stimuiant to the producers who are
still holding with the expectation Of
getting better figures for their crop
The sudden movement of the crop
is due, it IS stated. to the vastly in.
creased foreign and domestic demand
Europe, the report goes on, Is in the
market for American rice, and Ger
many Is in instant need OF large
quantity Of the grain. Whether there
is any element Of truth in this report
i problematicaI; but that the demand
has suddenly increased is attested by
the feverish rush Of mills and buyers
to secure all the rice that has been "
ing almost unnoticed in the numerous
warehouses scattered throughout
southwest Louisiana.
one we'll informed buyer and grad
or. who has kept close tabs on the
market this season as well as many
previous seasons, says indications foi
the future OF the industry are more
hopeful and encouraging than thes
/ have ben for many months. He based
his statement on the fact that ths
] 1920 crop was being rapidly moved
, out and milled while the acreage fol
: 1921 has been cut at least forty pei
cent This means that the production
: this year viii mean not less thai
forty per cent short OF 1920. With al
? old rice entirely out Of the way 9
] the new crop and the latter slightr
] more than half as large as the old
. demand win catch up with production
S and there is certain to be healthie
: condition facing the producers at IN
a coming harvest.
/ 1t has been freely predicted that
a would require several years for tn
r industry to get back on normal b
! sis, but the present outlook i 50 e
5 couraging from every point Of vie
!, that the optimistical are hoping
witness return Of such condition 2
d harvest time this year. Another fac
h or which win go long ways towaI
q.
IS aiding in the return Of normally
e that the 1921 crop has been mad
G very economically indeed, 50 Ear
e labor costs and other costs are 20
n cened. Farmers therefore can affol
a to sell at prices much lower than tbs
h did in 1919 and the year before.
II they receive an average Of $3.50
N s. per barrel for their product th'
h win make net profit mach abo'
ID what they possibly made during ~
t. or 1918. The rice industry in 'soni'
ana and adjoining states is not dc:
letter, after all.