The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-09-09
REOPEN STATION
At IDAHO FALLS
Information Given Potato Producers
and Shippers.-Daily Reports Will
Be Issued During Fall Movement.

late Idaho white potato crop this
season, the temporary field office Of
the Bureau of Markets and Crop Es-
Inmates, United States Department Of
Agriculture, will be reOpened at Ida
no Falls, September 20, and will run
until the close Of the season about
April 15. Homer A. Harris will be
in charge of the station and will give
all possible assistance to producers,
shippers, and Others interested in
marketing the crop. Daily reports
showing carlOt movements of white
potatoes throughout the United States
together with conditions and prices
at shipping points and consuming
markets will be issued during the
heavy fall movement. The reports
imay thereafter be issued only three
times week until the end Of the
season.
Last Seasons Prices.
Last season, 7,945 carloads of late
potatoes were shipped from all Sec
tions Of Idaho to 485 towns and
cities in % states. The Idaho Falls
market opened in the autumn of 1920
at $1.35 to $1.4O per 100 pounds for
Idaho Rurals, but toward the end of
September declined to 81. Russets
brought $1.25. These prices held
during October During November
the demand improved, and on the
16th Idaho Rurals sold for $125 and
Russets for $1.35. Prices then fell
under heavy supplies and the month
closed at 80 cents for Rurals and
$1.10 for Russets. The decline con-
tinued until January 25-27 when the
lowest price OF the season, SO cents
per 100 pounds for Idaho Rurals and
65 cents for Russets, was reached.
During the latter part of January the
California demand for Russets be-
came a big factor and continued to
dominate the market throughout the
remainder of the season.
Idaho Rurals had to lbe sold in the
East in competition with heavy ship
ments from Wisconsin, Minnesota,
and Michigan as well as Colorado,
and the small quantities of Rurals
shipped to California points sold US
ually at 25 cents discount from the
price of Russets. On the other hand,
the only competition that Russets
encountered in California markets
was from the Stockton district and
, from Oregon rand Washington. The
Stockton district had shipped nearly
all it's best stock by the first of Feb
ruary, while the bulk of shipments
from Oregon and Washington went
to British Columbia, where there
was almost a crop failure. This
made very active Russet market
toward the end of the season. Russe.s
closing April Is at $1.25 to $135,
with carlots cash to growers $1.40
to $1.45. Idaho Rurals closed at 80
cents for wagon loads and $1.O0 for
carload lots. AS general rule,
growers who sold their Rurals early
last season and held their Russets
highest returns
The preliminary estimate Of the
Bureau of Markets and Crop Esti-
mates on potato production for 1921
based on conditions August !, indi-
Gates to- al production for the Unit
ed States of 100000 bushels, as
compared with a final estimate for
1920 of 428,000,000 bushels and an
average for the ) years, 1915-19, of
81 100000 bushels. The pra,imin-
airy estimate is decidedly below the
l0-year average of 370.000,0 900 BUSH
els. When "a crop is below the 10
year average it always means higher
prices or an advancing market at the
end of the storage period; while a
crop that is above the 10-year aver
age usually means low prices at har-
vest time, with usually a declining
market toward the end of the storage
season. Preliminary reports from
Idaho indicate a substantial increase
in acreage over 1920.
Watches Crop and Market News.
The successful grower closely
the crop and market infor-
nation published for his benefit by
he Bureau of Markets and Crop Es-
Inmates. The monthly crop reports,
giving estimates OF acreage, condi-
ton of the growing crops and fore
cast of probable production are the
most accurate and reliable informa-
lion obtainable in Idaho and should
be carefully studied by the grower.
A season such as the last one, with
small margins, If any, of profit to
the grower should cause him to con-
slider carefully his production and
methods with a view to
Improvement. says the Department of
Only clean. productive
seed should be used. Some growers
plant Gull potatoes and wonder why
their fields have a poor stand and