The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-04-27
UNLOAD
TMRICE CROP AND
POCKET BIG Loss
Prices Received will Not
Pay Cost of Making But
Get 1t Out of Way
SMALLER ACREAGE TO
BENEFIT INDUSTRY
Harvest of 1922 Expected
To Get Industry Back on
Sound Basis Again

The tremendous crop Of rice pro-
duced in 1920 and which has mostly
been in storage in warehouses ana
mills all through the rice growing
Sc; lions of Louisiana, Texas and Ar
kansas, has at last begun to move,
though at great financial loss to the
growers. They long ago prepared
themselves to pocket their losses and
are well satisfied to see the crop
move out of the way of the 1921 CROP
which, owing to the reduction in acre
age, will not be near so large as that
of 1920.
Prices being paid for the rice is rid
iculOusly small and in practically ev-
cry instance will not near pay the
cost OF production. But it was the
only alternative offered the growers
and they saw the wisdom of selling
even at the great financial loss in or
der to settle part of their indebted
ness and at the same time aid the ILL
dustry in getting back on e normal
and unspeculative basis. This latter
end can hardly be reached before
1922, at best.
1t is stated that the price paid var
les according to the grade, the maxi
mum being around two dollars PEE
barrel for the better grades and from
that figure down to slightly over one
dollar per barrel. This indicates an
awful slump from the prices paid for
1919 crop and the prices the growers
expected to get for the 1920 crop.
based on the figures of the previous
year.
In 1919 there was large crop Of
rice grown and harvested and i
brought great returns to the produc-
ers, prices as high as fifteen dollars
per barrel having been paid. Even
the lowest grades brought returns
higher than fine grades did in previ-
GUS years. Farmers naturally saw
nothing but prosperity. ahead and felt
assured that the price-while it might
drop below the abnormal prices
would still net them great returns.
They had every assurance of this pos
sible condition, and acting under the
stimulus of the prevailing conditions
they went in to break the record dur
ing 1920.
They did not fall down in "break-
ing the record" so far as production
is concerned, for the rice growing
area Of the three states produced the
largest crop in the history of the in
| dustry. But when the crop was har-
vested and ready for marketing anoth-
er condition faced them-their abb
solute inability to market the yield
except at a tremendous sacrifice.
MANY were offered five and six dol
lars per barrel and refused the offer
with scorn, preferring to hold the
crop until steadier marketing condi-
ton prevailed. There was no such
thing. however, in the way of rising
prices and the producers saw values
| constantly and steadily declining I'M
til they faced bankruptcy. Many be-
moaned their shortsightedness in re-
fusing five and six dollars per barrel
! when that price was offered, and as
time went by and values slumped be-
! low the three dollar mark they then
saw the possibility of the crop being
destroyed by the ravages Of weeviis,
the idea Of disposing Of what was
left at any price rather than face TO-
tai loss obsessed them and the pres
ent movement is the result Of that
conclusion.
It is reliably stated that great
nrantitv of the rice has been used by
the producers as feed for horses
mules. cattle and hogs, thus saving
them the expense CT buying foodstufTs
for their livestock. In this way much
If the surplus rice has been disposed
If and the remainder is moving TO
market rapidly. In the Opelousas dis
trict the movement is steady and
PROMISES to get every sack out OF the
warehouses pretty soon. The ola
Southern Rice Growers association
has gone bankrupt and has ceased to
be factor in the situation and those
who thought it menace are breath
- nnsier after its demise.