The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1921-11-30
Turkey Raising Big
Lahontan Industry
Possibilities Not Fully Developed
Says Cline; Good Market
Assured
lBy L. E. Clinel

The adaptabillty OF the Lahontan
valley for poultry culture is gener-
ally admitted by experienced poul-
| trymen. The uniform dry spring
and early summer weather, peculiar
to this district, is essential to the
raising of young chickens and tur-
keys. During the summer of 1916
there was great interest shown by
the farmers on the project in the
growing of turkeys and il was gem
orally predicted that turkey grow
ing would eventually be one of the
big industries of the project. Dur
ing that year the Reclamation CEN
sus showed 1877 or 39 per cent of
the farmers growing turkeys and a
total of 5000 turkeys produced for
market. Express shipments were
25 tons. The prices paid for tur-
keys at Fallon at that time were
81 cents to 23 cents per pound for
good stock.
The people growing turkeys that
year were evidently pleased with
their returns for during the year
1916 the number of farmers grow
ing turkeys increased to 238 or
46.1 per cent. The number of tur-
keys grown that year was 1929, a
number which has not been equaled
since then. The Thanksgiving ship
ments of turkeys during that year
were reported by the local express
company to be 10000 pounds or
seventy-fiye tons, at prices ranging
from 25 cents to 2S cents per
pound. When 1t is remembered
that all this interest and enthusi-
asm was built up on a price little
more than half the present seasons
price, one might be excused for
feeling that the turkey growers on
the project have not lived up to
their opportunities. Commission
merchants and retail merchants In
the San Francisco bay district have
looked to this valley as one of the
best sources for the holiday bird.
Conversation with these buyers have
invariably brought out the fact that
the Lahontan valley turkeys could
be depended upon for quality and
finish.
Before the marketing season of
1919 the Reclamation census show
ed 3442 turkeys While there is no
similar figure for 1921 available
yet. II is very evident that turkey
growing on the project is far from
the pre-war level. in spite of the
fact that cost of production Is much
less than for the last two years and
the market price materially more.
II would seem that the opportun-
tiles for developing a profitable in
dustry in the way of extensive tur-
key growing for this valley had
certainly not been taken advantage
OF.
Our local express company re-
ports a shipment of only eight tons
of turkeys for the Thanksgiving
trade, which probably represents
more than half of the available sup
ply. With the low price of grain
and all other farm crops IL would
seem that every remaining hen tur-
key on the project should be kept
for breeding purposes. II this were
done our turkey industry would be
brought back to where 1t was one
time. and big cash crop made pos
sible to meet the many financial OBJ
legations coming due at this time of
the year There are great many
farmers on the project, who never
fail to grow good sized turkey
crop. They have provided them
selves with ample equipment to
raise the young poults and to guard
against loss from predatory ami
mails They have always on hand
for the holiday season a good sup
ply of we'll finished birds that COM
mand a ready market
There is perhaps no other crop
grown on the project that has
shown such margin of profit as
have the turkeys, nor is there any
other industry where the initial ex-
pense is so small In proportion to
the net returns. Our proximity to
big retail centers assures us a mar
ket at a good price Prior to the
opening of the Thanksgiving trade
this year there was much talk about
low market due to big shipments
of frozen stock from Australia and
Eastern points. but 1t is very evil
dent that the trade does not want
storage stock for prices for fresh
dressed birds exceeded any expecta-
tions. The turkey crop is one that
has never lacked a market at good
prices. In view of our threatening
alfalfa quarantine 1t would seem
that such cash crops requiring
small initial outlay should be de-
veloped to the highest possible de-
gree. There are many experienced
turkey growers on the project who
can give valuable advice to any one
| iust launching into the business
The raw-material issue will last
through the centuries; but unlike