Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-02-26
IDAHO SPUDS- ARE
MOVING TO MARKET
AT Lower PRICES
Demand for Farm Produce
Slow With Some Hay and
Grain B in g Shipped.
Stock Wintered Well.

The Idaho potato market held
steady from February Is to IS, with
the price on sacked Rurals at so
cents and Russets at mostly so cents
The estimated stocks on hand are
nearly midway between the quaint
tiles held on the corresponding data
in the preceding seasons, but in COM
parison with the crop, the stock on
hand is relatively less than for the
other seasons. The stocks in these
states on January l wede about 40
per cent of total production, COM
pared with 80 per cent last year
and 4S per cent the season before.
A larger percentage was reported
held by growers January than for
any recent season. Dealers on Jan
uary / held less than Is per cent
of the total stock on hand in these
states, compared with % per cent a
year ago and II per cent two years
ago. Stock held in other states is
not shipped as car loads to any ex-
tent late in the season, but is devot-
ed chiefly to local requirements of
various kinds.
The quantity reported on hand is
less than might have been antici-
pated from the size of the crop,
which was the second largest ON re-
cord, and less than might have been
1Orcasted from the comparatively
light shipments to January /. While
the estimated crop was larger this
season than in 1918-1919, the ship
ments from these 15 states to Janu-
ary ! were slightly less than for
the corresponding time in that sea-
son and were 10000 cars, less than
a tlsseason to the same date, altho
the crop last season was comparati-
vely light. The fact that the stocks
on hand are reported less than in
early 1919, Notwithstanding lighter
shipments and heavier productions
suggest that greater local consump-
tion and waste or closer grading has
occurred than in the 1919 season.
1t will be noted that the ship
ments of the 1919 crop to January
/, 1920, were the heaviest of the
three years considered in the com
parison, although the crop of that
season was comparatively light. The
apparent explanation is the fact that
in short crop years the price soon
responds to the evident shortage and
the producers, attracted by the large
returns, hasten to market their po-
tatoes, and buyers become active in
order to secure supplies before the
anticipated advance in price. Heavy
shipments in the first part OF the
season in which the crop is snort
will naturally tend to shortage IN
the spring. Such shortage occurr-
ed last season, following the heavy
early movement.
In seasons of heaviest production
the shipments seem to be a matter
OF demand rather than of supply.
In such seasons the prices do not
appear attractive 9nd many growers
hold back their shipments. Those In
sections remote from the large mar
kets can afford to ship none put
their best stock under such condl-
tons, on account of the cost OF frel-
ght, whicr is higher now than IN
preceding seasons. Stock not shipped
Is used locally in one way or an
other. II conditions are at all favor
able after January l, shipments are
usually relatively heavier the last
part of the season, after year OF
heavy production. During the Wlnt-
er and spring of 1919, which re-
sembled tsie present year, including
much open, mild weather the snip
ments after January / more than
OFFSET the lighter volume preceding
mat date and the total for the sea-
son was greater than for the follow
wing season. Considering the crop
and shipments together, and taxing
the figures for a number OF years
1t is apparent that shipments vary
not so much in regard to size OF the
crops as in response to demand ana
prices. The supply available for car
load shipments is a flexible quantity
and usually there are great local re-
verses which can be drawn upaon II
conditions warrant.