The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-07-17
Some Problems
OF the Southwestern
Alfalfa Shippers

The irrigated areas Of the south.
western United States can produce a
high market grade OF alfalfa hay.
but there are several difficult prob
lens that must be solved In order
profitably 10 market the hay. ray
specis lists ~ the Bureau OF Markets.
United States department OF asricul-
ture
The first step which has a direct
bearing upon HI marketing OF alfalfa
II baling. The rainfall In the south
west IN exceedingly light during the
hay-makina season. and for this rea'
son much OF the hay IN bnlcd out OF
the windrow OF cock.
When hay Is baied from the wind
row In sufficiently green state to
anve all the leaves ~ ann be
pressed tightly. becaus. the danger
of heatiag. and shippers therefore
frequently experience considerable
difficulty In loading cars with the
minimum weight for which they pay
charges Hay which has been stacked
allowed TO dry can be baled
more compaotly, but In baling stack
hay many Of the lea yea shatter be-
cause Of the dryness. According to
application By many Inspectors
NJ the present grade rules this hay
II OF a over grade than when the
leaves cling TO the stems. notwith-
staAding the fact that the leaves may
be contained In the bale.
Bleacned hay. together with weeds.
causes considerable trouble In mar
keting alfalfa. II is we'll known that
alfalfa hay bieaches quickly when
exposed to bright sunlight. but there
iz a wide difference Of opinion as to
Just the moun OF nutrient that is
lost In bleaching.
Commercial grade rules, however,
are based In part upon this factor.
Producers and shippers la these sec
lions contend thai too much weight
h gwen the color factor la the pres.
ent commercial grades for alfalfa
and not sufficient weight to Its feed
Ing value.
IRON Investigations recently made
BY the bureau Of Markets II appears
that when the present grading rules
are rightly aud technically applied,
as Is frequently the ease on declining
markets, II N impossible under ia.
most ideal conditions 10 producs
choice grade alfalfa.
n. presence oil "A weed. a blade
OF grass or Of a hleached stem will
prev cnt a bale from grading choice
and II IN practically impossible to OBJ
NANNA NNAN = . o ~ 80 -
any of these thinga. Considerable
hay il bought and sold OF this grade
however. bat the use OF u, aud some
times also Of The grade No. /, causei
the shipper a heavy loss.
The specialists believe that com
morcial grades for any kind OF ha,
should be made so nat physical linn
itations In production and preparn
ton will he properly recognized, aE'
I sN.s atsaN .rTuN.u .Anan1I Ia UnlfnWml
applied. and not influenced whateve
by the state OF the market.
Most shippers In the irrigated sec
lions seem willing To handle hay a
a gross profit OF 81 per ton II tn
chance OF iosses on account OF reJeC
| lions could be- eliminated, The re1ec
tiolH are almost always based upol
the claim that the hay Is o up 4
grade, but occur almost entirely upoI
a declining market. With only tn
meager protection against this prac
ticc and resultant loss, furnished b
inspection services maintained by tn
trade organizn IONS OF TIA, ,vnriou
markets, he IN compelled To tncreaa
his margin Of gross profit to 50 0
81 per ton
when the producer notes the Wild
difference between the price whic
he has received for his hay and IN
q ~ v AhkAfA - Wv - AAAAH ~
he feels that the shipper or denle
~ taking advantage OF him and
making too large a profit. The pro
ducer's desire To share in this SUI
posedly large profit Is n Of tn
principal causes Of the co-operntiv
waive that u now ugitating south
western alfalfa growers. when IN
desire Is stimulated by an enthusins
tic. prospective manager IL seems I
be not q very difficult matter 20 forI
an organization Of producers to shi
ind market hay.
Cooperative marketing nssocia
tons can no doubt market their w
hay as adyantagoously as the ind
vidunl shipper. provided their maj
nger n as well trained and possess'
equal experience and business ahilit.
/, hut they are sure 10 meet h san
marketing difficulties and will nav
/, just as many rciections and loss'
i which must be deducted from the pr
% ce~ds Of their snles.
2 Many Of the irrigated sections Z
= tthc southwest do not ship more tina
D from 1000 10 5000 cars Of hay eac
4 year. and this business * IN some b
stances divided between two or thr'
shippers. who also conduct oth'
business in connection, thus great
, reducing overhead expenses. ~
: operative shipping associations 1l
y being organized In several OF tibet
9 projects The cure for IN preset
Y marketing difficulties In the nlfalI
= sections Of thu" southwest would see
7 to be along the line Of better stan'
: ards and their impartial application
p gnV the marketing aUaginlists.