The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-03-31
FARM PRICES ABOVE
FRE-WAR PERIOD
Agricultural sections Optimistic and
Preparing 90 Plant Great
Acreage.

jibing the Republicans over "Repub-
IIcan prices" for farm products are
now singing very low. At this writ
ing wheat is selling at $1.35 to $1.4O
a bushel; corn, 65 cents a bushel;
oats. AZ cents bushel; rye. s1.1O;
hay $40 TO $25 a ton; hogs IL cents;
fat lambs. 4 cents and other farm
products and live sotck in proper
tion.
These prices are lot only high
er by from so to 100 per cent than
six months ago. but they are higher
than they were In the fall and winter
of 1913 and the spring Of 1914. That
period is taken for comparison be-
cause the only crop harvested and
sold during peace times under the
Wilson administration was the crop
harvested in the fall of 1913. The
1914 crop was not harvested when
the European war broke out and at
no subsequent time during the Will
son administration were conditions
and prices normal.
AT the prices the farmer Is receiv-
ing today he is better off than he was
during the peak Of prices in war
times because the purchasing power
of his monty is greater today than
Il was then In other words, wheat
mt s1.35 today will buy more of al
most any commodity than wheat at
$2.2O during the war. Farm imple-
ments have been radically reduced
i'm price. Farm wagons are approach
ing the pre-war basis.
This years crop will be produced
at less cost to the farmer than any
crop raised since 1928. That the
farmer himself believes this is evil
denced by the fact that he is prepar-
ing to put tremendous acreage OF
cereals this year.
Moreover, farmers are spending
lot, of money and paying high prices
in order to restock their farms which
makes livestock in great demand at
splendid prices. During the crisis
of last year and the year before
thousands of farmers sacrificed their
breeding stock in order to get ready
money. They are now in the market
to rsplenish their stock.
Banks have plenty of money and
between them and the War Finance
CORPORATION the farmer is not ex-
periencing much difficulty in getting
all the money or credit he needs to
carry his thru the year until harvest.
With a reasonable fair year, in so
far as climatic conditions are con-
cerned. the farmer will be in better
shape after his harvest next fall than
he has been in many years. There is
no pessimism existing in agricultural
states. Everyone feels the worst is
over and that from now on improve
ment in agricultural circles will be
not only steady but rapid.
Further evidence of this fact is
furnished by a questionable which
was circulated among the farmers OF
the Pacific Northwest by a trio OF
farm publications, This question:
aire asked the farmers not only re-
garding their prospects but regard
ing what they intend to do In the
way OF improvements II anything
The answer showed that one-third
of the farmers OF that section will be
in the market this year for fencing'
paint and other construction mater
ial. Perhaps about one-fifth OF
them are going to be In the market
for all sorts of farm machinery such
as tractors, tractor plows, gas en-
gines, motors. drills etc,
The housewives are also reflect
ing better copditions, as fourth OF
the replies indicate purchases this
year of such household equipment
as washing machines, new canning
outfits, and other household equip
ment. This is the natural reaction
following a period of strictest eco
nomy and self denial.
What is true in the northwest is
true throughout the United States
according to we'll posted observers.
The farmer has permitted his equip
ment to run down and has neglected
needed repairs and painting. Every
bit of money he has been able to get
hold OF has been applied to paying
off debts. With prices of commodi-
ties declining and good crop this
year. the agricultural states viii be
in the market after the harvest for
the purchase of all sorts of commo-