The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-09-29
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK
FOR POTATO men
LOSS MAY BE AvERTED BY THE
STORING OF CROP FOR MAR
KET TO IMPROVE.

The other day Lemhi county citi-
zen was in Salmon offering to dispose
of 400 sacks of potatoes, with 400
heads of cabbages and large lot of
onions thrown in for good measure,
all for the small sum of $3.50.
That makes the spuds cheaper than
the dirt they grew in. We hear it
almost Esafy. day that potatoes are
not worth the digging. One load
brought to Salmon is said 70 nave net
ted the grower 13 cents per hundred
pounds. 1t is discouraging condition
as every one will admit and seemingly
there is reason enough for some
ranchers to turn their hogs into the
fields to root out what hey wish. New
ertheless it is too early to become dis
couraged over the potato situation in
this part of Idaho. We have a big
crop it is true, too big in fact, but
there is reason to believe that it can
be handled and adjusted so that the
situation will, in large measure, save
itself.
The recent government report with
a shrinkage of four million bushels is
encouraging. 1t looks as though
large percentage of the big surplus is
in the early potato, product that con-
fiicts very little with the product of
this section and by the time the early
potato is on the market, potato
which is not a storage product, Il
large part of the surplus will have
been absorbed.
The reduction in the freight rate
and its probable continuance until such
time as this section will be benefited
will he help. The plan for a meet
ing OF growers representative Of all
sections, is good, and should result
in better understanding of condi-
tions 80 as TO control the output TO the
extent that q great surplus will not re-
suit. Another plan is to control the
marketing and shipping so that there
viii not be a congestion at the buying
end to the extent that the product can
not be absorbed and in that way de.
press the market.
in other words there is an opportun-
ity for display Of real intelligence in
the production and marketing of the
product to the point that crops will
not be produced at loss. When this
same general intelligence l. ueed in
the production OF all classes and kinds
Of crops the farmer will be in the DO
sition that he has the right and should
be, in a large measure. TO dictate
something about the price TO be paid
Fjm for his product.
In the meantime we must make the
best Of bad matter. This Is no time
20 quit. A year of time and effort have
been spent in making the crop. j.
was a play of chance. Ranching j.
pretty much of gamble anyway ar
ter all is said and done Neycrthe-
less it has 70 be done and this year il
brought big returns. Now the spuds
are in the ground after much expense
and labor, why not take another
chance, a much less hazardous one,
and dig AMI store Lemhi county's
spuds? Ten chances 70 one they can
be disposed OF 70 advantage before
reXt spring.
Potatoes have fair food value and
n any can be fed to stock on the farms.
Since the passing of the open range
and the big COW outfits. whether we
ike it or not VIC will have TO submit
and prescribe TO, a program of diver
sified farming. Lemhi county needs q
greater variety of stock and larger
output of dairy products. In other
woris-play both ends against the
middle. II one product will not bring
a fair price be in position to convert
your raw material into a product that
does bring the price. Don't limit