Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-02-22
THE LIVESTOCK
PROSPECT IS
VERY PROMISING
Is the Healthiest Branch of Agricul-
ture, Has Been Right Along
And Hogs Paying Big
Money For Their
Board.
LIVE STOCK HAS
SAVED THE DAY
All the Legible Handwriting on the
Wall Suggests Improvement in
Conditions of Farmers in
Livestock Industry.

Live stock is the healthiest branch
of agriculture, and has been right
along. Hogs are paying big money
for their board, cattle, when bought
judiciously have made reasonable re-
turns and both sheep and lamb feed
ing has been unprecedently profit
able. Each market day an enormous
sum of money in the aggregate goes
to the country in payment for live
stock while other farm commodities
have been stagnant. Live stock
raising and feed communities are
reasonably prosperous, measured by
general conditions; their coarse
grains and roughage when converted
into meat has found a daily cash
market, while grain has of necessity
been held either in the corn crib or
the elevator for want of an outlet.
Live stock has saved the day for the
farmer.
This fact is being rapidly realized.
1t is indicated by a more optimistic
attitude on the part of producers.
The hue and cry, for which pro-
fessional agitators have been largely
responsible that the farmers Of this
country are "broke" no longer gets
credence. There is also a growing
impression that this persistent mis-
representation of the condition of
agriculture has been largely respon-
sibe for impairment of the farmers
credit. All the legible handwriting
on the wall suggests improvement in
conditions, improvement that will un-
doubtedly be accelerated by assum-
ing the proper mental attitude. The
live stock industry is actually in
strong strategic position compared
with commerce and manufacturers
for the reason that it has been liqui-
dated to the limit and any change
must naturally be for the better.
Losses have been inevitable in the
I descent from war initiation to peace
full normally, but the hardship in
| cidental to that process has been
aggravated by the self styled but
| false friends of the farmer, who have
given him advice to hold producers
when they We're high causing him to
miss making sales and then mis-
stated his condition to the extent of
discrediting him, thereby restricting
and impairing his credit. Capital is
proverbially timid and if the noisy
coterie of agitators responsible for
this campaign had deliberately plan
ned to injure agriculture they could
not have accomplished their purpose
more effectively.
Cattle that went into cornbelt feed
lots last fall are being liquidated;
at no distant date the residue of that
purchase will pass into strong hands
relieving the market of current in
temittent excess. Even now every
short run finds buyers with urgent
orders and had the January run
been curtailed 10 to Is per cent by
eliminating merely warmed up stuff
a radically different market would
have developed.
The whole cattle market is I'M
! doubtedly ready to repeat what has
/ happened in hogs and sheep.
Cows Going Into The Corn Belt
Sensing changing stock cattle con-
ditions many are taking time by the
fOrelock, purchasing cows TO run on
corn belt pastures with the object of
placing themselves at least PARTLY
independent of the stock market. The
beef business has gone on an early
calling for any considerable number
of heavy mature bullocks. The cat
tie industry is going on COW and
Iyearling basis, as economic change
producers. must recognize. 1t will be
impossible during the period needed
to rehabilitate western cattle herds,
to replenish feedlOts and pastures
east of the Missouri River, especi-
ally should beef consumption become
normal. Such increase will be coin
cident with revival of industrial ac-
tivity. Despite difference of opinion
on this subject many are in a posi-
ton to carry beef COW all the veal
round for the calf it raises and thi:
lis a feature of the industry now de
veloping at a more rapid rate thar
is generally understood. Such res
ponsible for increasing interest IL
breeding cows and heifers, which ha!
already prompted owners to mari
up values.
The Spring StOcker Market
Demand for stock cattle has beer
temporarily arrested by the marrow
margin between stockers and ia
steers, financial stringency, and ;
disposition 70 delay purchases init
the grazing season approaches, nee
essity for meeting maturing financia
obligations, especially at March
in the country has also been facto
not only in restraining investmen
but in cashiug steers in merel,
warmed-up condition that could no
be reinstated for the money the
realize, but, on pasture account un
seasonal interest has developed sine
the turn of the year, suggesting
broad market at no distant day
Owners of stock cattle i'm the south
west are actually refusing to max
prices except for immediate deliver
and pregnant females have been praC
ticaliy taken off the market. Eas
of the Missouri River thousands z
stock cattle will be needed TO II
pastures and concern as to whenc
cattle are coming to fill Southwestern
long grass pastures is already evint
ed, several contracts of magnltud
having been closed recently. Wh;
will happen if the northwest AZ
quires funds to compete on the limi