Phillips County herald., 1922-03-31
GOVERNMENT REPORT or
POTATO STOCKS MARCH 1

GOVERNMENT REPORT OF
POTATO STOCKS MARCH 1
According to the report just issued
by the U. s. department of agricul-
ture, bureau Of markets and crop es-a
timates, at Washington, the fifteen
states, Maine, New York, Pennsylva-
mia, Michigan, Wisconsin,, Minnesota,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebras-
ka, Montana, Colorado. Idaho, Wash
ington, Oregon and California, which
produced in 1921, about 70 per cent
Of all potatoes in the United States,
had surplus over farm require
ments of 150,306,000 bushels or 81 per
cent of the total production. In these
Is states, the movement from the
farms up to March /, was 1881, 900
bushels, or so per cent of the total
surplus, leaving 30,935.000 bushels to
move from the farms after March l.
The total stock of potatoes in the
hands of farmers and dealers March
for these states is 90,946,000 bushels
or 3S per cent of the production of these
states: 73,4S6,O00 bushels We're held
by farmers, 17,460,000 bushels by
dealers.
Maine expects to ship about 5,945,-
600 bushels, or S,490 cars, but an i'm
provement In price coming early
would increase quantity. The shrink
age is heavy on account of grading
out large sizes, etc. New York has
available for market S,14S,000 bush
els, shrinkage about ger cent to
March l. No estimate Of the guam
tity to move in cars 10 the car lot
markets. Michigan has S,2S9,000
bushels for disposal, including be-
sides 3,464 cars In dealers hands,
about 1850 cars that are expected to
roll from farms, and an equivalent OF
1850 cars more are to move to local
markets by truck. chrinkage, per
cent. Wisconsin's available supply
amounts to 4,353,000 bushels or $500
carloads. possibly less 1000 cars al.
ready diverted from carlot market to
local consumption in the state. Con-
dition of the stored potatoes, 60 per
cent good, and 33 per cent fair, per
cent excellent. Minnesota will prob
ably move 1000 to 5000 more cars in
addition to home supply. Dakota's
facilities for storing the big crop was
scanty and poor. The danger of
freezing and the farmers needs for
money resulted in early heavy mar
keting. Nebraska has about 275 cars
of commercial stock left. Montana
500 cars to move out. 200 cars were
left in growers hands East year due to
poor market. There is considerable
loss from freezing in pits of which It
is it impossible to determine exact
extent until later. Warehouses and
storage facilities are very limited.
Colorado has about 3,50o cars still to
move In addition to seed and local
supply. Idaho will ship out about g.
900 more cars. depending upon the
degree of deterioration and prices.
Washington will ship about 1000 cars
from the heavy crop OF the Yakima
valley. California is to market. IN
cars. about 100000 bushels, or about
1900 carloads OF which about 100000
bushels are yet undug.
Reports from the market reporters
bureau show about s:5o cars Of DO.
tatoes all told on tracks, in ware
houses. and in hands of wholesale
and retail distributors OF II principal
consuming cities March 1. There are
some potatoes that are not normally
stored in large cities. except for in.
cidental current distribution. Stocks
Of this class in New York amount to
about 500 cars. including 200 cars
OF track holdings. Chicago has $50
cars. including $50 cars On tracks. No
data on the usual holdings Of these
two cities. Stocks ara lighter than
average this season in PHILADELPHIA,
Baltimore and Columbus. and heavier
In Boston, st. Louis, Minnesota, Oma.
ha and Kansas City. About the usual
supply In the othsr cities reported.
In 1921 Pennsylvania, Maryland.
Virginia. West Virginia, Ohio. Indi.
ana. Illinois. Iowa. Missouri and Ken.
lucky. which normally consume. in
addition to their own production. the
bulk of the surplus fro.l the northern
tier OF commercial states, grew 35.-
100000 bushels less than in 1920.
This difference. almost 10000 ears.
did not materially effect statistics
shipments from those states. because
the large crop OF 1920 was consumed
locally. but the shortage OF 1921. for
these states was met by shipments
from other states.
Maine. North Dakota and Colorado
had this season big crops. about 49,.
000.0o0 bushels more than In 1920. Up.
TO February 25. 1929. these states had
shinpedi almost 10000 cars. 1900
bushels more than ls5i season TO the
same date.
Note.-Weekly carlot reports show
that approximately 10000 cars have
been shipped from all points between
March and March IS.
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