The Ward County independent., 1922-11-09
NORTH DAKOTA TURKEY OUTLOOK

Appearances are that shippers must prepare for
lower prices turkeys than those received last year;
from the best information available, Texas will fur
nish around 700 of turkeys and experts have
placed the figure as high 750 cars shipped be-
tween and Christmas, and the Texas stock is of
the very highest quality This is about 25 percent
larger than the output Of Texas last In addition
to- this great percent of the Texas Shipments
count Of the extreme hot weather. conscated and
thrown into the harbor at New York in a spoiled
dition upon arrival. This fact alone caused rapid in
in prices at the last minute. 1t is estimated
that the Texas crop, at much lower prices, will
net the turkey raisers in Texas $3,000,O00 for this
years crop Many believe that the prices will revert
hack to those Of about 1914 1915 but under the pres
cnt conditions is opinion that the prices will be
much higher than those figures there is bidding
at the present time for Thanksgiving turkeys and
prices will be quoted which will be substantial until
about the 10th Of November It is rather hard to de-
terr1inc just what the outlook will be.
1t is actual fact that although the prices live
No, / turkeys will range better than 25c per pound
at the time, the prices No. turkeys will be
extremely low, possibly very little so percent of
the prices paid for No. | turkeys According to this
The producer afford to sell turkeys for Thanks
giving that not up live standard Of No. / and
would suggest that turkeys be shipped to market
unless they have been carefully cued at home; not
attempting to sell hen turkeys weighing under
pounds any tom turkeys weighing under 10 pounds
iive weight but allow these to remain on the farm
and feed until the Christmas market; and if they
not large enough for No. grade at that time there
will be markets later during January and February
where they can be disposed Of to very good advantage.
The for the low prices No 2 turkeys is due
20 the fact that do not believe there percent
of the No, turkeys that placed in storage last
that have been sold at the present time; buyers
evidently using better grades and caring for the
cheap inferior grades of turkeys According to reports
of Mr. Emerson of New York, who has made study
of the poultry business he claims that there
2000OOO pounds Of last crop of turkeys in storage
in Chicago and New York alone. Taking into consider
alton the amount that would be held in the other large
cities, indications that a very large amount of last
years crop is still in the rcezers which will have very
pronounced effect on the turkey market.
According to close survey Of the northwest part of
North Dakota, it found that owing to the late cold
spring rains and much damp weather the first hatch
of turkeys did not thrive; many producers losing their
entire first hatch and very few being fortunate enough
to raise them. The second hatch which followed closely
after the first hatched under better weather
dtons, and most of these survived; but at the same
time many, the greater percent of them will not be
zaatured enough to make number turkey for
Thanksgiving and should be closely graded before
keting
The killing pens in Minot will commence operations
immediately after November 10th, by that time the
market value will be readily determined much
depends upon weather conditions.