The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-12
PREDICT HARVEST
BY AUGUST |
WHEAT PROSPECTS OF FINEST
RAIN DAMAGES THE ALFALFA
NO FEAR OF LABOR SHORTAGE

NJ FEAh OE LAbOh SHOhIAGE
While the continued damp, cloudy
weather during the month of June
with the surplus of moisture in the
ground, will keep the grain from
ripening as early as it has the past
few years, it seems likely that the
binders will be in the fields in Latah
county by the first of August, or very
shortly after. 1t is certain that ma
chimes and men, in handling the 1923
crop, will be forced to battle with the
greatest quantity of straw produced
on the Palouse hills in many years,
which will make the harvest work
somewhat slower and more arduOus
than usual. 1t is evident, however,
that the yield of grain will be fully
In keeping with the heavy straw, SO
compensation for the extra work and
expense is certain.
With the good weather of the past
few days, the Palouse hay harvest is
nearing completion, with an immense
quantity of hay in the mows and in
the stack for next winters use. The
hay crop is one of the heaviest in
the history of the country.
Considerable alfalfa was damaged
by rains which fell after it was cut.
Many acres being in the swath or in
shock through several days of rain.
While this will still make good feed,
it will not sell readily on the out
side market. There is, however,
large tonnage of No. hay, for which
there will be a fair demand on the
outside. The present quotations for
alfalfa in the field is 81 per ton and
the quotations for No. baled at the
warehouse is $40.
The big crop Of alfalfa and other
forage crops will have the effect OF
increasing the interest in dairying,
as many farmers believe that they
can get the best returns from their
crop by feeding it to stock, and can
at the same time conserve their soil.
While there has been something OF
q shortage of help in the hay harvest,
It is generally believed that this con-
ditfon will be remedied by the time
the wheat harvest is under way, as
many men will be working north, af-
ter the completion of harvest in the
districts further south. There are
already some men coming in ready
for work. High wages are being de-
manded. but SO far no definite wage
scale has been fixed. The going wage
in the hay harvest was So and board,
and it is expected that the wages In
the wheat harvest will be from 81 to
36 per day, depending on the class
of work.
Price Uncertain Quantity
Farmers are especially interested
lust now in the price which they are
likely to receive for their wheat. 1t
is certain that the crop will be one
of the biggest in the history of the
Palouse country, and with a fair
price, the crop will go far toward
putting the wheat district on its feet.
Local dealers have been paying from
on to 92 cents a bushel for old wheat,
and it is thought that the market on
new wheat will open at above 80
cents. 1t is doubtful if the farmers
will sell to any great extent on the
opening market.
Bid SIS Cents for Lewiston Wheat
Lewiston, Idaho-The Lewiston re-
gion wheat market on the new crop
opened Wednesday with an offer OF
IS cents, but no sales were made, far
mers who had made inquiry preferr-
ing to have the grain in warehouses
before selling A quotation here OF
s. cents is based upon a Portland
market of $103, the difference re-
the freight rate and ware
house charges.
On this basis the quotation at
Craigmont, Grangeville, and other
prairie points served by the Lewis
toni -Grangeville railroad would be
5 cents less, of 80 cents, while the
Nez Perce quotation would be 70
cents. The latter marketing point
Is 5 cents below general prairie
points because of the branch rail
road haul over the line from Nez
Perce to Craigmont.
Quotations on sacks were l3A
cents for Calcuttas and 14A for do
mestics, about cents above the price
asst year.
Although machines are moving into
he fields at several points in the
Lewiston Charleston valley, it is prob
able that the G E. Nichols farm in
Lewiston Orchards, three miles from
Main street, this year, as In many
past seasons, will hear the hum OF
he first thresher. The machine there
las been set up and is at the edge
If the field. Not later than Mon
lay, perhaps as early as Saturday,
t will be put in operation.