Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-05
FARM EDUCATION
BY DIR. ANDREW M. SOULE

Hog raising in Georgia is still in
adts infancy. 1t is a new industry
to many of our farmers. We have
much to learn about the business in
general, but more particularly about
fhoW to market our hogs when fin
-1ished to the best advantage. Our
. experience with this problem justi-
'fies us in offering the following
suggestions relative thereto:
- Ehe orn-belt farmer ships his
hogs to market to be sold; the
Georgia farmer sells his hogs to
be shipepd. Why the difference?
The big livestock markets are con-
tyenient to the producer in the mid
NAe west. Competition is found at
,theSe markets, for competing firms
have packing plants convenient to
ii be stock yards. No point in Geor-
gia has more than one packing
plant. Hogs offered for sale out
in the state may be bought and
shipped to any southern point, even
r. to Cuba or to an eastern market.
Hence, we usually have more COM
Retition out in the state than at
one of our packing plant towns.
The packers do not make a practice
OF buying hogs f. o. b. shipping
point, but some of them have ar
arrangements with commission firms
to buy for them; hence, our coun-
try point competition and our f. o.
b.. sales
% The method of operating these
: hog sales is we'll known to most
agricultural workers. If a casual
survey shows that at least one
good car of hogs is available, a sale
day is announced. Then hogs are
listed usually blythe county agent
or by the secretary of the associa-
ton if there is such an organiza-
Ntion. Farmers are impressed with
1.-THE fact that they are expected to
bring to the sale the hogs listed. In
due time, stock cars are ordered
figuring one car for each one hun
dred hogs. A car may hold more or
less than this number, depending
Upon the size of the animals, but
counting as above indicated is usu-
ally sufficiently accurate.
The importance of organizing an
efficient association of swine grow
ers cannot be too strongly stressed.
>Het 1t be a farmers proposition, and
help the farmers to Develop n the
handling of their marketing prob
TENS. a county agent or most any
one else as for that matter can
assume the responsibility and make
"a hog sale a success under ordinary
conditions. Then, when unusual
conditions arise, a sale may go
wrong. The farmers do not under
stand; the agent gets the blame.
AS the hogs are brought in on
sale day, they are weighed and
graded Both of these operations
are very important. Make the
grades right; the weights must be
good. Most of the hogs have Just
been well fed, though they have
bad only a normal feed. Stuffing
animals to gain weight should be
'discoura ged. 1t does not pay. We
have found farmers willing to
abandon the practice when they un-
dersteod the proposition.
LAS weighings are made each
farmer is given a copy of ticket
showing the number. weiht. and
grade of his hogs. When all the
hogs are in, tickets are summarized
50. that buyers may know what is
being offered.
s,The differentials between grades
are announced in accordance with
prices prevailing at the time. The
buyers bid on grade No. 1 with
the understanding that they get
other grades as per differentialS
announced. Unless otherwise plan
ned and announced. the highest of
fer gets all the hogs. Sometimes
light hogs are sold separStely. Wire
bids are used as directed by the
senders.
All cars should be bedded four
to six inches deep with sand. If
this is done before the sale, it
makes a good impression on the
bNyers; it indicates careful atten-
eion to details. If hogs are sold
hy wire. sellers should see to it
that cars are bedded and that load
ing and billing is right.