The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-04-02
GRAIN PRICES
IMPROVE IN
FEBRUARY
ill City Livestock Market
Declined Between January
and February

General prosperity IN thc farming
esio6s Of The Northwest is very
rely dependent upon the price sit
,aton for agricultural products. Dur
Ink February there was Il slight inn
|rovement in the prices of grain and
considerable Improvement in the
|irlce Of flax. This change in grain
rices, coupled with the fact that
ho United States is an exporter Of
heat, and an importer of flax, gives
sound basis for the proposals now
eng made that the farmers of the
OF, Invest be urged to cut down their
neat acreage and increase their flax
cr,age during the planting season
Immediately in prospect. There were
oiXed trends in the prices of live
ocl: but the most significant changes
gefn the declines for hogs and lambs,
rulch apparently indicate that stock
+ ny up in these two lines is little
|ear the saturation point, although
90 much dependence must not be
iaced upon conditions in such
|uonth as February with its adverse
|scather conditions.
In spite of this lack of normal
|lbrchasing power in the farming COM
|runities which has prevailed during
reent months, business volume IN
rhan centers has been sustained by
cry active building operations. These
yncrations have continued in such
arge volume as to have strengthened
building material prices considerably.
! is therefore important to observe
. ne tendencies Of builders, as shown
u building permits requested, during
il next few months, in order to make
"a accurate estimate of business con-
lions which will presumably prevail
It'll the size and value Of the next
rop becomes known. At the present
oment the volume Of building is con-
nuing at a level above that Of q
ear ago.
The volume of general business in
he Northwest usually declines in
nidwinter, owing to weather condI-
tons and this year has been no ex-
ception to the rule. 1t is very salts
Factory, however, to note that there
has been a substantial improvement
in the sales of agricultural imple-
ments at wholesale during the month
md that the total volume of business
I'm all lines Is considerably above
wear ago.
Receipts of all grains at Mime
hpolis and the head of the lakes de-
ciined scasonaliy between January
and February. Receipts of wheat and
flax showed the greatest declines and
were only onehalf as large in Febru-
hry as in January. AS compared with
the ten-year average for February, re-
ceipts of wheat in February, 1928,
were above the normal amount, and
rye receipts were four times as large
as this average. Receipts of oats
were ne-fourth below the average
amount for February and barley and
Flax about one-half lower. Receipts
If rye were four times as large IN
February this year as in February
ear ago and receipts Of wheat, bar
ey and flax were larged in February
nlS year lHlIl u year uSoy "hiA~ WA"
nd oats were smaller.
Livestock marketing at st. Paul de-
,ined between January and February,
which was a seasonal movement for
lli classes except calves. Sheep re-
1eipts in particular, were down one
half. February receipts of cattle,
calves and hogs were larger than a
ear ago, but receipts of sheep were
one-fourth lower. Shipments of feed
r stock to the country from South st.
paul declined between January and
cbruary, although very slightly IN
he case Of hogs. Shipments of feed
or sheep were less than one-half as
Barge.
Prices Of the principal northwest
n farm products showed mixed ten
lencies during the month of Febru-
hry. A majority of the grain prices
increased and the majority OF live
took prices declined.