Smyrna times., 1924-10-22
PRICE SITUATION IS MORE
ENCOURAGING TO FARMERS
BETTER PAYING CROPS PITT
TING HEART INTO FARMERS
Agriculture is Slowly Swinging To-
ward Par Says John S. Dennee
Federal Agricultural Statistician

Federal Agricultural Statistician
Recovery from the price decline of
1920 has been discOuragingly slow for
the farmers. But the average of
farm prices continues to rise. And
the spread between the price farmers
are getting for what they have to sell
and for those articles which they have
to buy grows palpably narrower. The
farmers share in the general pros
perity gradually approaches what it
ought to be.
In brief, agriculture is swinging to-
ward par Farm prices continue to
improve in relation to the general
price level and to the prices of non
agricultural products. At the present
time the ratio of farm prices to
wholesome prices Of nonagricultural
commodities is above IS and is NOV
ing toward 80.
And we are told that the trend of
wheat prices for the next few months
will depend largely upon prospects for
the wheat crops Of Argentina and
Australia, which are to be harvested
IN December and January. The total
OF the Northern Hemisphere crop is
reported nearly 300 million bushels
short of last year.
Higher prices for wheat and corn
are supporting higher prices for oats.
Prices of oats may not be expected to
rise in proportion to the higher prices
of corn, as the price of oats is almost
wholly determined by the United
States crop. And the United States
crop is considerably larger than last
year.
This fact, coupled with a prospec-
tive reduction of about 20f5 in hogs,
which consume about 40R of the corn
crop, indicates the corn crop will be
relatively small, even under favorable
weather conditions.
The general tendency of hog prices
is upward. Hog prices move in sycles
and evidence supports the view that
they are now on the upward swing of
the price sycle.
A well-known agricultural econ
omist Of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, returning from
a countrywide trip, states in part his
observations in this wise:
"Not in years has the United
States presented so nearly a picture
of balanced prosperity as it does now.
Go into the South this fall and you
will be impressed with its prosperity.
General sentiment through the region
is distinctly optomistic
Farmers in the corn belt are in
better spirits than for years. Corn
prices are up and the expectation is
that hog prices are going to ride at
higher levels. The hog situation is
coming out from under its burden of
overprOduction.
"ln the East, meaning essentially
the dairy and diversified region,
things are not materially different
from last year. Dairymen are begin
ming to feel the pressure from high
er prices of grain feeds. Milk prices
have stayed at rather discouraging
levels. The East is in good shape as
to feed crops, such as hay, silage
corn, &c.
"The wheat belt is in infinitely bet
ter shape than for four years. Yields
are splendid and prices improved Just
at harvest time.
"The Pacific Coast has been seri-
ously hurt by drought and the out
look there is regarded as fair"
Farm prices on September Is, 1924,
as reported by Maryland farmers to
the United States Department of Ag-
in comparison with prices
reported by them in the fall of 1924,
stand at the following ratios: Wheat,
bushel, III; Corn 173; Oats 14O; Rye
12O; Tobacco, pound, 300; Potatoes.
bushel, 1876; Sweet potatoes 286; Ap-
pies Ill; Butter, pound, 1873; Eggs, |
doz. 1O3; Chickens, pound, 1856; Hogs, |
cwt., 1O7; Beef Cattle, 80; Veal calves
%; Sheep 100; Lambs 143; Milk cows. |
l4O; Unwashed wool, h., 173; HAY. |
ton, Timothy 119; Clover lis.
BIDS OPENED FOR NEW ROADS