The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1925-01-29
FARM OUTLOOK
OF WASHINGTON
r. N. Miller and r. NJ. Tun'-
ner give Reports of Pros
poets of State

Times are not bad. In fact times
are better with the farmer in gener-
al than they were in the years 1921
and 1922. The prospects for the COM
ing wear are favorable and more pros
perity will prevail in the coming
year, is indicated by some statistics.
r. N. Miller and r. NJ. Turner give
the following report on washington
Farm Outlook"
''The value of the average farm dol
lar was 80 cents last November. This
is much better than in 1921 and 1922.
That is, the average value of farm
products when exchanged for gene
raj commodities, is worth 80 cents
when compared with 1913 prices.
Farming is much improved. but not
back to 1913 conditions.
There may be no average farmer
in Washington, because our farm dol
lar is in the term of wheat, apples,
milk or a group Of farm products.
Each year, local conditions, supply
and demand, and the success of our
skill in farming set the value of our
particular farm dollar.
"Two striking points in favor of
the Washington farmer for 1925 are:
1. Improved conditions in Europe,
helping certain of our exports, and
keeping certain other products, such
as butter and wool out of the United
States.
"2. A larger population in the Unit
ed States on the consuming end of
the line.
Probably the greatest need of the
Washington farmer is larger con-
Stunning centers in the Pacific North
west to use up our surplus agricul-
tural products. The Manufacturers
Association Of Washington reports
that during 1924, 139 new factories
started manufacturing in this state.
Every factory brings with it employ
ees and every group of employees
bring with them large group of
tradesmen and become Immediately
consumers of our local farm products.
"Recent advances in butter are a
favorable sign of the times, for seas
onal price trend at this time of the
year is downward On the average.
Advancing prices are the result of
lack of imports due to higher prices,
larger demand in Europe, and lower
production. The movement out of
| storage is going on rapidly.
"The dairy outlook is good. Inn
provement of the products will place
them in demand on the larger mar
kets of the country, which will relieve
our small surplus. We will ship our
best dairy products as we do the ex-
tra-fancy eggs and apples.
"High feed costs coupled with low
cred returns have caused discomfort
among dairy farmers. Dairymen
with good cows and good system
of management will find it unwise to
sell out at this time.
Exports of box apples have in
creaed somewhat over those of sim
liar period in 1923. England, Ger
many and South America are the
largest purchasers of this Washing
ton product.
| Pacific Northwest apples are being
sold by auction in Liverpool in the
new fruit office building and sales
room where concentration does much
to facilitate the rapid handling of the
fruit offered. The apples are sold
from samples of two boxes which are
opened for display. Considerable
stimulation is looked for in this mar
let for our fancy, smaller, good keep
ing western. varities.
Report comes from the Yakima val
ley that in addition to their main ap-
pie crop they received an income of
about 100000 from Gull apples.
These were largely processed in the
valley and gave employment to a
large number of people.
Prospect for next year with hogs
is quite good on account of, First,
the pig losses in the corn belt last
spring; second, the poor corn crop last
fall, and third, high feed costs re-
suit in turning to market large num-
bers of unfinished hogs. In early
January, in the Spokane stockyards,
there was very heavy shipments of
hogs with the price remaining firm
and well up with Chicago prices.
Increased buying power in Europe
has been a factor in increasing the
price of wool in other countries, even
above the level of our tariff. The
outlook continues bright for both the
range and farm sheep in Washington.