The Bismarck tribune., 1927-11-01
BY PIERRE W. CLEMENS

b1 HIEhkE W. OLEM EMO
Material evidence Of the progress
which is being made by North Da-
kota farmers in their debt reduction
program is contained in reports re-
ceived during the past few days
from the majority of the county
treasurers Of the state showing that
tax collections from January l to
the last week in October average 10
per cent greater than for the same
period a year ago.
Almost tw,-thirds of the counties
rep.rt larger tax payments tins
year, the increases ranging from a
to $50 per cent. The greatest in
crease reported by any county is 90
per cent, and in the few counties
wht C the tax payments are small
er, the condition is attributed toI
delayed marketing of grain.
Three weeks Of clear, mild wealth
or during the latter part of October
North Dakota's famous Indian
Summer" season-has been of in
estimable benefit. Threshing has
been cleaned up with the exception
of scattered areas along the north
crn border of the state and in the
extreme southwestern port on.
Hardly a day has been lost from
plowing, picking corn, digging pota-
toes, filling silos, sowing Of winter
rye and other fall work, and excel
lent progress has been made in pre-
pairing for the 1923 crop year.
Drops Cut Crop Value
While conditions warrant the gen.
eral feeling of optimism prevalent
in the state, there is no denying the
fact that tho recent drops in the
prices of wheat and flax have Topped
off many millions of dollars from
the value of the 1927 small grain
crop. Since these crops gave good
average fields, many farmers will
realize u profit on the basis OF
: present low market levels, but the
outlook is not nearly so promising
as was the case two months ago.
Hesitancy with which farmers are
marketing their grain will continue
to slow up collections, reflectlng
smaller vol me Of retail business
than was anticipated. On the other
hand this condition will result in
more orderly marketing Of grain
and moro money will be in circula-
ton during the winter and spring
months than is usually the case.
Fall marketing Of live stock is
just getting under way and many
millions Of dollars of income will
be received during the next three
months from sales Of pigs, lambs,
beef cattle and poultry.
Reports from the packing plants
at Fargo and rand Forks indicate
that pork production will be close
to the 1926 total. although the value
of hogs sold and consumed on farms,
which last year was place. at more
than $3O,OOO,OOO. will be consider
ably below this figure due to the
falling market, which at present is
about four dollars per hundred be-.
low that of year ago.
Any deficiency in income from
hogs will be more than made up
through sales Of beef cattle and
lambs. During October prices
reached new high levels for both
beef and lambs. An enormous in
crease has occurred in lamb pro-
duction in North Dakota, due to
campaigns for three successive years
in which thousands Of breeding ewes
have been imported into the state.
Poultry Production Large
Poultry production in the state
this year win exceed that Of a year
ago by from Is to 20 per cent. ac-
cording to estimates from concerns
buying poultry. Due to the long
spell Of warm weather, poultry mar
keting is barely getting under way
and is about two weeks later than
usual. Poultry shipments will not
reach the crest until cold weather
starts. Both chickens and turkeys
are reported to be Of better than
average quality.
Turkey production continues to in
crease and North Dakota now sup.
plies a heavy proportion Of the
tables of the United States with the
piece de resistance for the Thanks.
giving meal. Reliable statistics are
not available, but the value of the
turkey crop in the state this year
will be between two and three mil.
lion dollars. ;. :.
A comparatively new activity tha'
has made strong bid for recogni,
ton this year is the production Of
sugar beets. "With few exceptions
me- fields have paid labor costs ane
in q great many instances q yer,
considerable profit" is the state
ment Of Morton Page Of Fargo
regarding the sugar beet fields II
Cass County, which comprise about
1000 acres.
"some very fine returns were real.
ized where the farmers were begin
ming ! program Of cleaning up thu
soil and last year had worked the
land 10 eliminate noxious weeds ant
used this land for beet fields thi'
year. Yields were exceptionally
GOOD in every instance Of this kind
They ranged from IL to Is tons pei
acre after all deductions such Al
dirt and Gockage were made. Every
thing indicates that . very consider