The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-30
General Price Levels


During the next month or two the
fluctuations in index of farm prices
will continue to be influenced largely
by lower dairy and poultry product
prices and possibly by higher cot
ton prices.
The general level of farm prices
in the United States was one point
lower for March than for the previous
month, being 126, but the general
level of non-agricultural commodity
prices tended slightly downward.
General business conditions remain
on Z high level of activity, bank
debts being about the same as last
year.
Wheat
With growing conditions as in
Dictated by current reports, no mat
crial change in the price level of
wheat is looked for in the next month
or two. The present season has
been noteworthy for relatively high
prices of durum wheats. The gem
cral run of No. Dark Northern at
Fargo has been from $l.2O to 1922
from April to 13. During the same
period No. Amber Durum has
ranged from $l.23 to $1.26. Eighteen
countries reporting winter wheat in
dicate l35,Z43,OOO acres in 1927 com.
pared to 100, 756,OO0 acres for a year
ago. The acreage of rye in Ia coun-
tries shows reduction Of 3.8 per
cent. Because of the relatively light
er seedlings of durum wheat in the
Mediterranean countries, the outlook
would seem to be better for this
class Of wheat than for others.
Flax
The price of flax is strongly influ-
enced by the expOrtable surplus from
Argentina and there seems no prob
ability that there will be any increase
or decrease in the price of flax from
the present level until next fall.
Flax in Fargo the first two weeks
of April ranged from $1.98 to $l.99.
The combined production of flax in
Argentina, Canada and the United
States in 1926 was approximately 80
million bushels compared with iO7
million bushels in 1925. This diff
ference is partially offset by cen
siderably larger carry-over of Ar
gcntine flax than year ago and the
exports from that country are csti-
mated to be about the same as last
year or only very few million
bushels less. The exports from Ar
gcntina for the first quarter OF 1927
were approximately the same as for
the previous year. Perhaps the de-
creased building program might in
dictate slight lcssening demand in
the United States.
Such an acreage of potatoes as ut
present indicated, with average
yields, will almost certainly result
in material reduction in price this
fall.
Considering the upward trend in
yields that is resulting from better
methods of cultivation and better
seed crop of 41O million bushels
may be expected with normal sea-
sonal conditions. This would be a
/ ID per cent increase over 1926 and
only 3 per cent less than the record
crop of APP million bushels of 1924
The indicated production will provide
nearly 1-2 bushels per capita. With
such sharp increase in production
in contrast to the past two years and
| with the present increasing competi-
| ton of other foods it seems certain
that relatively high prices cannot be
maintained if this production is made
Cattle
The present strength Of the cattle
mbarket and the relatively low price
OF corn will probably encourage feed
ing operations for the six months
but present indications point to onla
moderate supplies of fed cattle and
continuing strong market for the
balance of the year. Average choice
steers weighing from 1,1OO to 1,5O(
pounds have ranged around $l2.75 al
St. Paul for the first two weeks OF
April. The average farm price OF
beef cattle in North Dakota for al
grades was $500 per cwt. on March
Is, and the average for veal calve.
was $500 per cwt. on the same date.
The average price of beef steer.