White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-04-22
Washington Farm Outlook
For April, 1927
BY r. M. TURNER
Extension Service, State College Of
Washington.

| Oalfyin9
The dairy situation continues to be
dominated by general firm feeling,
due to short supplies and good de-
mand. Prices in February were about
cents higher than at the same time
last year. and receipts of butter at
principal markets have been running
about per cent less than for the same
period year ago. Storage stocks Of
butter and American cheese were low
er than on March / of last year. Rel
atively small imports of butter have
apparently had no influence on prices.
The demand for milk cows has
greatly improved in Washington and
prices have strengthened. Dairymen
are beginning to carry out well laid
plans for improving their pastures.
knowing that this is their cheapest
source of feed
Berries
Strawberries brought good prices
during the past two years, and as a
result a large new acreage was set
out last summer. Contracts for this
coming season are fairly good The
possibilities of increased barreling of
this fruit may assist in keeping the
business on a profitable basis.
On September /, 1925, cold storage
holdings of Washington preserved and
frozen fruit were about % million
pounds. while at the same time in 1926
these holdings had jumped to SO mil
lion pounds In the face of an expect
ed carry-over by some canneries of
supplies Of raspberries increased
paintings of this berry do not seem
justified unless marketing agencies are
able to better clean up the old crop
each year. Expansion of both the
fresh raspberry market and barreled
pack is looked for in the future.
New paintings Of blackberries do
not seem justified at this time, but
the market for loganberries will likely
| be better than in the past, as they
have been meeting with favor with
the consumers and a considerable ex-
port trade has developed. A construc-
tive marketing program would do
much to bring the merits of Pacific
Northwest berries before the consum-
ing public of other sections
Hogs
More hogs will probably be market
ed in Washington next fall than In the
fall Of 1925, for according to the Pig
Survey, 1858 per cent more sows were
bred to farrow this spring than one
year ago. Farmers. however, have
to supply the needs Of our growing
population In this state. The shortage
Of hogs In Washington is evident in
noting that the estimated average
price Of hogs in the United States on
February Is was $11.19 per 100
pounds as compared to $12.10 on the
same date in Washington.
Higher prices affect the consump-
ton of pork. In 1923 the average per
capita consumption of pork was TAT
pounds, while last year it had dropped
to 65.7 pounds. Farmers who are able
to save not less than six pigs per litter
and who have at least one low-priced
feed, such as alfalfa pasture, barley.
garbage or skimmilk, would make
good returns for their investment and
| work.
Head Lettuce
Last years lettuce deal In Washing
ton netted total shipments of 1913 cars,
which was only exceeded in volume in
the year 1923, when 1881 cars were
shipped. The crop was very unsatis-
factory on account Of az disease fol-
lowing hot weather conditions and (2)
the low price at the beginning Of the
season due mainly to heavier mar
ketings from central California In
May. The lowest United States ship
ments of head lettuce occur in June,
when the bulk of our lettuce is
shipped.
Present needs include disease resist
ant strains Of lettuce; more careful
growing 80 that more than 60 per cent
OF the crop can be shipped; and united
action on the part Of our shippers in
distributing cars of lettuce moving
East 1t may be possible to increase
the sales in cities other than Chicago.
Searching for boarder cows through
the cow testing association caused
eight Ventura County California;
dairymen to eliminate 1872 cows from