The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-01
BUSINESS FAIR
NEXT s MONTHS
SAYS CLEMENS
1928 Will Be An Average Of
Progress for North Dakota
Says Review
MORE GRAIN H E L d
Large Crops Permit Farmers
to Hold Portion of Yields
for Better Mart

fOc better war;
Fargo, N. D., Oct. 1.-(P-Al-
though 1923 will be marked as
banner year in regard to the growing
season, prevailing prices have ban
ished expectations for banner year
as regards cash return to the
farmer, p. w. Clemens, Fargo, Of
the Northern and Dakota Trust
company, said today In his monthly
review.
The statement follows:
BY r. w. CLEMENS
Higher yields Of grain than were
expected two months ago will offset
to- quite IN extent current lower
prices for grains, but the present
market situation indicates that bust
ness will be fair during the next
six-month period, rather than very
brisk during three months immedi-
atnlv after harvest and quiet period
betwsen January / and April /. De-
spite almost record yields in some
crops, the price situation has DEF
initely removed expectations for .
banner year from the standpoint Of
cash return to the farmer.
There will be liquidation of debts
in many lines and the general bank
ine situation will be improved, but
hopes for any spectacular develop.
ment along this line have been de-
flated. All in all. it looks just like
an average year Of progress for
North Dakota.
A possible improvement in the
purchasing power Of the farmer 10
in prospect in the event Of any In.
crease In price Of grain during the
next few months, for more farmers
are holding their grain than In the
past. While shipments have been
extraordinarily heavy this year, new
ertheless the volume Of grain held
on farms is also great, the large
crop permitting both situations to
prevail.
DR.. Alva H. Benton, head Of the
department Of marketing with the
North Dakota Agricultural college,
reports that new storage facilities
are being provided on many farms.
A survey made some time ago re-
vealed that there are existing stor-
age facilities to care for between 45
: and IS per cent of all grain raised.
THE payment Of premiums to in.
dividuals for protein and the lower
prices have tended to increase farm
storage Of wheat," DR.. Benton says.
+ 4.EleN (nagers have often ad-
vised farmers to store wheat on the
farm. particularly when it appeared
to be high in protein or when tests
made indicated high protein content.
Later, after the heavy rush Of grain
was over, the elevator managers
stated, they were in = position to
handle grain of high protein content
in carload lots. There is also Q feel
ing that protein premiums will tend
to rise later in the season. rather
than fall. Since there is no prac-
tical way Of being sure Of protein
premiums except at the time the
grain is delivered to the elevator,
there 10 additional incentive to hold
on the farm rather than to store 1t
the elevator by grade.
ION some farms the use of the
combine has caused grain to be sold
rather than stored. On others there
has been Z tendency to store and
hold. The attitude Of the elevator
managers toward buying stored
grain, the moisture content Of the
grain combined, and the condition
81 the roads have been important
factors in the marketing decisions
made by farmers using combines.
ssCombines have become real fac
tor in harvesting and marketing op-
erations In some sections Of North
Dakota this year. Preliminary re
ports indicate some 1000 to 1900
combines in the state, Is compared
with something over 200 last year"
With suitable weather, another
few days will conclude al threshing
operations except in very isolated
instances. Quality has been inn
paired in some sections whore late
rains in August and early Septem-
ber were excessive. It seems gem
orally conceded that the govern
m4nt estimate for September Of
1lO, 1854, 900 bushels Of wheat for
North Dakota was about right.
Some expect that to be increased to
some extent in the final estimates,
and il this happers it could easily
make the 1928 crop Of wheat the
second largest in the states history.
! 70 date the 1928 crop has been con-
ceded the third largest, 1915 going
Isl, 070, 900 bushels, and 1912 49,
e2o, 5000 bushels. An increase Of
y nfA nnA h,,.hnls ,e,n,,lA v.len> %h;~