Evening star., 1928-05-01
NORTHWEST GRAIN
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
Severe Losses in South Due
to Weather Bring Pros
perity to West.
BY ]. c. RoYLE.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to Tho Star.
NEW YORK, May l. -- weather de-
vClopmentS which have caused severe
losses in some sections of the South
have been so advantageous in the great
Northwestern grain States in the last
few weeks as to counterbaiance in large
degree the detriment to the general
prosperity of the country from the huge
damage to fruits, cotton and grain IN
the Southern section.
Business developments in recent
weeks in Minnesota. North and South
Dakota and Montana have been most
favorable. The moisture content of the
soil in all sections of the Northwest Is
more favorable than for a long period
Seeding has progressed rapidly and
should be completed in few days.
With the ground in such good condi-
ton, healthy growth for wheat and
sured. This healthy early growth.
coupled with cool weather. is giving the
grain healthy stand which will enable
1t to resist attacks of rust and heat dur
ing the Summer
Price Situation Favorable.
The grain price situation is even
more favorable than the crop situation,
so far as the Northwest is concerned.
Wheat has been selling at 25 to 40
cents bushel above the level existing
a year ago This is due to the dimin-
ished prospect for large crops in some
of the territory north of the Ohio and
west and south of St Louis and Kansas
City. All grains are selling in the
Northwest at higher prices than year
ago. The excited movement of the Chi
cago market has showed prices up
again and there is talk of So wheat III
buliish circles.
The good crops of 1927, coupled with
these encouraging quotations assure
recovery in the business situation IN
the Dakotas and Montana. and good
crops at high prices, such as are indi-
Gated this wear. promise to make the
Northwest one of the most prosperous
sections of the country Already the
territory, which always has been heav-
lily affected by presidential campaigns,
is discounting the effect of the voting
next November, no matter how 1t may
turn out. AS one big Northwestern
farmer expresses it. The Northwest
may continue 10 holler wolf. but it
will not continue to holler help
Farm Lands Advance.
This situation is making itself visible
in the sales recently recorded in farm
iaIQS. I1HfC UGNI 1lAkktCl al
Der and concluded at higher prices
than for many years. Less money has
been needed by farmers TO finance
seeding of crops this year.
Farmers have benefited from the
live stock situation. The wool indus
try has given the farmers of the North
western States an income which in
creased from S4.290.000 III 1921 to
Si2, ,000. 900 in the last year The
fieeccs have increased In average
weight and there has been a gain OF
4.S50. 900 sheep on farms in the North
west since January /. 1927. The pres
ent season brings promise of further
increased income from both mutton
and wool. Sheep prices are at higher
level than for a number Of years. and
hog prices have advanced from low
of $3.50 a hundred pounds TO SOLO,
the highest point reached since last
Winter.
Cattle Winter Wen.
So far as range cattle are concerned.
the herds have Wintered remarkably
well and are in most satisfactory state
of flesh at the present time. Moreover.
growers are in such sound financial
condition that they can pick their own
time to market This has not been the
case for an extended period.
Merchants and bankers throughout
tho Northwest report that general buy