The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-12
MARKET EARLY.
GUSLER URGES
TURKEY RAISER
Good Price for Birds Expected
at Thanksgiving May De-
crease by Christmas
MORE BIRDS AVAILABLE
Increase Is Noted in Number
of Farmers Raising Small
FlOcks, Editor Says

Farmers throughout the North
west will be wise in selling Ill their
marketable turkeys for the Thanks
giving table rather than hold them
up for the Christmas trade, in the
belief of Gilbert Gusler, markets ed
itor of the St. Paul Farmer.
Conditions do not appear favorable
for maintaining prices for the
Christmas trade as high as they were
last year, he said. The increase in
the crop is more likely to be re-
Elected in the numberSmarketcd then
than at Thanksgiving time. Since the
turkeys which can not be moved in
to consumption at Christmas time
must be placed in storage, dealers
may have cautious attitude born
Of the losses incurred on the turkeys
stored last year, he believes.
North Dakota's increase in the
number Of turkeys on farms this
year as compared with 1927 is APP
proximately 10 per cent, the editor
said, which is high as compared with
the rest of the country. A big in
crease was reported in the western
states due to the development of
commercial Matching and sale Of day.
old poults. Washington increased it's
turkey population 80 per cent over
1927, Oregon so per cent and Nevada
rs per cent. while the increase Mn
South Dakota was four per cent.
Minnesota showed like increase,
Montana increased it's turkey popu-
lation by nine per cent and Iowa by
five per cent.
Numbers Are Large
"The approach of the holiday
period again brings the turkey in
dustry into prominence" Gusler said.
Dressing plant machinery has been
set in order, and working foSces as
sembled ready for the official OPEN
ing of the turkey marketing season.
More turkeys are in the country than
a year ago, although the proportion
of late-hatched birds is larger than
usual. Stocks of frozen birds-tur-
keys carried over from the past sea-
son are close to the largest on rec
ord. Feed supplies are plentiful and
relatively low priced, SO that aside
from the lateness of the crop, farm
ers have no excuse for not putting
their birds into excellent marketing
condition.
"The season was more favorable
than last year for the man who want
ed to increase his turkey flock, al
though spring was late over much
Of the country and cold wet weather
reduced the early hatch, particularly
in the southern states. The Depart
ment of Agriculture reports that 33
per cent Of the crop was Matched
later than usual, 8 per cent earlier
than usual, ard IS per cent the same
as usual. In Texas, however, where
most Of the Thanksgiving turkeys
hail from, As per cent were later
than usual and 5 per cent earlier
than usual.
Supply Is Average
"This points to a moderate supply
Of finished turkeys for the Thanks
giving trade. Fortunately, Thanks
giving comes at the end of the month
this year, giving almost week long
er than last year for turkeys to get
into condition for the early holiday
deal.
christmas turkeys brought high
price in 1927. An average of 1928
cents pound was paid to farmers
for live turkeys on December Is.
"At present. prices are expected to
open about as high as a year ago. If
there is a shortage of turkeys suit
able to grade A. No. 1, prices in No
vember may even average higher
than a year ago. This would mean
extremely high prices for the con-
sumner, but consumer buying power
probably is as good as, or better than
a year ago.
= Sell Early
with indications that prices fo,
turkeys at the beginning of the sea.
son are likely to be higher than they
may be a month later, farmers viii
be wise to sell for the Thanksgiving
trade all that they can get into mar
ket condition. They should not senc
any but well-matured, fat turkeys tx
market, however. Young hens weigh
ing 10 pounds and up and younl
toms weighing IL pounds and up viii
be in demand. Each year finds grad
ing restrictions a little more strin
gent and the careless producer VIII
ships immature turkeys pays tn,
fiddler
"Prices paid to farmers for tur
keys have been advancing during re
cent years. In 1915, farm prices TO
live turkeys during the active mar
keting season from October Is t.
January Is averaged 14.9 cents
pound. Last year, farmers were pai'
an average of 1913 cents a pound, al
increase Of 100 per cent. During tn
same period, farm prices of chicken
showed a gain Of less than Is pc
cent.
"Many farmers have been at
tracted into the turkey raising gam
by the high prices and by the i'm
lprovement in methods which have re
duced some of the hazards Of raisin
a flock of turkeys to maturity.
| is believed that there are more sma
flocks Of turkeys on farms this yea
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