Evening star., 1928-12-12
CORN CROPS HELD
BEST FARM RELIEF
Survey Shows Middle West
Has Benefited Greatly
by Recent Yield.
BY ]. C. ROYLE.

NEW YORK, December 12.-The city
businessmen and the political cartoon
lists are giving far more thought to
legislative measures of farm relief to-
day than the corn belt farmer, al
though farm-relief bill has been placed
before Congress.
Things are far different in the corn
growing States than when Iowa and
other commonwealths were burning corn
in their furnaces as cheaper than coal.
The prosperity of the corn belt is
built on corn feed to livestock and a
big crop of corn means security to the
farmer of that locality. Texas has
taken this lesson to heart and is feed
ing, not selling corn.
Conditions Held Satisfactory.
According to the review of the situa-
ton by the Corn Belt Farm Dailies,
recognized statistical authority, the
corn belt harvested a big crop, prac-
tically all corn matured, and yields were
very satisfactory. This authority goes
on to say that corn in the crib IS a
bankable asset which will not easily
deteriorate, and every ear of which can
be used to produce meat for food need
ed by this and other countries. 1t
is not asserted that this crop will wipe
out all farm Indebtedness, but it is as
serted that corn is wealth and the big
crop has afforded measure of farm re-
lief.
Total yield of corn this year is placed
at 1895, 100000 bushels, as against a
five-year average of 2,775,634o00. The
carry-over, according to Government
figures, amounted to only 54,00O000
bushels, compared with five-year av-
erage of 121, 100000. Foreign produc-
ton, according to the Government fig
ures, is smaller than it has been in
years. A very considerable amount of
corn will be sold from the 1928 crop
direct to foreign countries, although OF
course the major part of the crop will
be marketed in the form of meat.
While direct farm relief is not regard
ed as practicable by many farmers,
that is, through legislative enactment.
many Of them do count on some al
teration in the tariff at this session
of Congress. If not at this session, they
expect it next year, basing this belief on
President-elect Hoover's statement that
"an adequate tariff is the foundation
of farm relief"
Hogs Sales Large.
Hogs have been marketed in large
quantities. This has caused a decided
drop in hog prices, but there are many
indications that production of these
animals has been lower than antlclpat-
ed. Such situation is bound to make
itself felt shortly and many excellent
Judge; predict price advances for hogs
by or shortly after the end of the year.
The situation of the packers also
has its bearing on the price situation.
Early this year the packers filled their
storage warehouses with the cheapest
pork they had seen for four years. But
they failed to take into full considera-
ton the huge carry-over from the
slaughterings of the previous two years.
Much of the surplus stock has been dis
sipated, but it is understood some still
/, remains.
Foreign demand has been fair, but
hardly better than that The economic
situation in Europe is rapidly irnprov-
ing, however, and this inevitably means
larger demand for American pork
products. Another factor affecting the
hog fatteners of the Middle West is the
tendency of Eastern packers to fill their
requirements near home. This they can
do, since the movement of live stock by
truck has reached big proportions. All
this, however, evenS itself up before the
season is over.
The feeding of cattle is yielding fine
| returns to the corn grower. Movement
Of stockerS and feeders into the Mid
western feed lots has been steady, but
the number of beef animals available
for slaughter is small and the ratio OF
| corn prices to finished cattle prices has
been advantageous for the corn grow
| er and feeder, despite the recent de-
cline in the beef market.
Feeding of Lambs.
Feeding of lambs, especially in the
intermountain and Far West, not only
is assuming large proportions, but is
| proving most profitable. There are
many animals headed for market, but
the public in recent years has learned
| to appreciate lamb as food and the
demand is insistent. Horse raisers are
| finding splendid market for theil
stock, and there is a scarcity of draught
animals, despite the introduction OF
power machinery and tractors.