The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-09-28
MORE WOE FOR WHEAT FARMERS
Bv LELAND OLDS. Federated Press


This years record wheat crop comes just in time to
convince farmers that the capitalist political parties
won't solve the agricultural problem After 7a years
of promises the republican administrators have left
the wheat growers the mercy of surplus production
Capitalist editors console farmers for low prices by
saying that the great bread crop represents wonder
full public service But agriculture not continue
philanthropcaly the verge of bankruptcy without
threatening famine to the city civilization which has
grown on its back.
The Canadian wheat pools have cut their first pay
ment on the 1928 crop to 85c bushe This does not
that members of the pools will receive 80 cents
bushe for their wheat for there will undoubtedly be
interim and final payments in the past But it does
that this years production has forced
reduction of Is in the old 81 minimum contract
price The Canadian farmers central selling agency
controls 6096 of the Canadian output.
President A. j. McPhail of the Saskatchewan Wheat
Pool and the Canadian Cooperative Wheat Producers,
announcing the cut says The fact that it has been
considered necessary to lower the initial payment to
SIS cents and to abandon the level which has obtained
since the formation of the central selling agency is
regrettable. Nevertheless in a year like this when
there is probability that there would be more wheat
harvested in Canada than in any previous year, is of
the very greatest Importance that the pool place itself
in the strongest possible financial condition"
In the past three months, according to the New York
60 cents bushel The weight of the crop has discour
aged speculation and held the price at low levels The
Journal says "To that encouragement to buying the
McPhai statement not of forecast but of market
condition affecting Clio of the Canadian CROP is re-
garded adding especial source of depression al
though the pool will heretofore doubtless realize
turns much above its inside buying price and spread
them in premium payments the year. The re-
duction, however, places the street or farm price of
wheat average at around 20 cents-a prewar level
The farmer in the United States, with no dominant
cooperative organization like the Canadian wheat
pools, cannot expect additional premium payments
Forced to sell his wheat to the big elevator companies
milling concerns, spectators and other financial inter-
ests, any future rise in the market will go to these
capitalists
Canadas wheat CROP" says the Wall Street Journal
sis estimated at 550482OOO bushels against 44O-
100000 year ago. The September estimate of the IT,
S. crop was 901000,OOO bushels against 873OOOOOO.
The two countries, therefore have an estimated pro
ducton of 1,451 100000 bushels or about 900
more than year ago. The figures points to an enor-
nous exportable surplus of wheat in North America
It is estimated that 10 countries of Europe not in
GLIDING Russia will produce ,25500O,OOO bushels as
against 1170000,O00 bushels of wheat year ago The
international institute of agricultural economies at
Rome adds that Russas crop will exceed last years
The worlds wheat farmers have done too we'll and nm
der the existing system must suffer reduced return
for their pains.
The republican department of agriculture is desper
ately giving the farmers advice in place of The ma
chnery for surplus control for which they asked Act
ing Secretary Dunlap admits that farmers who sell
their grain now when the price has been driven down
by enormous excess production, will lose any gains
which may come if increased world consumption pro.
Vldes market for the surplus He urges wheat grow.
ers equipped to do hold their crops on the chance
that better prices will develop
This is mere campaign piffle Economists aorae
tnat farmers operating Individual basis are a,
tne mercy of their surplus production and that the
marketing of the crop in the interest of the producers
can De controlled only a national basis