Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-02-02
MANY VEGETABLES
ARE SELLING LOWER
Market Review of Fruits and
Vegetables by United States
Department of Agriculture,
Dated at Chicago Jan. 81, 1928.

Standing on the ridge between the
1927 season and the 1928 season, the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture in it's annual outlook report
takes Il glance backward over the
road which the farmer has journeyed
and long look forward over the
road of the future. PrOfiting from
the bumps and the brighter expert
ences of the past year, definite ad-
vice is given by which the grower
and shipper of farm produce may
possibly have a more pleasant and
profitable journey during the next
twelve months. Fruit and vegetable
producers are coming more and
more to modify their planting opera
tons in accordance with the agricul-
tural outlook report, and many states
now issue similar reports covering
the local situation.
Generally reduced acreage are urg-
ed for the staple vegetable crops,
if growers would increase their
chances of more profitable produc-
tion There seems to be considerable
annual danger of over-planting pO-
tatoes, cabbage and onions. The
acreage of sweet potatoes shifts more
easily, especially in the South, and
paintings of this crop probably will
be reduced as a result of last years
over production. Potato growers in
the West are particularly cautioned
to cut down their acreage of potatoes,
while producers of this crop in
northern and eastern states are urged
to think twice before carrying out
their present intended increases.
Consuming capacity of markets for
onions and cabbage is not subject
to great expansion and there seems
to be no Justification for continued
increased paintings of these crops.
Strawberry growers also face the
probability of record crop this sea-
son, with consequent lower prices.
Cantaloupe acreage needs to be
sharply reduced, at least in the early
shipping states, and smaller plant
ings of early watermelons seem ad-
visable.
Fruit production has reached a
point where it is difficult to market
these crops at satisfactory prices in
years when weather conditions are
favorable for good yields. In view
of the very heavy losses experienced
when an excessive acreage of fruit
trees is planted, it is hoped that flu
ture paintings will be influenced
more by the longtime prospects for
the fruits in question and less by
temporary conditions. Prospects are
for a marked increase in bearing
acreage of oranges and grapefruits,
and a larger increase in their pro-
duction in years when growing con-
ditions are favorable. Additional
paintings are discouraged for the
present. A repetition of the light
1927 crops of apples, peaches and
pears is not likely to occur, and
therefore heavier production of these
fruits maN be expected under normal
conditions this year. Due caution
should be observed in the setting out
of new orchards. Early relief from
the problem of marketing a very
heavy tonnage of California grapes
can be seen only in a prompt re-
duction of acreage. Increased grape
paintings in other states scarcely
seem to be justified.
During the closing week of January
potato markets were unsettled but
sweet potatoes held generally firm
Onions showed a tendency to recover
in city markets, while cabbage ex-