The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-10
HOG PRICES FOUND
TORUNIN CYCLEOF
HIGH CAUSING Low
AbnormalIy Profitable Season
Tends to Demoralize Bust
ness, Bring Loss
MARKET SYSTEM SOUGHT
Orderly Selling Periods May
Help Correct Situation
Planning Body Says

Hog producers lose, in the long run,
from an abnormally high market
price" is the observation Of Prof. J. II.
5hepperd. of the North Dakota Agri-
cultural college. Professor Sheppcrd,
Who is a member of the national
board of swine production policy, re-
turned recently from the initial meet
ing of the organization held at Ch-
cage. Dec. q and %. The board,
which is composed Of IS selected on
each million hogs marketed wlthih
the basis Of one committeeman LOT
a state, is concerned with the tariff
on hogs and pork, foreign markets.
orderly marketing, the commission
and hog price ratio, desirable market
types, honest advertising OF the use
Of pork products and legislation al
fecting pork producers. :.
Comparing the prices with the total
weight of hogs slaughtered each sea-
son during the last six years, q sur
vey made by Samuel r. Guard. Chi
cago, shows that, on the average, an
increase OF 100000 hogs slaughtered
reduced prices two dollars per hum
dred weight. It is also pointed out
that while 100000 hogs during a
hog year would sell for total of
about 81, 200 900 900, whereas 5O,OOO,OOO
hogs would sell for only about $780,
100000.
Corn is a vital factor in hog pro-
6uction, asserted Mr.. Sheppcrd, who
says:
'These are doubtless stubborn facts,
but another set of figures are linked
with them, and this is the supply OF
corn produced during season. With
a big corn crop at hand. the grower
must take a low price for it or mar
ket q considerable proportion Of 1t as
pork. Therefore, there are two factors
in the problem and 1t becomes cor
respondingly complicated. What prof.
iteth hog producer to hold down
the number of hogs to 10000, 1000 and
obtain 5000 900 greater income
from them and have glut Of corn
grain which will reduce the total
value of that commodity 100000
D00?"
That an excessive price brings the
man into the hog business who can
not produce pork at q moderate
price, was brought out by Professor
Shepperd. The result of this is over
production and q glut, he stated, with
the high producer being forced out
OF business while the regular pro-
Queer who continues must suffer from
the resulting low price.
Orderly marketing and the dis.
tribution OF information to retain
dealers can remedy the situation
according to Professor Shepherd. In
this manner. lamb feeders In Colo
RADIO, Wyoming and Nebraska stimu-
lated a breaking price and, by ex-
pending $4,000 in studying and ad-
vertising, saved a quarter Of mil
lion dollars in lambs sold." he said.
He pointed out that this was q
rather simple case, however, since
the lambs were assembled in the feed
lots around few shipping points, but
1t illustrates the fact that the packer
does best on a steady market with q
small range in price.
THE committee realizes" said Pro-
fessor Shepperd, that it is not an
easy task to straighten out the hog
cycle and that it will be matter
Of placing the facts before the pro-
ducers and of trying to induce them
to cooperate to their mutual advan-
.age."
Four of the 26 men comprising the
organization. which is to hold two
meetings every year, are connected
with agricultural colleges and two are
connected with agricultural colleges
and two are editors of livestock
papers. The rest arc hog producers
The chairman and vice chairman are
dirt farmers and will represent the
organization before committees Of
congress If called upon to do so.