The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-28
Competitors Rushing to Market
With Crop Sends Price in
This Country Down
GRAIN HEAPED IN MARTS
Solution Of Problem May Lie in
Turning to More Profitable
Diversified Crops
BY A. A. APPLEGATE

What is the United States going to
do with her 200, 100000 extra bushels
of wheat?
That is what the farmers of North
Dakota and of the nation would like
to know, and that is the question they
are asking, not only of themselves,
but of their representatives in con-
gress, and Of the world in general as
WELL.
The United States faces what may
be called a wheat situation" Ordi-
narily our demand for wheat In this
country is about $4,000 900 bushels,
and our crop of that grain amounts
to $50, 600 900. We export the re-
mainder.
But to whom shall we export the
extra grain this year? The world
is overstocked with wheat, with the
elevators and storage houses the world
over packed and jammed with the
golden grains. There is no place to
put it. The fact that women are trying
to reduce has little to do with it.
There would be too much wheat If
everybody ate it. The crops have
been too heavy the world over. so far
as the farmers r concerned.
Hunger Is No Factor
Of course, there may be hunger
among some of the nations of the
world, but there would be hunger even
If the price of wheat were much lower
than it is now. Some people have not
the money to buy at any price. There
fore they IAN be counted out.
The bounteous years just past have
something to do with the price. There
has been gradually q building up OF
the stock. We have on hand about
45O, O00, 600 bushels of grain. Suppose
we have a normal crop this year OF
the usual 850. 000. 900 bushels. That
will bring our actual visible supply
up to the mark of 1900. 100000. That
is q fair sized pile of grain, and would
keep the people of the nation eating
quite a while to cause 1t to diminish
to an appreciable extent,
Canada is our nearest and greatest
competitor in wheat. She produces
for export more than SOC. O00,0 900
bushels each year. Acreage in the
dominion has expanded, and the con-
dition Of the crop Is good, SO that the
competition will be keener than ever.
Argentina and Australia contributed,
respectively, last year, 118.O00,O00
bushels and 100000 to the worlds
surplus.
Wheat at Bargain Rate
They have been rushing their wheat
to the world market, following close
upon the announcement of emergency
export rates In the United States. As
a result, there is . bargain sale on
wheat, with the American farmer,
along with the other producers Of the
world, the loser.
The big world customer in wheat
is Europe, with Great Britain the
leader, followed by Germany, italy
and France. Europe grows one-thtrd
Of the world supply Of wheat. but not
enough to feed her millions Of mouths.
The yellow wheat fields Of Austria,
Hungary. Rumania. Russia, Jugo-
slavia and Bulgaria cannot supply tho
need. India, usually m exporter, Il
contributing nothing this year to the
surplus.
The worlds production Of wheat
normally is s.soO,0oo.ooo bushels. On
hand this year on April ! were $751;
100000 bushels. Not enough ordi-
narily to cause alarm. but promises Of
bountiful harvests spell disaster In
capital letters to the producer.
Weather Holds Balance
To be sure, 1t is q long time until
fall. and there are stories Of floods
and poor crops in Texas. Oklahoma,
Kansas and Nebraska. Weather any
where holds the balance between q
surplus or . dearth, and tells whether
the farmer viii reap dollars q sor-
VOW from his toll.
Wheat acres are expeudit1l
Throughout tAl werld; ~ 1u(s!ll, y: