Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-01-03
SPUD ACREAGE
WILL BE REDUCED
IN COMING YEAR
Low Price This Year Laid to Over
Production Report by Agricul-
tural Department.
POTATOES MAKE SLIGHT
ADVANCE BUT ARE SLOW
Fruit Growers Prospects Brighter
Than Those of the Vegetable
Growers i'm 1928.

CHANGING backward over 1928, po--
tato growers probably realize that
acreage and production were greater
than necessary and prices were not
entirely satisfactory. In fact, the
returns in some sections were ex-
tremely low. Increased total produc-
ton of apples was accompanied by
fairly good prices in the east and
north, but rather moderate returns in
the west, where heavy crops were
harvested. The grape season was very
unsatisfactory in California, but east
ern and northern producers Jared rea-
sonably we'll Onions and cabbage
hold stong position, because of re-
duced paintings in the east and the
relatively light supplies on hand.
Sweet potatoes are in much more
favorable position than last season.
Production of peaches and pears was
| greatly increased over the light crops
of 1927 with a corresponding drop in
prices. More citrus fruit also is avail
! able this winter. The year 1928 may
be characterized as a year when
fruit and vegetable crops, in general,
were heavier than necessary to sup
ply the market requirements, and re-
duced acreages of most products
would seem advisable for 1929. In
line with this policy, it is of interest
to note that growers of early potatoes
in the south apparently intend to
plant about thirty per cent less acres
to this crop than was used in 1929.
Combined shipments of the leading
products during late December drop
ped to an average of only 1900 car
loads daily, but were reduced to $50
cars per day, during the holiday lull,
and apples and oranges filled only 200
or 225 cars daily. Potato prices adj
vanced slightly in some sections be-
fore the endsof the year. Onions
were firm to higher, and cabbage
closed sharply in advance of the mid
December levels. Trading was rather
limited in most markets and probably
will not show much improvement un-.
til the middle of January. Southern
truck crops become more active after
the first of the year, and volume of
carlOt shipments gradually increases.
Early Potato Acreage Reduced.
Growers of early potatoes report
intentions of decreasing acreage 80
per cent from that of last year. The
growers who reported planted 67,4OO
acres of potatoes last season, or about
a fifth of the total acreage of COM
mercial early potatoes in eleven
southern and eastern states. They
report intentions to plant only 47,1OO
acres this season. The proposed re-
duction in acreage appears to be dis
tributed among growers of both large
and small acreages in all of the i'm
portant early potato states. The in
tended reduction by states as to per-
centage is as follows: Florida $780,
Texas 26, Alabama "a. Louisiana u.s.
Georgia Al, South Carolina A, North
Carolina 35, Arkansas 10, Oklahoma
43, Virginia %, and Maryland %.
This is not forecast of the acreage
that will actually be planted, but is
simply an indication of what farmers
had in mind at the time they made
their report
Potato prices were tending slightly
upward, and some encouragement was
felt by growers and shippers over the
improvement of the market tone.
Though the f. o. b. price in western
New York on sacked round whites
was still Csc per 100 pounds, the level
for Green Mountains in northern
Maine was soc and the north central
region was firm to higher at 6Sc-SOc
Minnesota shipping districts, however,
were dull. Russell Burbanks strength
ened in southern Idaho to 75c-SOc
| cash track. The shipping point range
in Colorado was mostly 6Oc-65c and
western Nebraska growers were hold
ing for higher prices. Idaho RufBets
were doing better in the Chicagoscar-
lot market at $1.6O-$1.SO, while
northern Round Whites ranged Sic
$780,. Eastern potatoes still were
jobbing generally at $1.15-$1.5O.
New stock from Bermuda declined in
New York City to $7.00-$75O per
barrel and Washington reported Texas
sacked Triumphs at $500 per 100
pounds. Florida Bliss Triumphs
brought So per bushel in the capital
city.