Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-07
FARMING INDUSTRY
ON BETTER BASIS
Outlook for Agricultural Out
put Has Shown Much
Improvement.
BY !. G.. ROYLE.

The outlook for the agricultural out
put is showing decided improvement,
according to official sources and reports
from outside authorities which we're
made available today.
Conditions are healthy and the
strength of the agricultural situation is
counted on to improve steadily through
out the next few months This does not
mean that all farmers are prosperous or
that every agriculturist will experience
profitable year, buS that the industry
In general is on flrmer footing than
it has been for good many months.
, The danger in the situation seems to
be confined to the menace of large sto-
rage stocks of wheat, meat and dairy
and poultry products. According to the
corn belt farm dailies, recognized au-
thority on agricultural matters in the
Middle West some of these stocks are
the largest record for this season of
the year. This authority points out,
however, that consumption is especially
high and that these stocks are bound
to melt throughout the coming months
despite current production. It is argued
therefore, that they do not necessarily
mean lower prices or indicate overpro-
duction.
Farmers Encouraged.
The farmers themselves are encour-
aged. Any drop in stock prices passed
them by, so far as primarily damaging
effect is concerned. They realize that
the 125,000,000 people in the country
must continue to eat despite anything
Wall Street may do. The farmer in
general is not a producer of luxuries
and consequently is not affected by any
reduction in luxury buying. should
there be any curtailment whatever of
buying-and many good judges are con-
WINGED that this will not take place.
The agricultural communities are
looking forward eagerly to determine
just what lower money rates will mean
for them. Money for cattle feeding has
been difficult to obtain in some sections
throughout the last year and the cattle
feeders hope to benefit by any i'm
provement in the volume of funds
loaned locally: Perhaps the improved
condition of the agriculturist is indi-
Gated by the difference of opinion with
regard to joining in the program out
lined by the Federal Farm Board. A
good many farmers seem to feel that
the full effect of the boards activities
will not be felt for some time to come
and they are inclined to await further
knowledge before joining enthusiastically
In any program.
oCCA PAlCCS are likely 10 commune on
pretty stable basis since the thin cat
tie sent to farms and feed lots for con-
dlt1oning from May to November showed
decrease Of 227,000 head as compared
with the corresponding period of 1928.
This indicates that there will be no ex-
traordinary rush of fat cattle to market.
Other Prices.
Hog prices have been better than they
were year ago and the ratio of the
price OF hogs to the price Of corn has
been such as to enable the feeder to
make reasonable amount. What this
means to the agricultural communities
can be judged to some extent by the
| fact that the average family in moder-
ate circumstances spends $lI846 a year
for fresh meats, $31.89 for salt meats,
$31 for poultry, $24.24 for fish, $45 .O6
for eggs, $80,45 for milk, $50.l9 for but
ter and $5l.66 for bread. according to