Milford chronicle., 1930-08-15
FEED SHORTAGE
DUE TO PRESENT
SEVERE DROUGHT
Hay Crop Is The Smallest
In Years; Corn Reduced
Forty Or Fifty Per Cent
Or Even More.

cast by Alexander Legge. Chairman,
Federal Farm Board over radio sta
tion WIS. Chicago, ILL.,, at 12:45, day
light saving time, Monday, August A.
19SO)
"The present severe drought has
reached a point where the shortage
of feed and forage threatens serious
losses to livestock growers and
dairymen over a wide area. The hay
crop is the smallest we have had in
years. In some sections the corn
crop will he reduced 40 to so per
cent or even more. Hay stocks are
being led out, and the prospect Tor
sufficient winter supplies Of feed is
not encouraging. Under these cOhdi-
tions there is danger that farmers
will dispose of beef cattle and dairy
animals at a sacrifice. If this move
ment is not headed. off it may mean
that a large number of animals in
poor condition will ne forced on the
livestock markets, and still lower
levels of livestock prices.
while this situation has been de-
veloping we have been faced for
some weeks with an excessive car
ry-over of wheat, with continued low
wheat prices. Receipts at several
of the terminal markets have con-
tinued to break all records, despite
the fact that if the average grower
would carry what he now has on
hand over to the next season he
would have a supply at price sub
stantially less than it would cost
him to produce an equal number OF
bushels in 1881.
"There is bsolutely no relief pos
sible from lis situation through any
of the plans that have been suggest
ed contemplating the disposal of the
surplus abroad at prices below the
domestic level. Many of the most
important wheat importing countries
of the world now have legislation i'll
effect that could be applied to pre-
vent or penalize any such action en-
the part of the growers of this conn
try, and others are seriously consid-
ering such action AS we have eX-
actly the same legislation in effect
here to protect the American pro-
ducers, we can not reasonably COM
plain of other nations taking similar
action to protect their growers,
bearing in mind always that pract1-
cally every nation has wheat grow
ers of its own.
"The price of wheat has reached
point where we can and should con-
slider wheat from the standpoint OF
its value as a feed for livestock. The
large visible supply of wheat has
been a depressing influence on the
market. The shortage of feed crops
and forage points a way out. Much
as we may object to disposing OF
high quality wheat as feed for live
stock instead of for human con-
sumption, common sense tell; us it
is the thing to do, confronted as we
are with a national shortage of sew
eral hundred millions bushels of
corn and a surplus of wheat selling
at very low prices. We can advan-
tageously dispose of a good deal OF
this wheat as feed.
Wheat is very satisfactory feed,
particularly for cattle and hogs. AT
approximately the same price, wheat
has a higher feeding value than
corn. The Missouri Agricultural
Experiment Station states that with
corn at 85 cents, a hushel of wheat
has a livestock feeding value of
Sill.
"In general the agricultural col
leges recommend that wheat used
for feed be coarsely ground and fed
as part of a ration including silage,
forage crops, or coarse grains. or an
equivalent. Instructions as to the
best method of feeding wheat ran be
obtained by any farmer from his
County Agent, or by writing to the
agricultural college of his state. In
der existing conditions, at anything
like the present prices Of wheat and
ezra. 4 large part of the surplus
wheat can be prohtaply used as
feed for livestock.
reports are reaching us that
some farmers are selling their
wheat and buying feed. Where wheat
stocks are still on farms in live
stock producing areas, it Will he
good business to hol1 such stock
and feed them out. Local elevators
may find a ready market for wheat
as feed in the local community. The
livestock feeder who is holding up
the purchase of animals because of
the prospective corn shortage Will do
we'll TO consider the purchase of
wheat at present prices TO meet his
usual requirements 80 grain for
feeding purposes.
when herds of either beef cattle
or dairy stock are unduly depleted
by such conditions as are now
threatening, it takes years to work
back to normal position. Bankers
and business men in agricultural
communities are warranted in eX-
tending every assistance possible to |
help cattle growers and dairymen to
purchase the feed necessary to
maintain their herds. The Farm |
Board receives thousands of letters |
from business men expressing sym !
pathy for the farmer and interest in
the agricultural problem, and ask /
ing what they can do to help. By /
rendering aid to the livestock men
in this emergency they will be help
ing in a very substantial way.
"While the use of wheat for feed