Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-12
FARM AID DEPENDS
ON G0ODF|NANC|NG
Quick Relief Needed in Agrl-
cultural Sections Affected
by Drought.
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.
,.ciaI pispatch to The Star,

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, August Farm relief
this season resolves itself into prob
lem of transportation and one of ener-
gency financing in isolated sections OF
the country.
The Government crop reports show
that there will be ample food produced
to take care of the needs of live stock
and more than ample for all human
requirements. But the task is to get
grains into districts where an animal
population of 100000 is faced with a
local shortage.
1t is this problem which IL State
Governors, in conference with President
Hoover and the Federal Farm Board,
will seek to solve during the present
week. Railroads already have come
forward with voluntary offers to do
whatever is asked of them in meeting
the crisis.
Corn Situation.
The situation in corn is shown by the
crop report to border on a catastrophe
in large sections of the country. States
hardest hit are Indiana, Illinois. Ohio,
Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia,
West Virginia and Arkansas.
Within one month a drop of 581 ,000,-
600 bushels occurred in the prospective
crop and the Department OF Agriculture
estimates that an additional 10O,0O0,0O0
bushels has been lost since August l. A
yield of 100000 900 and crop condi-
ton of 81 per cent are eStimated-both
the lowest since 1901.
However, there is an abundance OF
wheat, oats and barley. Production OF
all wheat is set at 800, 900 bushels,
compared with 807, 100000 bushels pro-
duced last year. There Is a carry-over
of nearly 250,000,000 bushels from pre-
viouS crop SURPRISES and the country u
glutted with this cereal. On price par
ity with corn, it profitably can be fed to
live stock and 100,000,000 bushels easily
could be diverted to this use. Even in
droughth-Stricken sections, the wheat
crop has been normal.
Oats Production.
It is the same story with oats-an
important feed crop. While production
is estimated to have slipped 100000
bushels during July, it still is nearly
00,000,000 bushels over year ago at
1876, 1863, 900 bushels. At the same time
pastures are in the poorest condition in
so years and the hay crop the shortest
in 10 years
The Government concludes that "con-
sidering both acreage and yield, the in
dications point to about the usual sup
ply of food crops, but a shortage of feed
crops, both grain and hay. for feeding"
Farmers Plight.
This makes the situation anything
but pleasant for farmers in general,
particularly those engaged in live stock
production and in dairying. While the
live stock population of the country at
present is set at per cent below the
10-year average, prices are low. Cattle
are at the lowest level in four years,
about $6 hundredweight under year
ago. Hogs are So below last year, and
sheep are down Sc to 81 and at the
lowest level in IA years.
In the face of this price situation. the
grower is called upon to use high-priced
corn to fatten his animals. Hay is short
and high-priced, and lack of pasturage
is forcing Winter rations in many dis
tricts during the middle of Summer.
This involves increased cost, aggravated
in some of the States by water short
age which is forcing long-distance cart
ing of that highly necessary commodity
in order to keep stock supplied
It is this situation which President
Hoover feels needs the attention of the
Governors, in order to prevent forced
marketing of animals and general
impairment Of the country's live stock
supplies.