The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-08-09
THINKS N.D.FARMERS
POSITION FAVORABLE,
With FUTURE Bright
Secretary MiIIoy Sees No Gen.
eraI Crop Shortage With Bal.
anced Production an Aid

O~F s06O vSsss oos~
anced Production an Aid
Fargo. N. D., Aug. 9.-The position
OF the North Dakota farmer today is
more favorable than at anytime dur
ing n past year, James S. MlllOy,
secretary of the Greater North Da-
kota association, declared today in
a~nalyzing the farm situation. His
statement is based on results Of a
survey made in cooperation with on
an appraisal of the relationship OF
the nationwide drought to farming
trends in this state.
Highlights of the viewpoints x
pressed in the statement are:
Advantages accruing from current
conditions of agriculture throughout
the nation are going to be reflected
during the next few years to North
Dakota producers who have been
working into a balanced type OF pro-
duction.
There is no general feed shortage in
North Dakota, no likelihood Of any
depletion of farm flocks or herds and
every indication that North Dakota
farmers will make substantial returns
from finishing ther cattle. hogs, sheep
and poultry.
A few weeks ago there was a gap Of
about IL cents between current but
terfat prices and the satisfactory
prices of midsummer 1929; this week
this gap has been reduced to three or
four cents and competent observers
expect it to be entirely wiped out In
the very near future.
There Is every indication Of a re.
turn to satisfactory and profitable
prices for eggs and poultry before
North Dakota's 1880 poultry crop Is
marketed. :
The states wheat crop will amount
to around 90, o 900 bushels as COM
pared with $4,000, 900 bushels last
year, with this years crop costing
much less to produce and current
price trends more favorable.
Where the Honey Is
"It has been said so frequently in
recent years of low cash return, that
returns on grain are not as vital to
North Dakota as in the past, that 1t
rounds somewhat stereotype to repeat
it but 1t certainly stands repetition
right now" Mr.. Milloy declared. THE
unhappy development Of the depres-
sion in farm prices of the past year
was the drop in butterfat, poultry,
beef. pork. mutton. wool, etc. 1t cast
q temporary doubt over the wisdom
of further expansion in this direction.
Within 30 days we find the situation
correcting itself and a situation de-
veloping, as q result of the nation
wide drought, that promises splendid
returns from diversified farming for
the next few years.
THE United States had between
81 1000, 900 and $4,000, 900 cattle be-
tween 1920 and 1926. Then the num-
Der fell off to about 100000 with
subsequent gains recorded during the
past two or three years until we
reached $4,000, 900 January l. 1880,
still about 10000, 900 short Of lo2o.I
Undoubtedly the extended drought
will arrest the trend toward an in
crease. Milk COWS in the United States
January l., 1880 numbered almost
identical with 1925 so it seems inevita-
BILE that the number in 1881 and 1882
will be lower than at any time during
the past decade. Swine at the be-
ginning Of this year numbered 15,0OO,-
600 less than in 1923 and 1924 so that
1881 and 1892 will probably be well
below any year of the previous dec
ade. The trend toward an increase IN
the number of sheep in the country,
evident since 1921 and 1923, will no
doubt be checked. You cannot have
such a widespread drought n not
have a depletion of farm flocks and
herds in stricken areas for the en-
suing two or thre years. Unfortunate
as 1t is, one cannot help noting that
It will help the North Dakota farmer.
No Food Shortage
1--WE have just completed q survey
Of practically every county in the
state and there seems no acute feed
shortage anywhere. Where any short
age may develop later in a few iso-
lated sections, there is ample supply
close at hand. We al experience a
reduction in our barley returns as
compared to the 5l,702,000 bushels
predicted by the federal government
July / and still be well above the
average of the past 10 years which
was 81 GAO 900 bushels. There will be
an expansion of feeding out livestock
in some parts of eastern North Da-
kota, with present prices OF feeders
and an anticipated shortage of fin
ished livestock, influencing farmers
who can to branch out in tbs direc-
ton.
Our survey also reveals that the
wheat crop will amount to around
90. OOO. 900 bushels and it may be even
closer to last years production OF 49,
OO0, 900. It would seem that the July
figure for flax acreage was
high, nevertheless the state will likely
be above the average total production
Of 10,307. 900 bushels. 1t is true that
the grain crops are mighty thin IN
some localities but they are better
than average in fully one fourth CT
the state"