The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-09-10
PRICES FOR BUTTER
Higher But CATTLE
DROP 10 PER CENT
Farmers Union Terminal Report
Finds Grain Income Re-
duces Buying
FEED RELIEVED BY RAINS
Corn Out of Frost Danger, But
Much Of Crop Merely Max
ing Fodder

Buying power of the farmers of the
northwest will be considerably lower
from the 1880 crops than from those
Of 1929, a survey by the Farmers
Union Terminal association indicates.
"The purchasing power of agricul-
ture in the northwest, however, will
be very spotted" the Farmers Union
survey finds. THE buying power OF
Minnesota farmers will be much
larger, as a whole, than in other Sec
tions of the northwest, but not equal
to 1929.
with indications that Minnesota
will have q large corn crop n salts
factory yields of wheat, oats and most
other small grains, the ability OF
farmers of the Gopher state to make
purchases will measure up nearly to
the levels of a year ago. Corn prices
are nearly as high as a year ago.
However, there will be decreases in
the buying power If wheat, rye, bar
ley and other grains because OF the
price situation.
Rains Relieve Feed
I'm the eastern tier of counties OF
North Dakota the situation is some-
what the same as in Minnesota,
except that the extremely low price
for small grain1 will have a much
greater effect In decreasing purchas-
ing power.
I'm western North Dakota and
Montana, the purchasing power Of the
farmers will be reduced substantially.
The reduction in the yields OF grain in
this territory lyill not be so effective
as the declines in grain and livestock
prices as compared with q year ago.
Recent rains have to a large extent
relieved the feed situation, at least
temporarily. -
"The terminal market prices OF
grains range from slightly above SO
per cent Of the 1929 levels for rye to
about 80 per cent, except for the corn
prices. The country elevator price,
however, is proportionately lower, as
the same freight, transportation and
handling charges prevail as when
prices we're at the levels OF q year ago.
Taking grains. for example. spring
bread and durum wheat are only
about 60 per cent of the levels of a
year ago; rye, hardly half the 1929
price at country points, while barley
and oats are around 70 per cent Of
the price Of a year ago.
Cattle A'rices 60 Per Cent
Cattle prices are only from so to
70 per cent of the averages OF a year
ago, while hog price levels are about
IS per cent and lamb prices at the
lowest quotations in many years.
Butter prices. while substantially
above the low levels of a few months
ago, are Is to 20 per cent below q year
ago and storage stocks are higher.
though the rate of increase has been
decreased by drouth and pasture con-
ditions.
For the first half of 1880 cattle
prices. as reported by the Montana
department of agriculture, averaged
9.74 compared with $11.04 in 1929 and
$1O.69 in 1928.
Harvesting has been completed in
most sections of the northwest and
threshing is well along except in the
northern sections. Flax is mostly out
and some threshed.
Corn Out of Danger
I'm most sections of Minnesota and
North Dakota corn is out Of danger
Of frost. but much of it Is being cut
for fodder in North Dakota and
northern Minnesota.
Potato digging is we'll under way
and the crop is light in most sections.
Recent rains have improved the
grass, but pastures still are dry and
need moisture badly. Heavy rains
are needed in nearly all sections OF
the northwest If fall blowing is to be
accommodated