The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-05-01
EUROPE'SI INDUSTRY
ABNORMALLY LOW
AFFECTING US TOO
Farm Prices in This Country
Decline, While Demand for
Wheat Is Up Slightly
LAMB OUTLOOK is HOPEFUL
Not Much Chance for Cattle to
Rise; Flax Prospects De.
pend on linseed Oil
BY Rex E. willard, Farm Economist,
North Dakota Agricultural College

North Dakota Agricultural College
The seasonal upward trend in bust
ness activity has occurred but the ex-
tent of the increase is much less than
a year ago and the general level Of
business activity is considerably low
er than last year. Industrial activity
in European countries is abnormally
low and commodity prices have
dropped materially and unemploy-
ment is increasing. To assist in Off
setting this depressed situation, in
terest rates. have been. lowered and
credit conditions are easy so far as
industry is concerned. Construction
Of public buildings has increased but
construction in other lines is still In
a slump. Automobile production has
increased seasonally, but the monthly
production va some 10000 cars
fewer for March, 1890, than for
March, 1923.
Carload shipments Of freight are
fewer for the first quarter of 1880,
compared with the same period a year
ago. Most indications point to a very
general depression. world wide In ex-
tent, and recovery from this situation
will be slow and gradual. The de-
mand situation for farm products for
the next crop probably will not be as
port for February.
Farm products prices In the United
States declined In March and the
general level was about the amt April
Is as March is.
Wheat
World wheat supplies have not
changed materially, but the world
demand apparently has increased
slightly. 1t seem probable that the
July l carryover of wheat in the Unit
ed States will be about the same as
that of 1929. II the crop this year
comes through on the basis Of present
indications, next years surplus will be
about the am as for the past crop
year. The world acreage Of winter
wheat as reported for IS countries is
4 of l per cent less than that of last
year.
Because Of the industrial depression,
the probable demand for linseed oil
for the coming crop in the United
States is likely to be considerably less
than for tlac. last.two or three years.
If the March l intentions for plant
ing flax. (35 per cent ~increase) are
greatly exceeded and a crop much
better than average is made. there Is
some danger that Unitd States may
produce more flax than will be con-
sund in this country.
Potatoes
Any material increase in potato
acreage in 1880 will tend to depress
prices. Early potatoes are already
coming to market in greater quanti-
ties than a year ago. Large growers
generally indicate a tendency to cut
down while small growers indicate
probable increased paintings.
Cattle
Supplies of cattle in April and May
are expected to exceed those of a year
ago and it Is doubtful that the num-
her of unfinished cattle to the coun-
try will continue at the relatively high
rate of recent months: the general
trend in cattle prices is likely to be
downward, In consequence.
Hogs
Relatively low corn prices are like
" to influence some feeders to market
their hogs at heavier weights and this
may delay the spring marketing of
fall pigs. Slaughter in January and
February was somewhat heavier than
a year Ago.. European conditions in
-dicate a less favorable export situation
for pork for the next few months.
Cold storage holdings are about IL
per cent less. than in 1929 and about
3 per cent less than the five-year
average. Lard stocks are about II
per cent less than a year ago.
Lambs
Supplies of lambs continued ex-
.essive in March, the inspected
slaughter being 80 per cent greater
than that OF a year ago and 80 per
cent greater than the five-year aver
age. Slaughter for the first three
months of 1880 was the greatest Of
any period on record. Supplies are
likely to be nor nearly normal by