The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-27
Stronger Demand foreseen for
Chief FIGURING Grain as Re-
suit Of New Factors
SLIGHT LIFT IN BUTTERFAT
Arrival Of Southern Potatoes
Checks Chances Of Advance;
Cattle Are Going Up
BY REX E.

vi .
North Dakota Agricultural College
Industrial production in February
averaged about the same as January.
and general business activities. as In
dicated by a loadings and employ
ment, have not advanced materially
from the relatively low level for the
entire month of last December. A fac
tor which may tend to restrain the
beneficial influences Of cheap money
is the decline in agricultural prices,
which Is tending to lower the money
income Of farmers below their in
comes at this time last year.
The average of representative COM
modities was 135 for the first week
of March, compared to 1873 for the
first week Of February and lat for q
year ago. The general level of farm
prices received by producers declined
three points. from an index Of l34 on
January Is to 13l February Is. COM
pared with 1876 a year ago. Prices re-
ceivcd by producers in North Dakota
for farm products are estimated to
have decreased from an index Of l25
February Is to ia March IS. The
index Of prices paid by farmers for
commodities bought stands at 155,
compared to l56 last year.
Wheat
Easier credit and sterilization of
the general price level will eventually
result In q stronger demand for wheat.
The world supply of wheats March l
was approximately zoe. 1000 600 bushels
than the available supply q year ago.
but q reduction in demand and q
worldwide decline in the general
price level have depressed prices be-
low the level Of q year ago, when the
supply was unusually large. The
amount Of wheat remaining in the
United States is a little larger. but the
surplus In the southern hemisphere is
considerably less than a year ago. The
visible wheat supply is still 81, 000. 900
bushels in excess CT a year ago.
Flax
Flax prices have continued to de-
cline from the high point reached in
December, and February Is the aver
age price received by producers Of
flaxseed In North Dakota was $2.76
per bushel. This is estimated to have
decreased to $2.5S per bushel on
March is. Commercial stocks of flax
seed In the United States and Canada
February l were e.. 900 bushels below
stocks at the same time last year, and
4.48l 900 below those Of 1928.
Potatoes
Shipments Of southern-grown po-
tAtoes from now Oh arc generally ex-
pected to be in larger volume than
last year. This would tend to prevent
any such marked advance In the price
Of old potatoes as took place after
April In the 1e26-27 season. unless
there Is q falling off In the shipments
Of northern>grown potatoes. The aver
age prices received for potatoes by
producers In North Dakota February
IS wa 4125 per bushel. This was es-
timated to have decreased to $l.20 per
busbel March Is.
Cattle
Mo1c0Ll0nS pOlnt 70 increasing sup
plies OF fed cattle during the next
three months. Shipments Of stocker
and feeder cattle from II markets into
seven feeding states were 70 per cent
larger In February this year than last,
and for January and February 50 per
cent larger. The average price re-
ceived by producers Of cattle in North
Dakota February Is was $40 per
hundredweight. This was estimated to
have increased to $50 per hundred
weight March Is.
Hogs
With the cold storage situation
stronger than q year ago and no ma
terial increase In supplies W last
year indicated, the level Of hog prices
y likely to continue near current