Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-10-16

Normal 'AcreaQe
OF Winter Wheat
Is Being SCUM
Farmers Optimistic for Up
turn World Depression,
Keep Sowing

St. Paul-Notwithstanding pre-
vailing low prices, normal acreages
of winter wheat are being seeded
in Montana though dry weather in
the Southwest has somewhat cur-
tailed the planting of winter wheat
crops in Oklahoma and Nebraska, the
Farmers Union Terminal Association
reports in its weekly review.
"Any real tests of whether wheat
is to be curtailed in the Northwest
cannot come until April, as the bulk
of wheat produced in this territory
is sown in the spring." the review
says. Farmers show a desire to cur
tail acreage of wheat, but seek in
formation as to what to plant. With
flax and other grain nearly all at low
prices, it is difficult for farmers to
find any crops that promise profits.
Farmers are beginning to increase
their feeding of wheat to livestock.
In the southern part of Minnesota
farmers have turned to mixing wheat
and oats and are using wheat instead
of higher price bran. During the past
few weeks there has been a decided
trend toward the holding Of wheat
to be used as feed.
"Dry weather has hampered field
work in many districts. For less
than the normal acreage of land has
been plowed because Of the lack
of moisture. With grain harvesting
completed except for scattered fields
of flax and late crops, the digging of
potatoes and sugar beets is occupy
ing the attention of producers. Gener-
ally the potato crop is below "
age. The sugar beet crop is spotted,
with some Montana districts report
ing the best crop in years, while in
some Minnesota districts the yields
are small.
"In many districts feed conditions
are much better than forecasts indi-
cate that they would be a few weeks
ago. Pastures generally are fair il
the Northwest and in a number Of
districts there are some surplusses
of hay above requirements. In some
cases cattle will be moved from west
ern districts to North Dakota anud
| Minnesota feed lots where there is
sufficient feed.
"The feed situation is so much i'm
proved and the fall weather has been
so favorable to date that there is
little likelihood that there will be
any distress selling of livestock. Pas
lures are expected to provide suffi-
cient feed until snow falls and with
wheat, rye, barley and oats as cheap
as they are, these grains will be sub
stituted for feeding purposes.
"The movement of grain to market
has been slowed down considerably
in recent weeks, due largely to the
low prices prevailing. Should grain
prices improve, a good deal of wheat
would be started to the terminals.
"The demand for loans for grain
stored in country terminals, Twin cit
les and Duluth terminals and on
farms in fairly heavy. However, the
number Of dollars required to fl
nance these loans are comparatively
few when the volume in bushels is
considered. Cooperative marketing
associations are making loans of
about 70 per cent Of net value of
grain. This means that only about
40 cents a bushels can be loaned on
wheat in the country as compared
with more thar 81 a bushel a year
ago. The amount per bushel is so
small in many cases, that the pro-
ceeds of a loan are not sufficient to
pay a farmers labor, store and other
bills, so that he sells at low prices.