Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-20
STRONGER WHEAT
POSITION IS SEEN
Foreign Buyers May Have
Overstayed Market-Russian
Shipments ProbIematicaI.
BY FRANK 1. WELLER,

Associated Press Farm Edltor.
Underlying conditions in wheat seem
to be strengthening and attracting
broader buying interest.
It is the impression in some quarters
that foreign buyers have overstayed
their market because Of too great a
reliance upon large shipments from
Russia Upon reliable advices that
country has stopped chartering and 1t
appears that production was greatly
overestimated in earlier advices.
If Russian shipments should fall OIL
sharply as estimated, either through
failure to make collections or other
causes, it would mean that North
America would be the only source that
would have a liberal supply OF wheat
available for foreign consumers. It is
evident that there is big world con-
sumption of wheat from the fact that
on passage supplies are down to only a
little more than a two weeks require
n1ent.
Wheat Arrivals Abroad.
It is reported that arrivals Of wheat
in the nine principal continental
countries since August l have totaled
26,000,000 bushels less than during the
same period last year. Regardless OF
the fact that Liverpool stocks are nearly
5000, 900 bushels, the European supply
of wheat is admittedly light. The United
Kingdom is experiencing maximum
pressure of supply, but the continental
demand for wheat should become more
important.
Russian clearanceS for the last week
are placed at $4,000 bushels, indicat-
ing wheat shipment from that country
from August l are more than 48,000,-
900 bushels, against 100000 for the
same time last year. How important 1t
is that Russia may be reaching lower
level in export trade is seen in the fact
that the United States since July has
exported only 29,348,oOO bushels of
wheat including flour, which leaves a
balance of 29,650,000 still available for
export.
domestic bullish factors center
around reports of reduced acreage in
1882, unfavorable planting conditions
for the new crop and increased feedlng
of wheat to live stock.
Despite the recent favorable rains IN
the Southwest it is said that about 15,-
O0O,0 900 acres of the Winter wheat ter
ritory is off to the poorest start with
the smallest moisture reserve ever
known. Moisture in September was
only 69-100th of an inch in Dodge City,
Kans.-only one-third average. This
followed half average rainfall In July
and August. Moisture reserves, to get
the soil in shape and carry the crop
OAANoS
months.
Hot, dry weather also is favorable to
the activity of wireworms. This pest
eats the wheat seed before it is sprouted
and unless rain comes its deprecations
are effective 1t has been estimated
that from so to 10 per cent Of the
Winter wheat seeded in the Dodge City
district has been lost through dry
weather and the wireworm.
May Be Acreage Reduction.
Identical conditions are said to pre-
vail over a territory in Western Kansas,
which harvested 100000 acres of
wheat this year; over 100000 acres In
Colorado, 100000 acres in Northwest
Texas, 100000 acres in Western
Oklahoma and 100000 acres in West
ern Nebraska.
In addition, it has been pointed out
that there may be a reduction in
acreage sufficient ordinarily to produce
200, 600, 900 bushels of wheat.
With the time for successful seeding
rapidly passing, live stock consumption
of wheat Is proceeding at high rate.
In August farmers near Dodge City
could truck wheat to Arkansas for live
stock feed at SO cents a bushel, against
a local trade price Of about % cents
They could truck into Nebraska for
go cents a buShel and bring back pigs
to feed their local wheat. Since nearly
all the wheat belt except Illinois and
Indiana is in a territory with a poor
corn and feed crop, live stock conSump-
ton of wheat is making tremendous
inroadS into the Nations wheat supply.
Coincidentally, commission house
sentiment remains distinctly favorable
to higher level of prices. Some say
that by May, Chicago May wheat will
sell for at least 70 cents bushel. Right
now domestic wheat markets maintain
a firm tone influenced by relatively
light receipts, stronger foreign markets,
better export inquiry and fairly active
mill demand. The smallest movement
on the crop was reported at Kansas
City, where outshipments amounted to
nearly twice the arrivals. Prices adj
yanced 3 to cents, with ordinary
protein, No. l, hard Winter quoted in
that market at AZ to a. cents