The Bismarck tribune., 1931-09-24
BY REX E. WILLARD
Farm Economist, North Dakota
Agricultural College

Industrial production in the U. S.
during August was at the lowest level
so far in this depression. Not un-
til the middle Of September was
there any indication of seasonal
pickup in business activity. The
Business Week shows 1-2 points
increase in general business activ-
ity In the middle week of Septem-
ber Freight car loadings showed a
slight pickup in this period. There
was some increase in building con-
tracts and in the volume of bitumin-
Gus coal production The general
level of commodity prices shows no
change, however, from one week to
the next in September.
Farm prices declined from an in
dex of 70 per cent of the pre-war
level in July to IS per cent in August
and this index has continued down.
ward somewhat into September since
the prices of cotton, wheat, hogs.
corn and potatoes have dropped still
farther The effect of declining
prices since 1928 is indicated in the
amount of total cash income to
farmers of North Dakota. In 1928,
this amounted to about 222 million
dollars; in 1929, 1876 million dollars;
in 1890, 1872 million dollars and in
1931-estimated on the basis of this
years production and price-63 mil
lion dollars.
Durum Cut in Half
The durum wheat crop amounts
to about 20 million bushels. Hard
red spring wheat amounts to about
81 million bushels, less than half of
last years crop. The winter wheat
crop Of the United States in 1881
amounts to IT'S million bushels,
which is 100 million bushels greater
than last year and about 225 million
bushels greater than the five-year
average. The hard red spring wheat
OF the United States will not be suf-
ficient to satisfy domestic require
ments and as a result hard winter
wheat will be substituted for it.
There are, however, nearly 320 mil
lion bushels Of carry-over of all
wheat In the United States so that
little is to be expected in the way of
Improvement in the general price
level of wheat.
There is some evidence of a pos
sible improvement in the flax mar
ket. The United States crop amounts
to slightly less than IL million
bushels compared to a five-year
average of 81 million bushels and
is less than last years crop by near
ly 10 million bushels. Building con-
struction may be expected in the
next IL months. The amount OF flax
produced in this country will not
meet domestic demands and large
imports over the IS cent tariff un-
doubtedly will be made in the next
nine months.
Potato Crop Is Same
The potato crop was estimated
Sept. l to be 361 million bushels, a
reduction of 10 million from the
August estimate but compares with
343 million bushels produced last
year and five-year average of 3ol
million bushels. If the general ten
dency is the same in the next six
months as 1t has been in the past,
next springs prices for potatoes are
not likely to be higher than those Of
this fall.
The average farm price of cattle
IN North Dakota Aug. Is was $4.3O
per 100 pounds. This covers all
grades and classes. There has been
q comparatively steady decline in the
farm price Of cattle from the middle
OF 1928.
The seasonal decline in hog prices
began in August and probably will
continue throughout the rush of the
fan marketing season. While the
number Of hogs marketed during
August was smaller than that of the
previous month and smaller than
that of the year previous, storage
supplies Of pork were larger Like
wise lard supplies in storage were
larger than those of a year ago but
were very much less than the five
year average.
Feed Grain to Hogs
There is tendency for an increase
IN hog production in the United
States.
The present market tendency is to
discount lightweight hogs because OF