The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-27

ably be as great, II not greater, than
IN 1880. Any surplus wheat that the
United States may have for export
will continue to face competition from
low-cost producing countries. Russia
is a potential source OF competition
and is sending durum to italy already
this year thereby making inroads in
to an important market for our SUI.
plus.
Prices in the United States now
average 80 to IS cents over export
parity. If prices in the United States
are on a normal export basis next
summer it would mean that domestic
prices would have to rise about 80 to
IS cents in order to remain at the
present prices.
Flax Prospects For Year
Average yields Of flaxseed on an
acreage as large as seeded in 1880
would produce a crop about equal to
domestic requirements. Any increase
in yields or acreages would tend to
force down the price. Although flax
grown on better lands may continue
to give higher returns than wheat and
other small grains, lower prices may
be expected than prevailed during the
last few years.
Urge Oats For Fodder
The continued reduction in the
number of workstock and the more
general use of barley for feed indi-
Gates that there will probably not be
an increase in demand for oats over
1880. In much Of the drouth areas,
a considerable increase in the acre
age Of oats for hay seems advisable
since clover and timothy stands were
damaged by the dry weather and will
probably not produce sufficient hay
for farm needs during the 1882
season.
Barley Acreage Increases
Although there may be increased
market demand for barley from July
to November, there is little prob
ability that the market demand dur
ing the remainder of the season will
equal that of last year. Until the
1881 corn crop is harvested, however,
the use Of barley will be unusually
great. The rapid increase in barley
acreage during recent years is due to
its substitution for oats and corn as
livestock rations.
Corn Prices To Rise
Because of this years short supply,
some increase in cash corn prices
seems probable before the 1881 crop
is available. It is expected that some
increase in corn acreages will be
made this year which, with an aver
age yield, should more than offset the
slightly increased demand due to last
years short crop. With prospects for
only a slighter greater demand and
with much greater supplies in pros
pect 1t would seem that prices during
the season beginning Nov. l., will
average somewhat lower than in
1880.
Livestock Prospect For Year
The hog industry during the mar
keting year beginning Oct. l is ex-
pected to be In a more favorable posi-
ton than in the current year, since
indications point to slightly smaller
supplies, lower feed costs, ana some
improvement in both domestic and
foreign demand during that period.
Sheep numbers in the United
States have increased 43 per cent in
the last nine years and are the larg-
est in the history of the country. Al
though an increase In demand is ex-
pected within the next year or two,
sheep producers are faced with the
problem of reducing breeding stock
number and of disposing of a larger
proportion of their annual lamb pro-
duction in order to improve the econ
omic position of the industry.
Cattle prices are expected to be
lower during the first half of 1881
as compared to last year but during
the second half of the year it is