The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1931-01-22
WHEAT SITUATION
HAS BRIGHTER SIDE

There are factors that tend to
brighten the future of the wheat
situation despite the immediate
discouraging outlook. It is well for
some Of these as well as to face
the darker facts, according to Rob-
ert Cowan, extension economist in
marketing. While wheat is now
below the general level of prices,
in the past, it has never remained
in that position longer than three
years at a time. Either other prices
have dropped or wheat prices have
raised.
The large amount of wheat used
this year for livestock as a result
of the corn shortage should have
a carry-over effect in breaking
down the prejudices against using
wheat as a live stock and paultry
feed. It has also caused many
farmers to plan a longtime live
stock and poultry program based
on wheat feeding. 1t has also slim
ulated an interest in the develop
ment of new ways Of utilizing the
wheat, such as wheat cubes and
the use of the hammer mills. This
years work has shown that wheat
can be substituted for corn, but
for all practical purposes, corn
cannot be substituted for wheat.
Human Consumption
In the past during the times Of
financial stress the human popu-
lation in the more civilized coun-
tries has consumed more wheat
products than in normal times.
There are indications that this is
now taking place. The worlds pro-
duction of wheat increased at the
rate of approximately "a million
bushels per year during the period
1890 to 1915 Of particular inter-
est to the west is the fact that in
II western states the acreage in
total has not increased although
there have been marked increases
in Montana and Colorado. The Pa
cific Northwest states growing
soft white wheat have competition
on the United States markets with
soft red winter wheat. The sec
tions growing the latter class are
reducing the acreage. The terri
tory east Of the Mississippi river
has reduced the acreage of wheat
from 10 million to IL million acres
since 1919.
The poultry and dairy business
is increasing in the west faster
than in the nation as a whole. This
is resulting in a greater consump-
ton of wheat locally. In some Sec
tions of the west, low-yielding land
is passing out of the wheat pic
ture.
Some of the factors that have
contributed to our trouble are rec
.ognized as the introduction Of COM
bine and tractor farming in large
areas of the United States, Can
ada, Argentina, Australia and Rus
STA. The high tariff walls have
disturbed the natural flow Of
wheat. The present situation in
Russia is uncertain that exports
of that nation have disturbing in
fluence. The radical livestock in
drouth areas will possible cause a
surplue of corn in 1881 with nor
NAL crop.
Big Carry-Over Seen =
Of particular significance in the
Northwest is the fact that export
sales have been greatly reduced
on account of our prices being
maintained above those of other
countries. This will possibly result
in a heavy carry-over which will
seriously tax the storage facilities
next fall. The favorable weather
for fall seeding will possibly in
crease the yield of winter wheat
next year. With such a large car
ry-over and its attendant storage
FARM PAGE
congestion the change from sack
to bulk handling on the farm will
possibly be discouraged in 1881.
Summarizing the whole situa-
ton, facts at hand indicate no ma
terial Improvement in western
wheat prices during 1881. How
ever, conditions are constantly
changing and the near crop fail
ure in single large producing
country would quickly change the
situation. The long time point Of
view for wheat offers hopes for
better prices than at present.