The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-31
LIVESTOCK HOLDING
BUSINESS IN STATE
ON PRESENT Level,
Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Poultry
Seen as Best Moneymak-
ers During 1881


sheep and poultry are financing
North Dakota today, where in wears
past grain checks have comprised the
major source of revenue. The mir.
ture Is that of a state CARVING IN
largely from receipts from livestock
and dairy products, according to the
seventh annual economic review of
the Greater North Dakota associa- :
ton issued Thursday. "The 1891
grain crop, based on the December l
farm price, was valued at only s5l :
100000, as compared with $12O. Gas 900
in 1880, and $188, ,371 900 in 1929. De-
pendence on grain is thing Of the
past as the state has definitely prov
en- this year."
Viewing the matter in this wav. a
note OF optimism is sounded in the
review, with the statement "The
states census of livestock on farms
as of January l. 1882, will be in excess
of the total shown on January l. 1890
OF 3,177,O00 head, figure now ac-
cepted as entirely adequate and sa-
tisfactory. North Dakota has not
killed the goose which lays the gol-
den eggs, and despite an urgent need
for cash during 1881, has not sacri-
ficed its herds or farm flocks. i'm
pairing revenue possibilities for COM
ing years.
"The livestock shipments to pack
ing plants from North Dakota dur
ing 1881 were in excess of 1880 ship
ments by IA per cent in cattle. one
per cent in calves, two per cent in
hogs, and LOG per cent in sheep, ac-
cording to estimates prepared by
Ben Keinholz, federal statistician.
This increased shipping, however, had
a sequel in increased fall harrowings
Of pigs, and increased importation of
feeder cattle and feeder lambs. Stock
on farms, as of January l, 1881,
totaled 3,395,000 as compared with
3,177,O0O the preceding year, which
latter total is somewhat surpassed by
present holdings. This 1882 census
points to substantially increased
revenue another year, with increasing
feed crop acreages, irrespective OF
what happens in the grain markets.
Two or three bordering states will
show material decline in figures of
stock on farms, having been compelled
to indulge in more forced shipping
than were producers in North Dakota
Marketing on Hoof
"Demoralized wheat and coarse
grain markets have forced growers of
grain to market on the hoof and pro-
ducers of this state will, in future
years, place themselves in position to
choose their market as between the
elevators and the packing plants. With
this choice open to them, they can
safely continue to grow wheat, where
good, clean land is available and
where satisfactory seed can be OBJ
tanned. The bitter experience of sub
cost grain markets has therefore con-
tributed to the urge toward bal
anced production on the states farms
as no previous arguments or persua-
sion could. Not only has the owner
operator worked his way into stock
raising but there is a definite ten
dency on tenant-operated lands to-
ward livestock growing on shares be-
tween tenant and owner.
Thousands of head of feeder !
lambs and cattle have been shipped
into all parts of the state where feed
was adequate, bringing the number
Of these animals to figure greater
than ever before in the states his
tory. Fall narrowing of pigs were 26
per cent greater than year ago,
which fact will increase spring and
summer revenue from marketable
pork.
Cows Furnish Income
1.-THE dairy products of the state
furnish the bulk of the steady in
come, and in this item the producer
at present Is enjoying a more favor
able price ratio as between feed and
butterfat than in 1929, when the lat
ter reached its peak. The 1929 aver
age market for bushel Of barley
was A cents, with the years average
butterfat price standing at the iden-
tical figure. With barley averaging
only 21 cents during 1881, farmers
produced bt1tterfat which averaged
% cents in value. This Indicates an
increase of 10 per cent added returns
when feed is converted into butter
fat.
with liberal rainfall in the
drought areas of the state prior to
seeding time, it is believed that the :
exceptional extent of cultivation of
small grain fields will augar well for
the 1882 crop. More summer fallow
and fall plowing was accomplished,
than in any recent year, and ability
to procure adequate good seed, and
favorable weather during the grow
ing season of 1892, are all that stand