Evening star., 1932-11-26
PRICES ON FARM
PRODUCTS MIXED
Dairy Commodities Gain, but
Live Stock and Grains
Down.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, November 26.-The Middle
Western farmer has<inixed feelings over
the condition of his markets at this
week end. He is cheered by the highest
butter prices of the year, and depressed,
at the same time, by further declines in
prices paid him for his grains and live
stock.
Dairy products account for % per
cent of his incomei on an average, so
that the higher rates from butter and
eggs enjoyed during recent days is a
welcome relief to an otherwise peculiarly
dreary position. Butter at 231a cents
for 90 score, is over cents higher than
the recent low price, and represents a
gain of S320,000 for the Central Western
producers pocket book during the week.
All in all, the week was one of records.
Butter has reached the years highest
level. Pork loins have slumped to the
lowest figure in 40 years. Cattle sold
under any price paid since 1911. Grains
slipped off again to within short dis
tance of the historic lows.
Markets Glutted.
1t is a picture of markets glutted
with products for which the outlet Is
narrow. owing to the poor consumptive
demand of cities for farm products.
There also is injected the further
element of contracting foreign markets
particularly for our grain and for oul
live stock products.
Germany and England are shutting
off the markets formerly so free fo1
American pork products, and the result
is that grains and meats are falling bach
on domestic market none too able to
absorb them.
But the time is not out of sight when
all of this may be changed. Studies BY
the Institute of International Affairs
concluded this week reveal that for live
stock especially there looms prospect
of shortage that may change all of the
calculations of importing and of produc'
ing countries.
Except for wheat, which presents the
prospect for continued overproductior
on the basis Of present consuming de-
mand, there lies ahead an indication OF
possible early shortage Of many farm
products. This is because of restrictive
measures being applied to production In
some countries and to the ruinously low
prices paid in others, leading farmers
to curtail their production voluntarily
Herds of cattle and supplies of hogs
were pictured as decreasing in size In
the large producing countries. Thus
the institute pictures the not-distant
time when there will be pinch In
heavy consuming countries, with the
prospect of increasing prices.
Effect Too Distant.
That is not bringing relief now, how
ever, when so sorely needed by farmers
in the Middle West. The decision o.
two Nebraska judges to refuse to grant
the right of foreclosure to mortgage
holders holding liens to farmhands
If the farm operator really Is making
an effort to work out his debt problem
is having a widespread effect on credi-
tors. There is growing up in the Mid.
die West q determination to solve tht
debt burden without resort Of genera
forcing of a change in title to tht
land.
This is Important for a district so de,
pendent upon farm prices for a measure
of prosperity.
Some one has figured out that tht
wheat in a loaf of bread today Il
worth not more than l cent a loaf
Pork loins are selling wholesale at from
$3.50 to So per 100 pounds. while the
hog itself is selling at from SO to $3.5(
for better-class animals. The farmer
is getting around 25 cents a bushe
for wheat in the heavy, producing dis
tricts, about 10 cents for corn and abou
2 cents for oats
The prospect for larger return II
him lies in moves now under way tt
cut the storage charges on grain and Il
reduce freight charges for carrying Il
market. In that field of fixed charge
lies the one hope for an early increased
return to the farmer for his products
Copyright, 1922