White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-02-25
Farmers Urged to Raise
Own Feed for Stock


| brief review of the general agri-
cultural situation would seem more
than ever to point to the necessity OF
the individual farmer watching ex-
penditures very closely for the year
1882. Feed costs should be studied
carefully with the idea of determining
whether they can be purchased more
cheaply than they can be raised on
the farm and if not, then the farm
program apparently should include one
for home production of as much Of the
feed supply as possible. Certainly we
would say that no farmer this year
should find it necessary to purchase
roughage OF coarse grains if the farm
lends itself at all to the growing of
these crops AS the situation in tho
various enterprises is pointed out below
keep the above statement in mind and
see whether it may be true.
Survey of the hog situation shows
an increase of nine percent in the
number in 1881 over 1880 for the whole
country Since there is still a differ
entail in favor of the northwest mar
kets it is possible that we could in
crease our hogs slightly here in the
northwest. Storage stocks of hogs were
larger on January than the previous
year but not greatly different from
the five year average for that date.
There has been, however, a decrease
in this country and Germany and Den
mark have increased production con-
siderably abroad which has interfered
with markets.
The number of beef cattle on farms
during the year increased "a per cent
over January, 1881. There has been a
steady increase for four years in the
beef cattle industry. We are in a cycle
which would tend to show that num-
bers will still increase If one has a
situation where beef cattle can be
raised very economically then it prob
ably would pay at least to hold ones
own in the industry.
Sheep numbers increased again in
1881 with a two per cent increase over
January L. 1881. The increase has
amounted to 49 per cent over January
/, 1922, which was the low point from
which numbers have raised without
intermission until they are now the
largest on record in this country. The
estimated average value per head OF
sheep and lambs ON January 1, 1882,
was only $3.40, compared with $685.
January 1881, and 1892, January, 1880.
1t is the lowest average since 1904.
Price of dairy products during the
past two years have decreased less
than the average for all farm products
by some 80 per cent. Dairy prices have
followed approximately the price level
for all commodities whereas farm pro-
ducts as group have fallen far below
that level.
Likewise feed prices have fallen much
lower than dairy prices. During last
year there was an increase of 3A per
cent over January, 1881. However,
there is rather marked tendency for
the falling off in the raising of heifers.
With the average price of dairy pro-
ducts having not fallen to the level OF
other products and the fact that the
dairy COW gives the farmer an oppor-
tunity to at least get some cash in
come one could expect farmers to hold
onto the dairy enterprise and every
farmer who possibly can to start milk
ing few COWS. 1t would seem that
with our splendid opportunities for feed
production for dairy cattle Throughout
the entire valley that we can produce
dairy products as cheaply as can be
done in any section. This has been
shown to be true by the survey of the
dairy situation in the Yakima valley
as compared to the west side. Here
especially we would stress production
of as much of the feed as possible
and the use of the dairy enterprise for
the farmer who is interested in it, at
least to utilize to the best advantage
the leguminous crops needed in the
rotation where truck crops are pro-
duced. The greatest need, however, is
a definite herd building program.
Less chick orders on hand by hatch
cries for January for the country as
a whole, especially in the west, coupled
with per cent fewer hens and pullets
on farms January /, may indicate
lower production of eggs for 1882. How
ever, large stock of eggs and poul-
try were ON hand at the beginning OF
this year and low feed prices have lost
their available relationship with egg
prices.
Farm prices for turkeys for 1881 for
Thanksgiving market for the U. S. as
a whole were two to three cents per
pound lower than for the same period
in 1890. On December IS the price was
estimated the same as the year pre-
vious. Demand this year favored the
smaller birds which If continued, Will
force breeders and producers to pay
more attention to quick maturity The
relative available outcome of the 1881
turkey deal may tend to stimulate ex-
cessive production of turkeys IN 1892
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