Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-09-21
ADVISES TO
HOLD BACK
If Market is Not G1utted
Rutabagas Will Command
Better Price.
So Says Louis Olsen, Askov
Buyer, Shipper, Who Will
Furnish Quotations.

Rutabagas have during the past Is
years become an important cash crop
to many farmers of Pine county and
so naturally the farmers are inter-
ested in the prices the roots may
command. A number of inquiries
have come to the Askov American re-
garding the price of the product and
what the future might bring.
AS in past seasons there is ALWAYS
a little furry of few carloads being
shipped out in August-during the
very early part of the season-and
those rutabagas have usually COM
manded a fancy price of from SIS to
$40 per ton to the producer or farm
err, depending on what kind of times
prevail and the demand. The roots
are not fully developed at that time,
and a price of SO or less later in the
season may produce as much or more
revenue per acre.
Without a rather firm price early
in the season when only a small por-
tion of the crop is moving to market,
it is difficult for local buyers to quote
a market price that can be adhered
to, but as in past seasons the Askov
American will publish the local mar
ket price on rutabagas and potatoes
during the balance of the season.
This will be commenced next week,
on Sept 2Sth and will be continued
throughout the shipping season. The
market quotations will be given by
Louis Olsen, veteran Askov produce
buyer to the American each Thursday
morning.
Buyer Advises Against Dumping.
In an interview Mr.. Olsen stated
that if the rutabagas were not dumped
on the market in wholesale quantities
at this time. but held back until in De-
cember or later they would command
better price and Pine county farm
ers would profit thereby. He argues
that even if few roots should freeze
and be unmarketable they could still
be used for cattle feed and the bal
ance of the roots would command
price so much better that it would
much more than offset the minor
losses through frost. If farmers will
refrain from dumping on the market
and supply only what the market will
absorb normally it is the opinion of
Mr.. Olsen that rutabagas would bring
not less than So per ton throughout
the heavy shipping season.
Cumberland, Wisconsin, about rs
miles southeast of Askov, is another
important rutabaga center, but they
do not ship out nearly the tonnage
that does this community. Cumber-
land, however, has the advantage of
lower freight rate to Chicago, it
being &c less per hundred pounds
than from Askov.
Canadian rutabagas have constantly
offered some competition to Pine
county roots, but that is somewhat
offset this year due to the exchange
rate of money between the United
States and Canada. The American
dollar has gone down approximately
soc, measured in foreign exchange.
The American dollar and the Cana
dian dollar are now more nearly of the
same value and hence the Canadian
root growers are not now the prob
lem to contend with as in former
years.
Pine county farmers market fully
| one-third of the rutabagas for table
use in the United States and it must
be remembered, as Mr.. Olsen said.
that if they are not dumped on the
market promiscuously the price will
| be better.