The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-08

CduSeu So many
pigs to go to market that the distin-
guished secretary has had to issue
warning against shipping so many OF
them at this time. The markets were
nearly glutted in the first days of OPP
Grafton of the program under which
the government is buying pigs and
sows, soon to farrow, at premium
prices. Secretary Wallace certainly
demonstrated that he is the nations
champion hog caller, especially when
the inducement was cash in hand.
AS soon as the Department of Agri-
culture decided that reduction in the
potential marketing of hogs during
the coming year was advisable and
made known that the government
would buy pigs weighing between 25
and 100 pounds and sows, soon to far
row, there was rush for market.
Despite the fact that the government
Is prepared to buy 100000 pigs and
100000 sows, at the premium prices,
approximately 10000 pigs and 1000
sows reached the main markets on the
first day. Mr.. Wallace watched the
pigs go to market for few days more
and then tried to shoe them back
bit, explaining that the farmers would
have until around October / in which
to ship their pigs and obtain the
premium prices.
By the end of September, it is fig
ured by the experts, the potential mar
keting of hogs during the coming year
will have been reduced by about 2,000,-
100000 pounds. In this manner, it is
claimed by Mr.. Wallace and those who
sponsored the idea, the first step will
have been taken in establishing and
maintaining a balance between the
production and consumption of hog
products. 1t is their belief also that
this course will establish prices around
the level that prevailed between 1910
and 1914.
While the potential marketing is eX-
pected to be reduced by about 2,000,-
100000 pounds, the actual live tonnage
of the pigs and sows for which the
government will pay premium during
the emergency period is expected to
approximate 65O,0O0,000 pounds. The
government has not bound itself to
buy more than 100000 pigs and
100000 sows, and so Secretary Wal
lace has suggested that farmers who
plan to shop should get in touch with
their county agent or some other au-
thority and learn whether they can
sell their stock before the little pigs
are sent to market.
1t might be well to supply here the
premium prices which are to be paid
for those pigs and sows which will be
purchased. The secretary used the
Chicago market as a base and the
prices which he fixed for that market,
therefore, generally will run somewhat
higher than the farmer will receive at
interior points, just as they would un-
der normal marketing conditions. The
scale of prices per hundredweight, for
pigs is as follows: 25-3O pounds, $3.50;
31-35 pounds, 1925; 1910 pounds, 50;
41-45 pounds, 1915; 1850 pounds,
$3.50; 51-55 pounds, $S.25; $500
pounds, So; GIGS pounds. $7.75; 66-7O
pounds, $3.50; 71-75 pounds, 1925;
1880 pounds, 81; s1-S5 pounds, 1878;
$500 pounds, $3.50; 91-95 pounds,
1925; and 96-10O pounds, Sc.
For the sows that are soon to farrow
and the requirements are that this
fact shall be unmistakable-the gov
eminent will pay a premium of four
dollars per head, but it will buy only
those sows weighing 275 pounds or
more. The farmers, therefore, will get
the market price for packing sows on
the day the shipment is received in
the market, plus the premium of four
dollars for each sow sold.
The government is trying, as we
said above, to reduce the potential
marketing of hogs
Raise in Price during the forth
to Result coming marketing
season and it be-
lieves that in so doing several i'm
portant benefits will accrue to the
growers Of hogs, and they will accrue
Immediately. The extent to which pur-
chases are scheduled to be made will
mean reduction of from II to 16 per
cent in the marketings that are likely
to take place otherwise in the 1888
1884 marketing seasan, according to
the calculation. The experts who fig
ured out what the reduction will mean
also are authority for the calculation
that the action will result in an in
crease in prices of hogs during the
forthcoming season ranging from %
to 80 per cent. That is the claim, any
way!
So it is seen that the Department of
Agriculture expects to accomplish an
increase in hog prices by 81 or S1.5O
over the present base price of about
$3.50 per hundred. The first portion
of the benefits to come from the plan
is in the form of the premium which
we have discussed, and the second is
in the form of higher prices for the
remainder of the hog crop.
Mr.. John Q. Consumer is the one
upon whom success of the enterprise
depends. Mr.. Wallace is going to lay
another processing tax on hogs that
go into domestic consumption. No
such tax will be laid on hogs killed for
export shipment. The amount of the
tax has not been definitely fixed. but
Mr.. Wallace holds that one-half cent
per pound of the live hogs will provide
sufficient funds. 1t must be noted,
however, that tax of one-half cent
per pound on the hoof grows to be
much more per pound of edible ham
for ham and eggs, or in the pork
chops that grace the table.
Mr.. Wallace says with emphasis
that this emergency program will not
be repeated. He plans to give consid-
Grafton at once to a definite program