Imperial Valley press., 1933-03-02
LESS ACREAGE FOR YEAR URGED
IN STATE SURVEY FOR 1888

United States is forecast for the
coming year. Aggregate food
grain, hay and feed stuff supplies
for 1932-l933 are sufficient to
maintain milk production at the
prevailing level, and to permit pres
ent rate OF expansion of herds
Demand this year is not likely to
average any better than last year
AS low or lower prices are expected
for 1888 than were received in 1882.
Grapefruit /;
Prospective sharp upward trend
in world grapefruit production is
likely to retard improvement in
prices through recovery of buying
power. Large acreages are still to
come into bearing in Florida, Tex
as. Arizona, and California The
| outlook for summer grapefruit is
more favorable than for winter
grapefruit
Barley
| Unless the 1888 barley crop is un-
usually short, the price in Califor-
/ mia is likely to remain low relative
! to local price of wheat, and equal
ly low relative to price of barley
| in principal grain markets of the :
/ middle west. Indications are the
/ California carryoyer of barley into
1888 will be very large If acreage
1 for the 1888 harvest equals the
| 1926-l930 average and yields are
| as high. $4,000 tons may be ex-
pected. Added to the carryover,
this would again place supplies
/ above 100000 tons. almost certain :
to exceed combined requirements
of export and domestic feed in
1933-l934.
Low prices now prevailing will
tend to prevent expansion in bean
acreage. Present outlook is for a
smaller United States supply of
beans in 1933-l934 than in 1882
1888. Yields per acre are not like
ly to be as high in 1888 as in 1882
when they were II per cent above
the average of past five years. Car
ryover at the beginsing of the 1888
season will probably be small COM
pared with last year.
Hogs
While domestic demand for hog
products this year will not be i'm :
proved materially, foreign demand
for American hog products may be
somewhat strengthened. Decrease
in number of hogs will probably be
offset by increase in average
weights. Little increase in the 1888
spring pig crop in the United States
| is indicated, but substantial reduc-
ton in European hog production
seems probable, Western hog pro-
duction continues to decline.
Lemons
Continued heavy paintings of
lemons in California may lead to
surpluses SO large it will be ex-
tremely difficult if not impossible
to handle them Favorable returns
during the past five years have
stimulated paintings. Non-bearing
acreage is now three times that of
1927. Last year, for the first time
in the history of the industry, the
United States was on net export
basis with respect to lemons. Regu-
lation of shipments and diversion
to by-products have done much to
avoid low returns. While the in
dustry has demonstrated its abil-
ity to take care of moderate sur
pluseS, no method has yet been de-
vised to assure growers returns
above even cash costs of produc-
tion in the face of constantly in
creasing production.
Oranges
Many factors point to a contin-
uation of low prices for oranges.
Causes for price decline are in
creasing production and decreasing
purchasing power. World produc-
tion is expanding and export COM
petition becoming keener. Compe-
tition is not as acute for summer
oranges as for winter oranges.
Shipments of summer oranges,
mainly Valencias, have been in
creasing rapidly. Exclusive OF 1882
paintings, 18 per cent of Califor-
MAS summer orange acreage is still
to come into bearing. Lower costs
of production factors are partially
offsetting decline in prices of oran-
ges.
Poultry and Eggs
Egg production in the United
States in 1888 is expected to be
somewhat larger than last year.
I Supplies of eggs available for con-
sumption during the spring months
of 1888 will probably be reduced,
and increased during fall and win
ter months. Number of layers in
farm flocks on January | was
slightly larger than year earlier
1t is probable the number of chick
ems hatched this spring will be in
creased. Consumer demand, how
, ever, for poultry products will re-
} main low until business activity
and employment improve material
ly.
Sheep
Supplies Of lamb reaching cast
ern markets during the California
: spring lamb market season are like
: ly TO be smaller in 1888 than last
year. Number of lambs on feed for
market is considerably below that
] of year ago. No increase in size
] of the California lamb crop is ex-
pected. Effect Of reduction in sup
plies should be reflected in bet
ter prices, but price Improvement