Imperial Valley press., 1936-09-18


experienced in many years.
Barring those unforeseen
weather, plant disease or pests, every
factor seems present which should
operate for favorable markets for
local crops.
Field crops in particular face a
most encouraging outlook, due to
the fact that there is a scarcity of
production, the loss of crops in
the drought areas having contrib
uted to this factor.
Wheat crop is estimated at three
fourths of normal, corn, which
might have faced a surplus except
for the destruction of the middle
western crop by lack of rain, is
below normal as are oats and barley.
according to the September l gen.
eral crop report of the United States
Department of Agriculture. Rising
markets in all these commodities
age anticipated.
In Imperial Valley, said B. A..
Harrigan, agricultural commissioner,
heavy paintings of field crops are
going in, which in turn will lower
. the acreage devoted to alfalfa, thus
lessening the supply and being a
factor for good prices for alfalfa
hay In addition to good prices
for these crops, pasture prices have
strengthened considerably.
Flax Outlook Bright
Flax likewise faces an optimistic
outlook since the government re-
port shows flaxseed production al
most 40 per cent below that for
1885.
Lettuce, the current crop of in
terest, is competing with acreages
planted in Arizona. The acreage
here is, according to estimates which
cannot be accurate at the present
time, about that of last year, The
agricultural commissioners office is
making a checkup on paintings
and hopes to have the information
compiled in the annual report
shortly. Local growers are inclined
to be optimistic about the seasons
future, barring unusually cold
weather in the East as occurred last
winter, materially cutting the de-
mand for lettuce.
Asparagus growers are getting
ready to market their fall cutting
and shipments should be underway
within the next 10 days or two
weeks. The fall crop has distinct
advantages in that no other section
of the country can ship at that
time and in that other fresh vega
ables are not so plentiful at this
season. A considerable acreage Of
valley asparagus as been plowed
under lessening the supply.
The dairy industry is in the most
advantageous position it has occu-
pied for several years. Prices for
butterfat are advancing and pros
poets for advances in market milk
are being talked of in the Los An
geles milk shed.
Poultry, for the long time out
look, also has an encouraging fu-
cure. Due to the increase in feed
costs, many growers are marketing
their birds SO that prospects for a
good market for eggs in the spring
are indicated. Poultry storage sup
plies, likewise eggs, are below nor
NAL. a factor which should react
for better prices in the spring.
Early Frost Feared
Fall peas and winter tomatoes,
which had good season last year,
should do we'll unless an early frost
destroys the pea crop. Canning of
tomatoes should aid materially in re-
ducing any surplus.
Livestock at the present time is,
while higher than in previous years,
suffering slightly lowered prices.
This condition has been caused by
selling of stock from the drought
area, farmers being forced to sell
their COWS due to lack of feed.
Spring outlook for livestock is dis
tinctly encouraging provided there
are no importations.
In the feeder line, already ar
rangements have been made for the
shipping into the valley this winter
of large quantities of stock from
wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and
other states. Sheep and cattle in
large quantities will be shipped into
the valley TO take advantage of the
abundant feed available.
Grapefruit alone faces less bright
future with the production in Texas
and Arizona showing marked in
crease while that for California
and Arizona remains stationery. A
pro-rate marketing system will op-
crate this season in Florida which
may effect the market.