The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-16
Exports Have Shrunk But
Domestic Market Demand
Has Been Expanded
GUY A.
General Agricultural Agent

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.
European war and national defense
hold the center of the farm scene
this winter. Agricultural exports
have shrunk, domestic market de-
mand has expanded. Hard hit by
the loss of exports are the producers
of cotton, tobacco, wheat and fruits.
Whatever the outcome of the war,
the prospect is for small exports in
the years ahead, according to the
bureau of agricultural economics.
In our own country efforts are be-
ing made by various agricultural
agencies to increase the purchasing
power of low-income producers and
consumers, and to develop potential
markets for larger quantities of
foods and fibers. Prices received by
farmers are Slightly higher than at
Tie outbreak of the European war,
but costs of production also are tend
ing to rise. Currently, the index
Of purchasing power Of farm pro-
ducts is in the low sos. (Thee pc
riod 1904 equals 1907.
Total CROP production this year
was the second largest on record.
Largest on record was in 1887. Gran
aries and warehouses + full to
overlooking, with prices on export
commodities supported by govern
ment commodity loans. Supplies OF
feed grains are reported as more
than enough for the smaller number
of livestock on farms this winter
than last.
Wheat prices recently have been
the highest since midsummer, and
cotton prices are higher than at This
time last year. The higher prices are
attributed principally to reductions IN
commerce, stocks through the opera
tons of the government loan pro-
grams. Cotton prices have been help
ed, too, by heavy consumption by Y.
S, cotton mills. Mill consumption
recently has been running at h
rate of 8 IL million bales a year
a new high record.
dlIIlSlS lldfC oSSh
their spring pig crop earlier than
usual this season.; the bureau said
this indicates that marketings in the
second quarter-January-March-oI
the current marketing year will oe
considerably smaller than in h ike
period of 1910. A greater-than-usual
seasonal decreas in hog slaughter IN
late winter and early spring would
be accompanied by a fairly sharp ad'
vance in hog prices.
--latest available figures show as
ma Nv elttle on feed this season as
last, and an increase nj number OF
lambs on feed slaughter supplies OF
sheen and lambs will be larger his
winter than last. Wool is report
ed in especially good demand as mills
work day and night to I'LL ~
Army contracts. Prices of are
higher than at this time last year.
Smaller supplies of apples but
larger quantities of citrus fruits are
available this season than last, larg-
err quantities of late potatoes, ana
larger quantities of truck crops. Pro-
duction of fats and oils from domes-
tic materials in 1910 was the largest
on record-S.8 billion pounds (tenta-
tive estimate) compared with 81 OIL
lion pounds in 1889. A large part OIL
the increase in fats and oils was III
lard.
The bureau said that dairymen are
about to begin a winter Of best pros
poets for production, prices, and IN
come in many. years. The number OF
milk cows on farms is the largest IN
3 years., the supply of feed grains
is the second largest in 20, consumer
demand for milk and dairy products
is improving. Practically all kinds
of poultry are selling higher this win
ter than last. Production of eggs is
increasing s~easonally, but is probably
smaller than at this time last year,
and prices are higher.