The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-07-16
The
Of the F. u. c.. T. A.
He Foresaw Impasse
Like a Mans Hand
FSA Loan May Help
No Loans on Stacks
Try Canadian Ships

The grain storage crisis has already
reached the point of a national emer-
gency, and long before bushel OF
what promises to be bumper 194l
crop has reached the markell Months
ago the impending impasse was fore
seen by M. W. Thatcher, general
manager of the F. U. G. T. A. who,
by and with the consent of the board
of directors, got building program
going for the erection of approximate
Iy 100000 blu. of space at Superior,
Wis, Lewistown and Shelby, Mont.
That early in the season there was
nothing-that others could see-to get
worried about. Our farm storage de-
tense program was just lot of whoop-
de-dool That's what THEY said
and look at them now!
| Back there, about a year ago, when
this trouble impended, it was like
the tale of Mount Carmel-on the sea
coast, south of ancient Tyre and ST.
don, where the guns of France and
Britain are barking at each other
when, after a prolonged drouth, the
servant of Elijah went up to the top
of the mountain and looking across
| the waters of the Mediterranean
gazed at a brassy, cloudless sky Then
he reported that "There arises little
cloud, like a mans hand" and the
record goes on: "And in a little while
the heavens grew black with clouds
and wind and there was a great rain"
Back yonder the men of the farmers
grain marketing agency saw the little
cloud, like a mans hand on the dis
tant horizon. 1t was the threat of
shortage of storage space. Today
that threat has been fulfilled and the
heavens look black and fearful vol
ume of grain is due to descend upon
northwest farmers, with little space
available to take care of it.
All sorts of proposals are being
made to stem the tide-at the last
minute One that may help is the
offer of the FSA to make loans to
farmers which are to be used in re-
pairing, erecting or making fit for
storage, buildings or bins on the farm.
The Commodity Credit Corporation Of
fers to advance the storage fee, &c a
bushel, on grain stored on the farm,
if the money is used for building or
refitting granaries. The FSA loan
fits into the present need and may,
even at this late hour, be of some
value to the producer in making prep
aration for the coming deluge.
Not so good is the proposal offered
by j. J. Mallaney, service agent of
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
He suggests that farmers go back to
the binder and then stack the grain
and let it stand and wait for the old
threshing rig and crew to come
around, later just before the snow
flies, and thresh it. First, there is
the added labor cost of stacking. Sec
ond, there is the added cost of thresh-
ing-for the combine has in great
part eliminated the old threshing crew
with it's expense in food and labor.
1t would be like going back to the
"horse and buggy" days for large
percentage of the farmers. And, be-
sides, there could be no government
loan on grain in stack Not many
farmers can afford to tie up years
income for two or three months
Another proposal, now before con-
gress, is to repeal the law prohibiting
the carrying of commodities by Ca
madam ships between two U. S. ports.
If that action could take place, with
out the usual congressional delay it
might lift part of the surplus grain
and carry it to eastern points. Today
U. S. ships are busy carrying iron ore
and railroads are tied up carrying
defense materials. 1t is reported that
Secretary of Agriculture Claude Wick
ard, is considering administration ac-
ton to that end. 1t may provide a
way around the existing and coming
jam, which, otherwise will be the
worst in the country's history. Mean
while the farmer who is a shareholder
in his local Coop elevator has a
means to keep in touch with the sit
uation and be able to take advantage
of any let-up in the steadily growing
construction in storage possibilities.
Then, if and when he is ready to get
his government loan-let him remem-
Der to tell his county committee that
he wants the Farmers Union Grain
Terminal Association named as paying
agent for the loan. That is another
way by which he can help himself and
his marketing organization.