The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-12-03
BY True D. Morse,
Doane Agricultural Service

Farmers face staggering losses on
livestock following the close of the
war. Whether they will occur inn
or after a one or two |
year delay may be debatable, but |
there is agreement that heavy losses
will come. 1t is certain that the |
losses will be very large. The only
uncertainty is when they will come
and the severity of the crash when
the price adjustments occur.
Farm operators are truly faced
with two horns of dilemma To
stop production may mean idle pas
lures and feed lots and certainly is
unpatriotic. To go forward with the
present program on many farms
means disastrous losses. Operating
profits of the war years can easily
be more than wiped out by inven-
tory losses when the drop in prices
comes. This is a difficult problem
but not Impossible of solution.
This critical situation Is the re-
suit Of reaching livestock production
peaks far beyond those ever previ-
ously attained. In 1871 new high
records were set for hogs, sheep,
dairy and poultry. Only one other
year in the history of this country
produced more cattle. Much high
err records will be set in 1912.
Most spectacular of all is the tre-
mendous increase in hogs. The 1912
pig crop will be the first to ex-
coed 100,000,000 head--a rs per cent
increase over a year ago IN spring
pigs with % per cent more fall
pigs coming. But this 1912 rec
ord number will be materially ex-
ceeded in 1943 In the face of such
a situation how many recall that it
has been less than 10 years since
little pigs were killed by the gov
eminent because of over supplies
low prices, and lack of feed?
During the next decade, the beef
cattle cycle will be in its declin-
ing phase The dairy cattle cy-
Gle is almost facsimile of the beef
cattle cycle The purchasing power
of cattle has never remained for
any length of time at the high
peak levels. The rapid decline and
low trough lie ahead.
1 War demand and inflationary war
prices have provided the money in
centive to produce to capacity.
Abundant pastures-91 per cent
normal-the best since 1927 for
July 1--are providing abundant
1 feed for grazing animals. Ranch
lands throughout the west are in
excellent condition--the best in a
life time according to many ole
Iranchers. Unusually high yields Of
corn have been had for five con-
secutive years and there are great
SURPRISES of wheat and other grains
Abundant, cheap feed of all kinds
in practically all parts of the United
States for the immediate years
have made livestock expansion easy
and highly profitable.
And now there is the increasing
pressure to produce to capacity al
possible livestock and livestock
products as the patriotic duty o.
every farm operator. Certainly ev-
cry farmer and farm owner wants
to do all in his power to help will
the war program
All probably will go well unit
the war ends. This may be fal
enough away to allow most oper-
ators to build up margins suffi-
cient to absorb the loss OF lowe
prices. The war may end s0oI
enough to catch many producer
with costly herds developed or pur.
chased at wartime prices.
With the close Of the war ant
beginning now, livestock produc
ers face the costly experience 0
coming down from:
Peak production, peak feed sup
plies, peak demand, high prices
high profits.