Evening star., 1943-04-11
Livestock
Continued From First Page }

Livestock
Continued From First Page.>
said. is between 81 and $3.50 above
levels reflected by current OPA pork
ceilings, 4 condition which has
caught some packers In = financial
squeeze"
Siding with views expressed pref
ously by Secretary Of Agriculture
Wickard, Mr.. Davis said the meat
rationing program. uniform ceiling
prices on meats and measures de-
signed to stamp out the black mar
kets are expected to lower prices Of
all classes OF livestock-and hence
make livestock ceilings unnecessary
AS they become further effective.
The livestock feed program was
attacked from two angles. Needs
Of livestock feeders outside the sur
plus corn producing area of the Mid
west will be met largely through
sale Of Government owned wheat
and importation of wheat, oats and
other grains from Canada and Aus
tralia.
Details Not Disclosed.
Although no details of the import
program were disclosed, the Gov:
ernment apparently will handle all
the transactions and make the feed
available to farmers at prices in
line with current OPA ceiling prices,
on milk and poultry products and
the price 1T which ceilings would
be set on hogs If such action is
finally taken. For the most part,
feed used outside the Corn Belt goes
into the production of milk, poultry
and eggs.
By supplying other areas from its
own stocks and from imports, the
deMent would leave the bulk of
the corn available for4h hog, cattle,
dairy md poultry production in the
Midwest and adjacent, territory.
This would tend to reduce the strain
on the Nations already overbur-
dened transportation system.
The program is designed to jar
loose huge supplies Of corn which
owners have been holding in expec-
tation OF higher prices. Prompting
speculative holding has been con-
eressional farm-bloc agitation for
higher prices. The OPA's price
ceiling on corn sold in the surplus
corn producing area will be in
creased from $102 to SLOT a bushel
for No. yellow corn, Chicago basis.
Mr.. Davis said this increase should
encourage immediate resumption of
the movement Of corn through trade
channels.
May Requisition Stocks.
The higher ceiling also Is ex-
pected, the administrator said, to
relieve shortages which have threat
ened to close corn products process
sors and alcohol plants. for want of
supplies. Mr.. Davis said, however,
that the Government will not hesi-
tate to requisition commercial stocks
OF corn to make supplies available
for essential war industries.
Another possible step to make
more corn available for feeding pur.
poses and for industrial use is the
calling OF Government loahs to
growers on corn.
Warning that the Nations feed
reserves are being reduced to a low
level, Mr.. Davis advised hog pro-
ducers to increase breeding for 1943
fau farrowings by not more than
Is per cent above the 1912 level.
The 1943 spring pig crop was "a Der
cent above 1942's. BY holding breed
ing operations to this level, farmers
could make larger supplies Of hogs
available for meat slaughter this
summer.
To Offset the increase in the CELL
ing price of corn in the Midwest to
assure producers favorable prices,
Mr.. Davis raised the Governments
support price of hogs from 1925 to
$l3.75 = hundred pounds, Chicago
basis, effective until September 80,
1914. The support price Is, in ef-
feet, = minimum below which the
Government promises 1t will not
permit hog prices to drop.
Mr.. Davis undoubtedly was moved
to bring in foreign supplies of feed
by reports Of unfavorable weather
conditions in some parts of the
country at the start Of the current
crop planting season.
In case Of . drought or shortage
in feed grain yields In la43 m actual
shortage of feed grains might de-
velop during the feeding year Of
1884," he said.