The Wilmington morning star., 1945-08-31
Rabson Sees u. S. Crop
Prospects AS Favorable
BY ROGER W. BABsoN


WASHINGTON. D. c., August
30-Mother Nature has smiled once
again on Americas fair fields. In
fact, l945 will take an honored
place in an unprecedented process.
sion OF bumper crop years, pro-
vided recent indications are borne
out. While total national volume
promises to be about 2.5 per cent
below the records Of 1912 and 1914,
in should top aggregate output Of
any other year by about percent.
This truly is providential in view
of the world food and feed s;tua-
ton. Here are a few Of the high
lights as I see them.
Output of the bread grain is ex-
pected to set new record of L.
LAG, 283, 900 bushels - 6 per cent
above the previous record and As
per cent over the 10-year average.
Total supplies for 1945-1946 should
prove ample, though by no means
burdensome. Rice eaters can find
little satisfaction in the indicated
record crop of rs, 1876, 900 bushels,
since the Government take" will
be stable. The flaxseed outturn
Will be well above a year ago and
materially in excess of the 10-year
average. This should be good news
to consumers of linseed oil and
meal, supplies Of which are ex-
tremely tight and prices firm.
shall feel easier when the corn crop
picks up further and escapes
Soybeans most versatile men,
.. Der of the farm crop family - will
be in good supply; in fact, only
little short of the 1943 record. The
wonder bean will play an import
ant part in easing the overall sup.
} ply of fats and oils.
Although large total supplies Of
feed grains are in prospect for
1945-l946, they will prove none too
plentiful in view of demands.
! frost damage. The rye crop will
be substantially under, and the bar
ley outturn about equal the 10-year
average. A saving feature is the
indicated record production Of
oats. This crop should exceed l
ID billion bushels, which would
be nearly double the 10-year aver
age. Hay also has done well this
wear. So much for feeds.
( Food crop prospects, in general,
are favorable. This fact, plus
Army cutbacks and releases,
should mean that civilians can let
their belts out a few notches. The
overall supply-demand ratio, how
ever, will continue tight in some
instances. Even wars end will
bring little relief to consumers, in
view of the short world supply and
the fact that sugar takes time to
grow, ship and refine. Civilian sup
plies of canned salmon will be exc
tremely tight, unless the Govern
ment sharply lowers it's take;
but there should be a surplus of
most fish. Civilians will get a little
more butter, but edible fats and
oils - both lard and cottonseed -
on a world basis will continue
short. Despite the large 1915 crop
O. Irish potatoes, total supplies will
not be excessive. A below-average
dried bean crop is probable. The
apple crop will be small this fall.
On the other hand, larger sup.
plies of some foods are in prospect.
The canned goods situation, in gen.
eral, has improved drast.cally
overnight. Hence, both canned
fruits and vegetables were remov-
ed from the ration list. A slightly
larger aggregate commercial OUT
l put of truck crops for the fresh
market is indicated. Meats (can-
ned and fresh) will be more plenti-
| full, perhaps sufficiently so to JUST.
fly early elimination of rat;oning.
There will be no dearth of fluid
milk and skim-milk products in
the months ahead. Supplies Of
fruits Gncluding citrus) should be
plentiful. That venerable bird, the
turkey, should honor more civil
an tables this Thanksgiving and
! Christmas. Supplies Of chickens
are increasing seasonally, and the
outlook is good.
am a statistician, not q dieti-
clan. Yet it does seem to me that
wartime food shortages have
taught the American public much
needed lessons in food conserva.
ton, as well as in the science Of
correct eating. Too much food and
- or wrong combinations can be
as bad as too little. "You are what
you eat'' is no exaggreation. II the
lessons learned during the war
years are remembered in peace
time, the nations health should be
better. This will be a factor in the
labor situation as well as benefit
Life Insurance Company stocks.