The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1947-04-24
CHURCH OF GOD
A. ]. Stuart, pastor
Sunday school, 9:45 a. m.

Sunday school, 9:45 a. m.
veloped here, finished livestock
is being sold at premium prices,
a greater local market for feed
stuff has been developed, and
the lands are being maintained
by proper tillage and proper
Development of the beet sugar
industry of this community
has come a great increase in
the amount of feeding and a
stable, profitable and perman-
ent agricultural industry.
You are all familiar with the
1947 Sugar Beet Price Support
Program of the Federal Gov
Under this program,
t he United States average
price for sugar beets will be
$14.30 per ton, if the crop is
of average quality (16.5%), the
highest level of income ever
recorded in history of sugar
beet production. At Hardin,
under this program, the grow
ers' return for a 1862 sugar
content Including his Govern
ment payment) will be $14.50
per ton For the past ten years
our sugar content here at Har-
din has averaged 16.59%, rang
ing from a low of 14.97% Il,
1916 to a high of 18.03% in
1889. The assured income Of
the farmer under the Govern
ment program should be view
ed as a floor. No one knows
what will happen to the price
of sugar as a result of termin-
alton of price and ration con-
trolls now scheduled for Oct
ober 31st next. The price of
sugar beets cannot go below
the floor levels announced by
the Federal Government. How
ever, should sugar prices in
crease, the price of sugar beets
will advance sharply under
1947 grower contract.
Very few of us in the press
of doing our daily work stop
to consider the Importance Of
the beet sugar industry to our
communities. Nor do we stop
to consider the necessity of
maintaining our levels of sugar
production. Prior to the war
under the quota system an
rual imports of sugar from
Cuba amounted to about 2,00O,-
900 tons. During the four years
just passed, this figure climbed
to an average of 3,325,000 tons.
We must not hazard the loss
of any part of our market to
foreign producing areas. When
it becomes necessary for the
Government again to legislate
with respect to quotas or again
to reinstate quota controls, the
area and the farm with a good
sugar beet producing record
will undoubtedly enjoy prefer
entail treatment. The beet SUI
gar industry can only continue
to expand as your agricultural
program develops and with the
knowledge of what is in the
immediate future in the way
OF irrigation projects for your
vast area. There. is no reason
why a normal and healthy ex-
pansion of the irrigated area
will not come early to increase
the population of this COM
munity, as well as to enhance
the property value.
We are doing our part in
meeting competition by pro-
viding the best possible pro-
cessing facilities and the best
possible quality of sugar. The
farmer can do his share by
making use of the latest mech
anical devices and the best
known cultural practices. Last
fall was one of the most dis
heartening we have ever known.
One of the old timers of the
industry has said that in his
fifty-tWo years in the industry
he never saw a worse harvest
ing season. That season IS
back of us.
AS you no doubt are aware.
the labor outlook is better for
this year than during the war
years. Congress has passed leg
islation authorizing the use of
Mexican Nationals for this
season. There will be more
machinery available, even if it
will not meet the total de-
mand. This year we have a
late moist spring. I am told
that the advantages to be
gained through the high moist
ure content of the soil may
offset. in increased tonnage,
any disadvantages growing out
of somewhat delayed planting.
The highest price in history
for beets added to the current
high value of beet tops, the
improved labor prospects and
the value of a hi h acreage for
your farm, combine to make
beets a most desirable crop for
1947. And We have the plant