Evening star., 1948-09-05
145 Million Bushels
Of Grain 10 Be Shipped
Abroad in ) Months
ty the kssoeio.ed Press

ttipoS aiAloIhiSCu LllC dIOCdllOIl OF
l45,20l 900 bushels of grain for export
In october, November and December.
The allotment includes 107. .581 900
bushels of wheat and -four. This
is about $4,000 bushels below the
quotas for the July September quar-
Ter, but the total shipments for
the half year are only slightly
lower than the wheat and -four al
locations for the last half of 1s47.
The July-December 1s4s quotas,
moreover, do not include wheat and
Hour shipped to Western Hemis-
pnere countries and the Philippines
after August q, when such Ship
ments were removed from export
control.
No Abrupt Change in Policy.
Inc announcement indicated no
abrupt change in grain export policy.
secretary OF Commerce Sawyer. in
report on export control last
month, urged a cut in food exports
In view of markedly improved crop
prospects in Europe.
The Economic Cooperation Ad-
mlnistration, on the other hand,
mas forecast larger shipments to
europe in view of this country's
record grain harvest outlook.
Secretary Sawyer disputed the
latter view, holding that it is time
to think about the American house
wife"
For most of the countries of
Western Europes unfavorable sum-
mer weather, plus shortages of ma
cnlnery and manpower in some
areas, will mean crops generally be-
low preWar levels.
Awaited Eagerly by Trade.
But even so, the European harvest
promises to be a heartening i'm
provement over that of last wear,
With production of some commodi-
ties expected to double the l947
figure
The allocationS announced here
Yesterday have been awaited eagerly
by the export trade. The trades
interest was stirred by the recent
ECA announcement that shipments
Of wheat will be handled through
private trade channels instead of by
Government procurement, after De-
, cember l. The Government will
continue buying only for Austria,
Greece and the occupied countries.
The Marshall Plan countries are
to get SO per cent of the October
December ALLEGATIONS. OF this total
more than one-third will 60 to the
occupied zones of Germany.
Some 12,43l 900 bushels of wheat
will be exported through CONNER
cial channels, along with most of the
2l,263 ,0G0 bushels Of -four and the
1880, 900 bushels of corn and
other course grains.
Log Jams at Elevators.
AS the American farmer harvests
his bumper crops the situation
shapes up this way:
The winter wheat crop of .neark
1,G00000,000 bushels already has
been harvested-bringing the total
winter and spring crop to 1924 .O0O.-
600 bushels. the second largest in
history. Log jams at elevators and
rail shipment embargoes have char
acterized the winter wheat harvest.
and prices have dropped below Gov
ernment support levels.
Americas record breaking corn
harvest of more than $500 900, 900
bushels now is almost a certainty.
Farmers are racing to put up addl-
tional crib space Grain traders
think 1t will test the whole Govern
ment price-support program and
may destroy it.
The oat crop, virtually all har-
vested, will be the third largest in
history. Rice will set new record.
Grain sorghum production beat all
previous marks. Flaxseed produc-
ton will be the second largest in
history. And the soybean crop is
expected to reach a new high.
European Crops Better.
In Europe. however, the farmers
were beset by heavy rains in the
late spring and summer from which
generally there has been substantial
recovery.
In Germany, estimates from the
British and American zones are
lacking, but American experts say
the harvest will be the best since
1914.
The French wheat crop Is esti-
~ a. at
pared with 5000, 900 last year.
In Poland the Agriculture Minis
ter has announced the bread battle
Is won" Harvests are universally |
good, with wheat. rye, barley and
oats nearly double the 1947 figure. |
The country expects to be able to
export potatoes, rye. flour, barley, |
bacon, eggs and poultry.
Czechoslovak farmers have made
a remarkable recovery after last
years disastrous drought Sharp
increases are expected in wheat, rye
and sugar beets.
Hungarian Hafvest Improved.
The disastrous 1s47 drought has
been followed in Hungary by the
best postwar harvest. but produc-
ton still is below the prewar aver
ages.
In Romania wheat is up to 2.0OO.-
900 tons, compared with 100000
last year.
The bread grain crop of Sweden is
expected to reach $4,000 tons. al
most double last year. but below pre-
war averages. Potatoes are esti-
mated II per cent more plentiful
than in 1947, sugar beets Is per cent.
The out look is favorable in Den
mark, with wheat production esti-
mated at 100000 tons compared
with the near-failure of last yea
when only $4,000 tons were har-
vested