The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-12-16

will be as high or higher, than
last year Feed costs, an exception
to this, will be lower.
Net income to farmers in l94e
is expected to be lower, with
higher production costs and lower
farm prices. Still, total net in
come should be above any year
before 1916 and about three times
prewar.
That the cotton outlook is less
favorable than for the past few
years is of concern to Mississippi
farmers Prices have declined
from above parity to about the
loan level.
Domestic demand for cotton
textiles has weakened. Competi-
ton from rayon and other syn
thetic fibers is greater than at
any time in history, and will in
crease.
Total supply of cotton in the
United States for the 1948-f9
season is estimated at about 1875
million bales. Consumption here
in this period is expected to be
around nine million bales, and
exports may reach four million
bales. This will make a total of
about 10 million bales used here,
and exported, leaving a carry
over next August of about five
and one-half million bales.
If in the 1949-50 season, the
United States cotton acreage is
eight to ten per cent above the
1913 acreage, normal yields would
give a crop Of Is million bales.
Under such conditions, acreage
allotments and marketing quotas
would be proclaimed in 1850.
If farmers substantially in
crease cotton acreage in 1949, and
yields are favorable, the resulting
large crop might have a bad eff
feet on the cotton situation for
the next several years.
In livestock, more pork and less
beef is in prospect for 1949.
Livestock production should
continue to be profitable in 1949
despite recent breaks in live
stock prices Buving cattle to feed
out will carry the most risk. Hog
prices should continue relatively
high in the first half of 1949,
dropping more than normal dur
ing the latter half because of in
creased marketings.
The dairy outlook will con-
tinue favorable in 1949. Lower
feed costs probably will more
than offset increase in other
costs, resulting in a little larger
net income to dairymen than in
1913.
In poultry, gross returns from
sale of products probably will be
slightly lower than in 1948, but
lower feed costs should result in
higher net incomes. Many farm
ers and backyard poultry raisers
will rush to get back into the
poultry business. Go back only
on a sound permanent basis, eco
nomists caution.
Commercial truck farmers may
receive slightly lower prices in
1919 because of increased pro-
duction, but the demand is TX
pected to continue strong Forest
products prices are expected to
continue about in line with 1913
prices.
Fertilizer prices are not expect
to continue about in line with
1948 prices.
Fertilizer prices are not expect
ed to be cheaper and may be
higher. Supplies of fertilizer viii
be more plentiful than for several
years.
Supplies of mixed fertilizer
goods should be adequate. Phos-
phate supplies may not be suffi-
cient to meet demands. Nitrogen
supplies will be about 10 per
cent above 1948~supplies. but will
not meet the demand. The same
will be true of potash supplies.
Farmers should anticipate their
fertilizer needs now and get it
whenever they can get delivery.
Prices of new machinery, re-
pair parts and motor fuel will
remain high.
Farm real estate prices r the
highest in history, the average
farm value on July l, 1948, being