The Sidney herald., 1955-03-17
FLAX PRICE
LOWER PRODUCT VALUE

= s :
FLAX PRICE REFLECTS
LOWER PRODUCT VALUE
A sharp decline in value of pro-
ducts obtained from a bushel Of
flaxseed, the lowest oil yield since
1949, and a small supply and de-
mand imbalance combine to exert
serious price pressure against an
important cash crop. Since July
price of bulk linseed oil at Min
neapolis has dropped nearly 25
percent = offset partially by lin
seed meal prices near those of a
year ago and about is percent a
bove the last summers low. Cur
rent country flax prices reflect
about 80 percent of the total pro-
duct value of p~rocessed flaxseed
today, compared with 70 percent
obtained last August, indicating
our present low flax prices are
due to factors other than rising
marketing costs since harvest.
Oil yields from new flax are
averaging about 1875 pounds per
bushel, the lowest since 1949 and
one-half pound below average.
New crop meal yields of SO
pounds are similar to those of last
year but below the 5-year aver
age of 1854 pounds. With more
efficient processing today, cur
rent product yield reduction must
be charged to poorer quality in
flaxseed resulting from combina-
ton of late paintings and dry
weather during crucial periods OF
the 1854 growing season.
Even a small supply surplus for
a commodity with fixed demand
may exert downward price pres
sure against producers out of pro-
portion to size of the excess sup
! ply.
Record paintings in 1854, re-
flecting diversion from wheat
more than offset reduced yields tc
produce 10 million bushels more
flax than normally enters COM
mercial use (27 million for oil
and 5 million for all other uses)
But, commercial seed and OF.
stocks, excluding CCC holdings
were very low at the beginning
of the crop year. Since then, about
6 of the 10 million bushel new
crop surplus has gone under CCC
loan to give it a net visible supply
surplus over practicable demand
that would normally be quite
manageable. During the past year
export sale of flax has been much
improved but, so far, most Of tina
trade has involved CCC flaxseec
holdings, a situation that is likely
to continue the rest of this mar
keting year or longer.
Looking ahead to 1855, with nC
price support for flax yet an.
nounced, the odds point to con.
tinued low to lower prices TO.
flaxseed unless paintings r re.
duced, which is unlikely unde.
wheat acreage restrictions.
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USES FOR GRASS
Usually when we talk abou
grass we are thinking of it il
terms of forage for livestock
However, conservationists reminC
us that even though grass may no
be used for feed, it has a yer.
definite value in the prevention
of erosion. SO let's just brief.
touch on a few of these uses.
For one thing, there is no bet
ter use of grass on cropland thai
in grassed waterways and man,
fields need them now to proven
the formation of serious gulley
later on. Contour strip croppin
offers another opportunity t
make use of grass water erosion
by having alternate strips of gras
fallow and grain across the slope
Another way to put grass t
work is to use it for reseedin.
the poorest land on the ranch t
protect the soil. Some of the place
where grass can well be put t
work include steep land wher
fallow tends to wash, sandy sol
that is inclined to blow, heavy sol
that is hard to work, and the top
of knobs where top soil has be
come thin.
These are just a few of the way
in which grass can be used 70
the protection of the soil and no
necessarily for feed. Do YOU hav
some places on your farm wher
grass can be used for some 0
these purposes?
Your county extension office ca
give you information on kinds 0
grasses adapted to this area an
suggest seeding methods and rate
of seeding.
DIELDRIN FOR
SHEEP TICKS
The Wyoming Agricultural Elk