Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], December 01, 1949, Page 9, Image 9

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
The Editor's Page
Things to Talk About
T A RECENT meeting of a Montana
farm organization time was provided
for a general discussion of types of pro
A
grams that would be appropriate for com
munity groups, While some community
leaders made worthwhile suggestions there
seemed to be a general feeling that it is
We just can't seem to think of anything
difficult to plan the kind of meetings that
will hold the interest of members.
to talk about," admitted one local program
committee chairman.
That was too much for one of the nation
al organization leaders who was in attend
ance. He reminded the meeting of the stren
uous battle for a revised price support plan
that had just been concluded by congress.
He told of the fight against powerful oppo
sition groups to secure a moderate stepning
up of the minimum levels of support for
basic farm commodities. He pointed out
that the victory that had been won after
many weeks of struggle meant that the
wheat price support level that will be in
effect in 1950 will be 30 cents a bushel high
er than that providçd by the law that was
being amended.
And then he concluded by asking how it
was that the folks at home coujdn't think of American freedom. How far can we go in
anything to talk about, when all that was adjusting to a machine age, and in estab
going on at Washington and when so many lishing reasonable and necessary controls,
other questions of national agricultural pol- without sacrificing fundamental principles
icy are yet to be decided. How right he was. of liberty upon which this republic was
There is the fundamental difference of founded? Freedom is everybody's business
opinion between farm organizations as well and everyone should do his share in safe
as among individual farmers as to proper guarding it.
policy regarding support levels. Some be
lieve that rigid supports should be provided at community meetings?
Who said there is nothing to talk about
Profit in Farm Herds and Flocks
HEN a successful financier was asked
for the secret of his success some
years ago he replied: "I buy when every
one wants to sell, and sell when everyone
else wants to buy."
An example of the successful working
out of that philosoohy was reported re
cently by the First National Bank of Glas
gow (Montana). A Valley county irrigation
farmer who understood livestock arfd its
care, borrowed money from the bank two
or three years ago to buy 300 ewes. It was
at a time when many range operators were
w
going out of sheep because of the difficulty
of getting dependable sheepherders and
other help.
This farmer sold 283 lambs the first year
for $3,737.35. The wool from 300 ewes sold
for $1,441.50. This made a total gross income
of $5,178.85 from the 300 ewes in one year.
This grower paid off his loan and still has
the 300 ewes.
The moral of this success story is not
that every farmer should go and do like
wise. But this experience does serve to indi
cate that there is an opportunity in sheep
for some producers who know how to han
dle livestock, or can learn to do so, and
whose farms are suited to such an opera
tion. It is particularly significant now that
many wheatgrowers are complying with the
acreage allotment program. Some of these
grain farms where water supplies are avail
while others feel that flexible supports will
prove more workable.
Then there is the highly controversial
Brannan plan of direct payments which is
good for a spirited discussion in àny farm
group. Some think it is the only real an
swer to the farm surplus problem as far as
perishable commodities are concerned. And
others are just as convinced that it would
P»ve the way for a complete loss of freedom
for American farmers.
Then there are the matters of local in
terest such as organization of rural tele
phone lines, better roads, establishment of
soil conservation districts, community ac
tion to control trespassing, better school
facilities, etc.
Questions of world peace, atomic con
trol, how best to deal with the Soviet gov
ernment and racial equality are among
many that should be fully discussed at local
levels.
These and countless other questions pro
vide subjects for group discussions that
would not only hold the interest of mem
bers but promote a better understanding of
the principles involved.
Most important of all is the subject of
able could be adapted to a moderate sized
sheep production enterprise. Sheep would
work particularly well on some irrigated
farms. Similar opportunities are available
with cattle.
There is increasing evidence that a trend
toward farm herds and flocks is under way
and will continue. Managers of some of the
cattle sales this fall have reported that con
siderable numbers of foundation animals
have been purchased by wheatgrowers who
are ^putting some of their surplus acreage
into grass. This is a wholesome move that
may well be followed by many other farm
ers whose places and personal inclinations
are suited to livestock. A modest investment
in a few head of good stock can be devel
oped into a substantial livestock operation
in a comparatively short time.
Although largest pig crop on record is
now going to market prices have held up
better than many market experts expected.
The decline from peak levels of last summer
has been substantial, however, and consum
ers are buying pork chops for about one
third less than a few months ago. Lard is
about 38 percent lower in retail price than
at the high point last year. Consumption is
increasing and the American Meat Institute
estimates that the average person in the
United States will eat 153 pounds of meat of
all kinds in 1950. This would be 6 pounds
more than in 1949 and 14 pounds more than
the pre-war average.
Straws in the Wind
If export barter deals made by other
countries keep increasing, United States
may eventually have to operate along sim
ilar lines. Some foreign countries that now
have agricultural surpluses are beginning to
take markets away from us through these
^icultSe" Conization) plan to° swap
farm surpluses for devalued foreign cur
rencies is receiving more serious considera
tion at Washington than official statements
on the subject would indicate.
Surplus wheat, rice and cotton may be
shipped to India and other countries of the
Far East in 1950 in exchange for strategic
materials if plans being formulated by the
administration work out.
Domestic wheat carryover next July may
not be any greater than at the end of the
last marketing year. Exports will stay quite
high for another year or two. World wheat
agreement assures minimum export of 168,
000,000 bushels for another three years.
Importance of export market for impor
tant U. S. farm products is indicated by the
following estimated percentages of total
1948-49 production that has been exported:
Wheat 39, rice 38, cotton 33, tobacco 25, soy
beans 25, peanuts 23, lard 20, dry beans and
peas 13, cheese 12, Irish and sweet potatoes
10, fresh fruit 5.
PMA policy of basing 1950 potato acre
age allotments entirely on trends toward
increased production gave Montana a 19
percent reduction from 1949 acreage, the
sharpest cut of any state. Other states that
were cut most heavily are Wyoming 16%,
North Dakota and New York 15%, Maine
14%, Washington and South Carolina 13%,
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania 12%, and Mi
chigan 10%.
Use of commercial fertilizer in Montana
increased from a 1935-39 average of 1,769
tons to a total of 4,220 tons in 1948. In Wyo
ming, the increase was from 812 tons to
1,700.
the farm support program under the agri
cultural act of 1949. Here's what the new
Dairymen won an improved position in
law says: ''The price of whole milk, butter •
fat and the products of such commodities,
respectively, shall be supported at such lev
el not in excess of 90 per centum nor less
than 75 per centum of the parity price there
for as the secretary determines necessary
in order to assure an adequate supply. Such
price support shall be provided through
i oan s on, or purchases of, the products of
milk and butterfat."
Montana Farmer-Stockman
—COVERS MONTANA AND NORTHERN WYOMING—
OFFICE: 1Î1 4th St. N.
Great Falls. Montana,
LESTER COLE - - .
DON K. BOSLEY - .
LARRY GILL ...
JERRY LESTER - . .
Editor and Manager
- Assistant Editor
- Livestock Editor
- - Roving Reporter
Department Editors: AMY MARTIN. Rural Homes Depart
ment: DR HOWARD WELCH Veterinary Department:
RALPH D. MERCER Soils and Crops: H E CUSHMAN
Poultry: I W DICKERSON. Farm Mechanics: DR JOHN
W HOLLAND. Thoughts on Life: GILBERT GUSLER.
Market Analyst.
Advertising Representatives: Western Associated Farm
Papers—CHICAGO 4' Fred Tool National Adv Manager
28 E Jackson; NEW YORK IR John W Fox Manager
500 Fifth Avenue; SAN FRANCISCO 5: J. J. Mattus.
Manager 707 Sharon Building
Member of Associated Farm Papers. Audit Bureau of
Circulations and Agricultural Publishers Association
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE—$3 for five years J2 tor three
years tl for one year' Canadian one year 12 00
RENEWALS AND CHANGES—If the date on your label
fter sending in
Is not changed within three weeks
your remittance, please write us. If you wish a change
In address give both new and old oostoffices
ADVERTISING—Full information regarding advertising
rates etc. sent on application Subscribers are requested
to mention promptly to us any advertiser who fails to
live up to his advertising agreement.
Vol. 37. No. 7