Show THE fop H prepared by the th c staff of the bureau of agricultural ag ri cultural economics summary by S R boswell bosell county agent summary of the outlook agricultural production pio has been so readjusted that the fanning industry as a whole is now in the best general position since 1920 an important feature of this le adjustment has been the better general balance finally achieved in livestock production further readjustments would be desirable in the production of some crops farm products taken all together still stand at a disparity in exchange for industrial goods and services any general expansion at this time would tend to place agriculture in a less favorable ab I 1 e economic position domestic outlook there is little likelihood of a greater demand for farm products in 1926 than existed in 1925 during the first half of the year business activity will probably be maintained at the th e present prosperous level and factory factor w and other wage earners will continue conti nile to constitute a satisfactory macket for the balance of the 1925 1926 crops yet to be marketed for the period in which the 1926 crops will be harvested and marketed there are more facts pointing toward lower than toward greater demand just as certain basic industries are now adjusting their future production pio pi schedules for a lower domestic de mand duding 1926 27 so should agriculture as a whole in so far as it depends upon domestic demand also plan its 1926 production for a market at best no stronger and probably somewhat less favorable than all the present foreign demand the present prospects in foreign markets are that the demand for the most of the products of our farms in 1926 will be no better than for the products of 1925 if as good unless the competing products of foreign countries should be reached by b Y a less favorable season although 1 I the he purchasing power of consumers in in most countries for the products which they will have to import may be as good or better than in the past year recovering domestic production and the imposition of protective tariffs the demands in some countries for foreign products and competition in all foreign markets probably will be at least as strong as last year agricultural credit although there has been a slight tightening in commercial interest lates during the last year present conditions indicate that ample capital o will be 0 available for fanning purposes in most regions giong re at rates during 1926 about the same as in 1925 1926 farm labor ind and equipment during this spring and summer no material change in the supply of farm labor and ant no reduction in the level of farm wages below that of last year is to be anticipated the cost of farn farm equipment all and upkeep will probably remain at the present comparatively stable level so long as industrial conditions and the Pul purchasing chasing power of the farmers do 10 not lot change materially wheat with an all increase of 4 I 1 per cent in ill the hard winter acreage planted last fall and the crop going into the winter in good condition a production of this class of wheat somewhat larger than in 1925 seems probable therefore if any acreage of spring wheat equal to last year is planted and average yields are obtained there will anvill be a surplus of hard cheats for export present indications are for another short crop of soft winter wheat a jul in 1926 Alti although lough it is yet too early to form an estimate of the 1926 world wheat production a slightly smaller world crop outside of the united states may be expected the areas of winter wheat in the countries already heard from are slightly smaller and alad unusually high yields of 1925 are not likely to be repeated world stocks at the beginning of the new crop year will probably not be large from present indications it is reasonable to expect that the returns from spring wheat in 1926 will compare favorably with the returns that might be realized from other grains in the area adapted to spring wheat production although there is not likely to be a continuation of the present u unusually n favorable situation which is due to the short crop in 1925 oats oarb if last years oats acreage I 1 is s caf maintained n tiffi ed relatively low prices for this strain rain are likely to continue unless yields are much reduced oats production in 1925 1325 1 was about bushels smaller than in 1924 in spite of a 5 per cent increase in acreage thel but the larger carryover brought the supply for this season sea son above last years total and prices have worked to the lowcau figures since 1921 22 the decreasing number of horses both on farms and in cities is es especially ally 1 important in in this connection barley both the export and domestic demand for barley next year seem likely to be less than in the last year an acreage equal to that of last year with average yields would probably result in continued low prices the e export apo rt demand for high grade malting barley from the pacific coast may be expected to continue corn A corn acreage the same as in 1925 with average yield will aill be sufficient to meet feeding and commercial requirements quire ments as fully as in 1925 A yield slightly above average and an increase increase in in acreage coincident with decreased feeding requirements for hogs and cattle were principally responsible for the low prices new prevailing vai ling although the low prices have stimulated the commercial uses for corn coni this outlet le quires only a small part of the crop and the feeding demand should be given ien particular attention by corn glowers beef cattle both the immediate and longtime long time outlook for the cattle industry now appear more favorable than in recent years the number of steers is the lowet lowest in many years with present I 1 breeding stocks apparently large enough to supply as much beef as it will pay cattle producers to raise A reasonable constant demand for beef is anticipated and no prospect of early competition in our maikels fr fram m foreign sources is in sight the maintenance of high quality breeding heids heads will place the cattlemen in a position to increase production as rapidly as demand justifies hogs the outlook for the swine industry throughout 1926 appears very favorable with indications that hog prices will be maintained at high levels the I 1 number of hogs in the areas of corn coni 1 iner mercial cial production is the smallest since 1921 and for the entire country count the smallest in many years stocks of polk and lard are the second smallest st in 10 years anti and the strong domestic demand for pork products seems likely to continue through most of the year dairy products the dairy industry as a is in in a relatively strong position the number of dairy heifers heffers on farms has been decreasing since 1922 and the number of milk cows on farms is slightly less than alian a year ago some slight increase in numbers of young stock during the next two years may be desirable however if the pres ent trend in foreign production continues con tinus upward ind and unless consumption in in europe continues to increase foreign competition in ill our markets will likely become more important sheep and wool indications are that 1926 will be a good year for the sheep industry though possibly not quite so favorable as 1925 more ewes have been bred if favorable weather conditions prevail during lambing time slightly larger lamb production in 1926 will result A gradual slackening in the demand for both lambs and wool in late 1926 and 1927 seems possible there could be a further increase increase however in lamb iamb and wool production in some sections at a profit as contrasted to alternative enterprises but those who are planning to increase immediately their breeding flocks should consider the high initial investment now required and the probability babi lity of somewhat lower lamb prices in the future horses and mules the present number of work animals is apparently ample to meet farmers needs luring during 1920 although there has been a marked decrease in the number of colts foaled coaled during the past six or seven years continued reduction will eventually result in an acute shortage of work animals individual farmers are advised to study carefully the type of power best suited to their own farms and determine individual needs for horse and mule replacements 3 to 10 years from now poultry and eggs the market for poultry at least dwing during the first six months of 1926 will probably be bettor better than during the same period in 1925 when heavy storage stocks of dressed poultry had a depressing influence storage stocks this year are arc considerably below those of the same saint month of last year which may be ex expected pecked to result in broader outlets for flesh killed poultry ly present conditions indicate that the production of eggs will be somewhat larger and prices lower during the first half of the year 1926 than for the same period in 1925 ilay hay there appears to be no need fo for new to td increase inci ease present acreage so far as market hay is concerned but lit farmers should not loso lose sight of the fact that low costs in livestock production are based upon abundant pasturage and hay supplies feeds the cost of feeds tuffe including mill feeds and high protein concentrates will probably not make any material advance luring during the first six months of 1326 should normal weather conditions prevail during the remainder I 1 er of the winter and spring pasturage be available at the usual time potatoes growers of very early potatoes who can market their heir product by the first week of june have an unusual opportunity port unity this season but there is danger that growers in the latter potato states may be influenced by pre present prices and plant too heavily an increase increase of 10 per cent in acreage with normal yields is about tw th limit that would prove profitable seed is now so high that those who expect to plant a large acreage should keep a close watch on the acreage being planted elsewhere clover and alfalfa seed inasmuch as red and alsike alseike clover seed stocks are considerably below normal and prices bare are higher than normal the production of these seeds might well be increased on the other hand stocks of sweet clover and al falfa seed are much larger than normal ind and prices generally lower the attention of farmers who wish to sow alfalfa or sweet clover for hay pasture or soil enriching purposes is called to the fact that an ample supply of good seed is available at prices that are the lowest since 1922 sugar domestic sugar beet and sugar cane producers may reasonably expect no further decline ind and possibly some im f in prices for the 1926 crop the e extremely low price of sugar during the past year makes it unlikely that any material expansion will be made in foreign sugar carie cane areas in the immediate f liture future |