OCR Text |
Show THINGS LOOKING LP SAYS AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT The Department of Agriculture is decidedly optomi.stic in painting- the picture of farm conditions in the United States for the year 1925. The statement says that promise is good for the recovery in all branches of the livestock industry. Hogs are nearly near-ly double the price of a year ago and heavy steers and lambs are higher. Truck crops too are said to be coming com-ing in for a share of recovery this year. The statement continues: "Early estimates suggest a potato production of only about 3.1 bushels per capita, which would be on a par with the shortage years, 1911' and 1919. Onions, cabbage, melons and peaches have been selling at two or three times last years prices and seemingly have a brisk fall market ahead. "Rains last month helped hay and late oat crops. Corn is marking ears now and looks good as a whole. A fair spring wheat crop seems assured, assur-ed, despite considerable hot weather damage and some rust in the Red River valley. Winter wheat was a disappointment but (apparently has thraBhed out about as much grain as was expected. "Fruit is not so plentiful in eastern districts, but the Pacific coast will I make good much of the deficiency. Cotton has lost ground in the western belt by reason of drought, but indications indi-cations still point to a sizable total crop." The department's general index of purchasing power of farm products in terms of nonagricultural commodities commod-ities remains at a level of 90, compared com-pared with a five year pre-war level taken as 100. |