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Show Meat Price Situation Termed Both Economic And Biological "The present meat situation cannot be corrected through a "petticoat boycott" of publicity seekers ignorant of the meat situation. sit-uation. These very people are violently opposed to boycotting in other fields. Meat is labor supplemented by nature. The present meat situation is economic econom-ic and biological," says James A. Hooper, Executive Secretary of the Utah Wool Growers. He continued, "We have an increasing human population with a decreasing livestock population. pop-ulation. Therefore, this part of the supply and demand is biological. biolog-ical. There is the largest amount of money in circulation of any-period any-period of history and the velocity vel-ocity of its use is probably at a record high, this is economic. The biological situation cannot be corrected by a wave of the hand or through boycott. The economic situation has a political politi-cal aspect and were it not for fear of political repercussions, could probably be partially corrected. Production and production alone is one important feature that would contribute to lower prices of meat. Production can be accomplished by increasing the number of animals, as well as increasing the weight of livestock live-stock that is available at the present. The first is a long time program the latter relatively short. We have a potential increase in this year's record' feed crop, especially corn. Feeding risks and high taxes place many feeders feed-ers in a doubtful position and there is little question but what they will be further discouraged in increasing the weight of these animals if housewives and other uninformed segments are to continue con-tinue their activities. In this way the purpose of this group seeking lower prices, is entirely destroyed, des-troyed, because there can be no lower prices by discouraging increased in-creased weight and production of meat animals. For the immediate im-mediate future feed crops are the only potential possibility of increased in-creased meat production and consumers are standing in their own light by discouraging at this time the feeding of animals. Livestock is now moving from the summer ranges and the border bor-der line animals will either go to the processor at a light weight or to the finisher of livestock to produce better meat and a larger tonnage. An encouraged feeder will increase meat tonnage. Lambs, which are selling fully 10c below beef cattle of equal grade, show a downward trend in production and an unfavorable unfavor-able lamb condition in the late producing1 area, has reduced the fall lamb supply by approximately approxi-mately 10 per cent. With favorable favor-able feed conditions, this is an unfortunate situation, as a higher high-er percentage of the late lamb crop .will be killed at lighter weights, thus reducing the tonnage ton-nage of meat and the supply of lambs to be fed during the winter win-ter of 1948 and 1949. Uncertainties, climatic conditions condi-tions and the high cost of production pro-duction has been responsible for no great increase in meat production. pro-duction. It would be interesting if figures were available through a careful cost study to know the actual cost per pound of meat at average industrial wages with a-forty-hour week. The public must not forget that all costs, including labor in processing and distribution, have further added to the cost of meat, and with present economic conditions, condi-tions, including' increased earnings, earn-ings, the situation does not permit per-mit a trend toward lower prices. Only 21 per cent of the industrial indus-trial income is spent for food, which is lower than the pre-war percentage and in the total amount less money is paid for meat animals in the United Slates than for liquor." |
