PALMER, ALASKA
Dorothy M. Bell,Editor
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley Farmers* '
^©operating Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations Work,
Problems, and Accomplishments. t
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THE FEED SITUATION
During the winter months is the time that the farmer takes stock:of what he has and
what he plans to do in the coming year. If there has been an over production in any
one crop, he is very likely to curtail in that direction. If some other crop has *
been scarce, then he lays his plans in that direction. This hit and miss method is
what keeps too many farmers down. Nevertheless, crop'production for previous years
must be studied in order to make plans for the future. These data should,however, *
be used collectively by the farmers and not singly. If the farmers,could get to
gether and make plans for the future planting much of this overproduction in one line,
and scanty production in'another could bo avoided. Dictation on what to plant and
how much will never work. Farmers are just to independent to stand for that and we
don’t want them to be•dependent. The'most democratic clement in our country today is
probably the samll independent farmer, and so long as he remains that way we need
have no fear of losing our democracy.
Following are some figures that might help farmers in planning next years crops.
•rices of feed grains and other concentrates, except oats, probably will averago
bout as high in 19-45-46 as'in 1944-45. Supplies of all feed concentrates per animal
unit for the 1945-46 season, on the basis of October ’1 indications, arc slightly
smaller than the relatively large supplies in 1944-45.
Supplies of the 4 principal feftdgrains—corn, oats, barley, and sorghum grains—
based on October 1 indicat ions, arc slightly larger per animal unit than last year,
and the- largest in 20 years of record. Offsetting this arc prospects that smaller
quantities of wheat will bo fed in 1945-46, and that feed grain imports will be much
smaller than in the'past three seasons. Production of the 4 principal feed grains
in 1945 totaled 121.1 million tons—slightly moro than in 1944. Stocks of old-crop
corn, oats, and barley at the beginning of 1945-46 equaled 14.2 million tons, an
increase of 3.5 million tons over a year earlier.
Production of byproduct feeds during 1945-46 will be nearly as largo as in 1944-45,
when it was the largest on record. Supplies of high-protein byproduct feeds, on the
basis of oilmeal equivalent, probably will bo slightly snall-cr than in 1944-45.
Oilseed meal prices may decline somewhat by suramor or fall of 1946, after the Govern
ment’s 1945 crop commitments to support meal priced run out. A doclinc in oilmeal
prices would reflect reduced livestock feed demand, particularly for poultry and
dairy feeds. Egg prices are expected to be lower in 1946 than in 1945, and unit
returns to dairy producers probably will be reduced in.the second half1 of 1946 if
dairy production payments arc reduced or withdrawn.
The suwply of hay for the 1945-46 season is one of the' largest on record. . In relation
to livestock to bo fed, this supwly is the largest in nearly 20 years. Supplies arc
greater than a year ago in .all geographic regions of the couiitry. "ith returns from
dairying and beef cattle production ('including dairy productipn payments and cattle
subsidies)‘continuing at a high level, prices of hay during the 1945-46 season, which
ends May 1, will average' only moderately lower than in 1944-45.
1SE SEASON ENDS THE 15th WITH MANY MOOSE IN COLD STORAGE LOCKERS.
-Hiring the 15 day moose season many,moose have boon hilled in this vicinity. One
wonders if this is thf: proper time to have open season for moose. Duo to wolves in
the hills,we arc told, the mooso have como down into the valloys. In doing"so they,
have escaped one evil only to make themselves easy proy to the many hunters. There'is
no objection to anyone getting the moose to'which he is entitled if ho con find one,
but when 60 moose arc_taken out of one area, we wondor if the moose had a fair chance.
They must have been very easy to got when sovpn men went out and in a. day or so came
baefc with seven noose. Wo heard another story, however, whope a group wont out and
loft a kid at the comp to take care of things. All the hunters cone back empty handed
and found the kid had killed a noose that had come into camp.
REMEMBER THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM ON NEXT FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, at 1:15 P.M. Community Hall.