Banner Graphic, Volume 10, Number 107, Greencastle, Putnam County, 9 January 1980 — Page 18
B8
The Putnam County Banner Graphic, January 9,1980
Shock waves: Corn Belt states hardest hit by halt in Soviet grain sales
By K AREN W. ARENSON c. 1980 N.Y. Times News Service The Corn Belt stretches for millions and millions of acres through lowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska and a handful of other states, some 80 million acres in all. These are the states with the dark fertile soil, the warm days and cool nights, and about 20 inches of rain in a growing season stretching from early May to early October, that make the corn stalks grow tall. These are the states where the shock waves from President Carter’s curtailment of grain shipments to the Soviet Union will be felt the most, on the million or so farms that raise corn, in the country elevators that store it, in the agricultural cooperatives and exporting companies that market it in the United States and overseas. Wheat farmers, soybeans farmers,
The Homesteader: Cutting refrigeration costs with stored ice
By STEVEN HUNTER Special Correspondent Many homesteaders find their greatest satisfaction in the ability to be totally self-sufficient regardless of electronic-age conveniences. One infernal machine that regulates all our lives is the refrigerator, and, as in most things, grandpa had a better way. Before the electric utilities became a part of our existence, foods were still frozen, beer was kept cold and ice was shaved into drinks on hot August nights. Even better, these services were free, because people kept ice. Ice-keeping is more an art than a science. Old farmers will spend hours reviewing the most successful methods used in their time, and methods have not changed much through the years. To begin, find some means of manufacturing or scavenging forms to freeze ice into blocks. The cube or rectangle shape is important in icekeeping, as tight stacks of ice blocks insulate one another and keep better than loosely stacked chunks. We have used one gallon milk cartons successfully, filling them to the fold below the spout to form blocks. Many other water-tight containers are suitable for ice forms. Ice should be frozen above ground. Although this is an
Government boosts corn, wheat price supports
PHOENIX, Ariz. (AP) - U.S.-government credit to foreign countries for commodity purchases in this country should be expanded now that President Carter has cut back sales of wheat and corn to the Soviet Union, American Farm Bureau president Allan Grant says. Grant, in an interview Monday, said farmers are suspicious of Carter’s plan to spend $2.25 billion to buy U.S. grain embargoed from delivery to the Soviet Union as retaliation for the military move into Afghanistan. But, a positive step, he said, would be the refinancing of the Commodity Credit Corp. so farmers could “begin to sell this material.” He said Poland, South Korea, Peru and Indonesia want credit for grain purchases, “but funds remain unavailable.” “Short-term CCC credits are
IH
New IH Equipment See us for the new Axial-Flow Combine New Allied Lines * Kewanee * Kuker - Rhino - Demco - Continental - Midwest S*
USED TRACTORS M. Farmall 706 D 1586 D w/duals IH 1256 D IH 4386 D with 400 hrs. IH 806 G' IH 1066 D
Stop In and Look Over Our Complete Warranty Plan Russellville Implement Sales, Inc. “THE TEAM WITH THE POWER” Denny and Sharon Strasburger, Owners Box 196 - West Railroad St. - Russellville, Ind. - Phone 435-2244
barley farmers, will all be hurt, too, by the curtailment. But corn is America’s largest crop, and its largest agricultural export. Under the government’s new buy-out program, announced Monday, designed to take over the “contractual obligations” of the companies that had contracts to sell to the Soviet Union, only 3.7 million metric tons of wheat will be bought, but 10 million metric tons of corn will be covered. Even with the buy-out program, the shock waves are likely to continue to reverberate in the Corn Belt for months to come. There are many more millions of bushels of corn that might have been sold to Russia that will not be bought now by either Russia or the U.S. government. “This is very definitely bearish,” said William Uhrig, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University in a phone interview Monday. While he pointed out
farm
one of the most effective-ex-pansion tools,” Grant said. “The interest rates are not subsidized. There have been no losses. This is not a ‘giveaway’ program.” Grant said the export credit agency was budgeted for $1.6 billion in fiscal 1979, but this was cut to SBOO million for 1980 and reduced to S4OO million in plans for fiscal 1980. Vice President Walter F. Mondale, in announcing the purchase program in Washington, said it was aimed at protecting farmers from price declines. But Grant said farmers remember that past federal administrations used stored grains to control prices to the disadvantage of agriculture producers. “If they’re going to hold it in storage, then it’s a depressant on the market even though they pay the price they say they’re
USED CULTIVATORS 2 IH 353 rolling 2IH 4-38” 2 JD 4-38”
MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT 500 gal. Trailer Type Rawhide Sprayer Brady Stalk Chopper Plows IH-710 7-16” on land
almanac rule, it is backed by substantial fact: ice frozen at ground level will be more subject to cracking and powdering, and will contain more precipitates and other debris, no matter how cleanly the operation is performed. Freeze your ice on shelves inside clean barns or other buildings, making sure all containers are sealed. Leave ice blocks until the coldest possible days of the winter before storing them. Have a storage bin prepared by digging a hole deep enough to put the top layer of your ice at least 30 inches below ground. Therefore, if you wish to keep a six feet deep by four feet by four feet “block” of ice, your hole should be nearly nine feet deep. When storing ice, lay a thick one inch layer of newsprint in the bottom of your hole, and cover it with a four to six inch layer of straw. Place a sheet of visqueen over this, and lay your first rows of ice blocks on the visqueen. Place a sheet of waxed paper or sandwich wrap (the old timers used everything from mullein leaves to milkweed silk) between the ice blocks, so that they may be easily removed from the stack. Ice should be stacked in sections two blocks high and as wide as your storage area. After stacking two layers, fill the spaces between blocks and walls with leaves, sawdust, or clean, fine gravel. Lay another one inch stack of newsprint over each two
going to pay for it,” he said “If it is put into the trade and moved into the countries that need it as fast as can be done ... then the farmers will not mind nearly as much as if it is held over their heads. But they’re very suspicious, very suspicious.” Some 10,000 delegates are here for the annual convention of the country’s largest agricultural organization. PHOENIX, Ariz (AP) - Allan Grant, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, says he won’t seek reelection. Grant announced his decision Monday at the federation’s first general session as its annual convention got under way in earnest. He gave no reason for the move that apparently opened the door to a rush of candidates
' - i Now In Stock
USED DISCS JD 22 ft. 220 JD 18 ft. 220 IH 18 ft. 480 IH 18 ft. 475
USED PLANTERS IH 400 8-30” JD 1240 IH 56 6-30” IH 56 4-38”
USED PLOWS IH 540 4-14” IH 560 6-16” IH 510 6-16” JD 145 5-16” IH 700 7-18” auto, reset
USED COMBINES (2)915 715 D Hydro 4-38” Sharp
that there were still many uncertainties in the government’s plans, he said that the curtailment could well lower corn prices in the months to come. Other countries around the world, such as Argentina, France, West Germany and Yugoslavia also produce corn. But America alone raises nearly half of the world’s total production and more than two-thirds of the corn sold in world trade. And last year it raised a record crop: some 7.6 billion bushels in all. Even now, as the stalks from last year’s harvest lie in the fields, farmers have already planned next summer’s crops. In the sand hills region of central Nebraska, for example, John Curry has ordered all the seed corn, herbicides and fertilizer that he will need to plant his 5,300-acre farm next year. Bumper crops of corn have rolled
Farm Bureau president urges refinancing of CCC
WASHINGTON (AP) - Capping a series of actions intended to protect farmers after canceling grain sales to the Soviet Union, the Carter administration has boosted basic price supports for wheat and corn. It also announced Tuesday changes in price formulas aimed at attracting more farmer participation in the government’s grain reserve program. Eligible wheat farmers had their supports raised to $2.50 a bushel for their 1979 crop from $2.35 previously in effect. Corn supports were boosted to $2.10 from $2 a bushel. Rep. Thomas S. Foley, DWash., said the increases, which were announced by the Agriculture Department, are “totally inadequate to offer farmers reasonable protection” from market price declines. Foley said he applauded the administration’s effort to help protect farmers from the effects of President Carter action
YOUR NEW ASGROW SEED DEALER
THE SOURCE FOR YOUR COMPLETE SEED NEEDS. Come grow with asgrow! POOR & SONS GREENCASTLE CLOVERDALE BELLE UNION
through the American harvesting machines each year for the last four years. The 1979 crop of 7.6 billion bushels was 7 percent larger that the 7 billion bushels in 1978, in part because of better yields per acre. Last year, American farmers harvested an average of 109.2 bushels for every acre they planted. The corn harvest starts in October and proceeds into November. Farmers sell some of it to their local country grain elevators, huge silos sprinkled through the Corn Belt. Part of the corn harvest may be contracted to go directly to a large corn processor or grain exporter. But farmers also store a large part of it themselves. Some of it is financed by government loans at below market interest rates. Some of it the government pays for every month, at 2 cents a bushel for every month it is stored. Curry Farms, for example, has not sold
block section, and cover each with another layer of visqueen. When you reach the top of your stack, lay a flat sheet of marine plywood over the ice, cut to fit the storage hole exactly. On top of the plywood place a sheet of visqueen topped with a twelve inch thick layer of leaves. Place another sheet of plastic over the leaves, and top this with trash bags filled with sawdust. The sawdust bags should be about half full, with all air squeezed out of them, to make them pack tightly. When finished, the sawdust bag layer should be over a foot high, and level with the top of the ground. Over the storage hole, a tent or awning must be placed to keep rain from washing the ice during the summer. To remove individual blocks, move the awning, extract the sawdust bags, remove plywood partition, scoop out leaves, and extract the amount of ice you need. Ice will keep in this manner until very late summer, and the greater the quantity, the more effective storage. Although the methods sound a bit involved, remember that ice storage is not just a fun mimic of frontier days, but a way of escaping appliance manufacturers, the utility company and the refrigerator repairman. The old ice box is coming back for country dwellers, and cutting refrigeration costs is even more useful for people who grow, harvest, and store most of their own food.
suspending huge sales of grain to the Soviets but that the effort “does not go far enough.” The National Association of Wheat Growers called the actions “inadequate” and said the remedies “fail to match the gravity” of President Carter’ suspension of grain shipments. The price support rates reflect the amount of money farmers can borrow from the government by using their crops as collateral. They have the option of repaying the loans
BEAT THE INFLATION BARRIER
MURPHY BROS. 1990VER INVOICE SALE ON 1980 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM 12 to choose from * Pontlacs exclusive turbocharged V 8 excluded from this offer. See Ron Branham, Mike Murphy, Russ Murphy, Paul Murphy MURPHY BROS. INC. U.S. 231 North, Greencastle, Ind. 653-8426
a kernel of corn for about two and a half years. Though some of the crop is fed to its herd of 2,500 cattle and 7,500 hogs, the farm has about three years’ supply in storage now, about 1.2 million bushels. In fact, about 90 percent of the total U.S. corn crop is “feed corn,” meant only to feed to cattle, hogs and other livestock. A decade ago, the bulk of the crop was kept within the United States. But particularly in the last five years, says Uhrig of Purdue, exports have begun to grow. Two years ago 1,948 million bushels were exported. This year, the figure was expected to grow to 2,500 million bushels, with the biggest increases in exports slated for the Russians. Even with the increases in trade, however, each year, the “carry-over,” the amount of corn sitting in storage, has mounted. In the 1977-1978 crop year, 884
later and selling their grain or, if prices are severely depressed, letting the government assume ownership of the commodities in lieu of repayment. At USDA, Deputy Secretary Jim Williams told a news conference the price support increases and a series of adjustments related to a grain reserve program completed all the actions planned now by the administration to help farmers recover from the cancellation of the grain sales.
million bushels were left after the rest had been sold to feed people, animals, industrial processes and export demand. A year later, the carry-over had grown to 1,104 bushels. And this year, the figure has grown to 1,285 bushels. It is these huge supplies numbers that could grow even larger with the grain curtailments that could hurt farmers if prices drop in the coming months. While the government said it would take over contracts for 22 exporting companies that already had contracts with Russia, it has not yet specified what, if any, further assistance it will provide to the corn industry. Much of the corn supply is still owned by farmers, perhaps as much as threequarters of the available supply, and only one- quarter is held off of farms.
Extension calendar Jan. 9 - Farm Management Strategies meeting, 7 a m. Putnam County Fairgrounds. Doughnuts and coffee with Dr. Howard Doster who will begin his program at 7:30. Jan. 14-19 -- Farm Science Days at Purdue University. Jan. 17 -- Learn and Return Lesson on “Protecting Yourself Against Lawsuits,” 7 p.m., fairgrounds. Marilou'Roeschlein from Vermillion County is the specialist. Jan. 18--Deadline for 4-H beef steers and crossbred heifer enrollment. Jan. 21 - Junior Leader meeting, 7:30 p.m. fairgrounds. Jan. 22 - Extension Board meeting. Jan. 24 - Corn Forum for Area V at Terre Haute Holiday Inn. Advance reservations for lunch are necessary. Jan. 26-27 - All 4-H beef steers, 4-H crossbred heifers must be tagged and noseprinted at the fairgrounds. Market reports INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Hogs 1,500: Barrows and gilts active, 50 cents to 1.00 higher; 1-2 210-240 lb 39.25-39.75; 1-3 230250 lb 38.50-39.00; couple of lots 2-3 255 lb 37.50; couple of packages 300-305 lb 34.00-34.50. Sows active, under 450 lb 50 cents higher, over 450 lb steady; 1-3 390-425 lb 31.50,475-550 lb 33.50-34.50. Cattle 700: slaughter steers and heifers moderately active, mostly steady, cows and bulls scarce; slaughter steers: choice 2-41,000-1,250 lb 69.00-69.50; mixed good and choice 2-4 950-1,200 lb 68.00-69.00; some good 2-367.00-68.00. Slaughter heifers: choice 2-4 850-1,100 lb 67.00-67.50; mixed good and choice 2-4 750 : 1,000 lb 66.00-67.00. Slaughter cows: few utility 2-3 51.00-53.00, some beef-type cutter and low utility 2-3 800-1,000 lb 46.00-50.00. Sheep 50: wooled slaughter lambs choice and prime 90 lb steady 63.00; ewes scarce. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana direct hog market Tuesday at 70 yards and plants: Demand moderate to good: barrows and gilts 75 cents to 1.00 higher; 1-2 200-240 lb 38.0039.00, bulk 38.25-39.00, 240-250 lb 37.75-38.25; 1-3 250-260 lb 36.75-37.75. Sows 50 cents to 1.00 higher; 1-3 300-600 lb 28.50-33.00. EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) Hogs:4oo, barrows and gilts 50 cents to 1.00 higher; 1-2 200-240 lb 39.00; 1-3 few 240-260 lb 38.00-39.00. Sows steady to 50 cents higher 1-3 350-500 lb 31.50, 480-650 lb 33.50-34.00.