Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1918 — CONCERNING SEED CORN PRICKS [ARTICLE]

CONCERNING SEED CORN PRICKS

Washington, D. C.. March 15. — The attention of the department of agriculture has been called to occasional high prices that are being charged for seed corn in certain localities. The department recognizes that the seed corn shortage would have an adverse effect upon the production of corn in 1918, and that the price of seed corn has an important bearing on the maintenance of acreage. Emphasis has been placed on the conservation of an ample supply of seed regardless of expense and effort to obtain it. It is not the intention of the department to indicate as unreasonable, prices that are necessary to provide a fair return for all efforts that have been made to conserve seed. A fair price should be determined by the actual service performed in obtaining and conserving such seed.

Certain sections of the country, particularly east and south of the main corn belt, were more favored than the others by the fall conditions of 1917. The territory including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, northern Missouri, northern Kansas, and all the states north of these suffered most severely. Other sections of the country apparently can provide for their own requirements without great difficulty, and therefore, relatively lower prices in those sections should prevail. The Food Administration has announced Its intention to take such action as may be necessary to prevent speculation or’profiteering on the part of seedsmen. Upon receipt of specific information of extortionate prices being charged for seeds, such cases will be investigated and recommendation made for such action as the conditions require.—D. F. HOUSTON, Secretary of Agriculture.