Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 52, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 December 1949 — Farm Income Leveling Off [ARTICLE]

Farm Income Leveling Off

For First Time In Eight Years What They Buy Commensurate With What They Sell Washington. The American farmer’s income yesterday stood even with the level of prices he pays for the things he buys. The Agriculture Department announced for the first time since Noember, 1941, the farmer had lost his “price advantage.” All through World War 11, farm prices—-the level of the farmer’s income—was above the level of prices he paid for his purchases. The situation placed the farmer in the same economic situation he was in during the years 1910 through 1914 the years upon which the present “parity” formula is fixed. Indiana Farmers ’income prices, for the most part, were even with or slightly above the national average. The Hoosier farmer, for instance, got SI.BB a bushel for his soybeans Nov. 15, while the national average was $1.95. His hogs brought him $15.70 a hundredweight, while the national average stood at $15.60. Farmers marketing veal Nov. 15 in Indiana got $27 a hundredweight against the national average of $22. <jorn in Indiana was worth 97 cents a bushel. Over the nation the Nov. 15 price averaged $1.02. Hoosier chickens were worth 22.4 cents a pound, while the nation’s average was 23.1 cents. But turkeys in Indiana brought 37 cents against a national average of 34.4 cents. Indiana egg prices were 40.6 cents, against the average of 47.1 cents.

On a basis of parity, the prices received by farmers stood at 239 per cent of the 1910-1914 price level and the prices paid were at a level of 240 per cent above 1910-1914. Thus, the parity ratio is practically balanced at 99.9 per cent —or, as the Agriculture Department puts it, 100 per cent. Mr. Bert Duggins spent Thanksgiving in Michigan City at the home of his brother-in-law. Mrs. Duggins has been there the past several weeks because of the illness and death of her brother’s wife. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gawland and sons of Cincinnati, Mrs. Tressa Gawland and Mrs. Elizabeth Carson of Valparaiso were holiday guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Amy and sons of E. R. 2, Hebron. “Pop” Rowen and- his bakers went to Goodland Tuesday afternoon and picked up a new bread molding machine. This machine molds the dough into loaves preparatory to baking. Mr. ami Ivrrs. Paul Bush and children spent Thanksgiving day with relatives in Lafayette. A group of Scottish entertainers were at school on Wednesday. Their program was enjoyed by all.