ACUTE GRAIN SHORTAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1071, 8 September 1930, Page 10

ACUTE GRAIN SHORTAGE

UNITED STATES BEARS COST OF DROUGHT NO EXPORT SURPLUS United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, Saturday. An alarming shortage of feed grains and fodders, principally maize, silage and hay, as a result of the recent drought in 28 States, is disclosed in a ! special survey by the Department of j Agriculture. The maize crop reduction, which iu estimated at about 750,000,000 bushels, has so aggravated the situation that even the estimated wheat surplus of 336,000,000 bushels will not be sufficient to offset the deficit in feed grains. Grain prices rose two cents today at Chicago as a result of the survey. Mr. A. M. Hyde, Secretary of Agriculture, stated today: “If we did not export a single pound of grain this year we should have domestic use for every bit of feed grain we shall possess.” The dairy products and meats are expected to rise in price sharply this winter. The survey, completed to the third week of August, shows that conditions have become more critical in the States which were the first to be affected by the drought and there has been an addition of new areas in the north and central States. The 28 States show a reduction of 30 to 75 per cent, in their feed production, while the foodstuff production for the nation is only 70 per cent, of the fiveyear average.