16—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 11, 1971 4cross the Editor's Desk Editor’s note; The national egg bust has been a fact of life for egg producers for about 18 months. With prospects that the bust will continue for at least several months longer and with the economic squeeze on individual egg producers steadily building, attention of industry leaders has increasingly turned to ways of improving the situation. Almost inevitably, among those under fire Is Urner-Barry Publications, the national egg market price setter. The Poultry Times recently carried the following report under a Manchester, Conn., dateline of Frank Urner’s views on the durrent egg industry situation: The trend to bigness which has characterized the U S egg in dustry is the chief reason for eggmen’s failure to adjust production in time of poor prices That’s the opinion of Frank Urner of Urner-Barry Publications, Jersey City, N J , who addressed a meeting of Connecticut poultrymen from Tolland and Hartford Counties Urner noted that in the past when flocks were more numerous and smaller, a condition of overproduction led one, and then another, producer to quit egg production and concentrate on other plases of agriculture or change completely to another vocation “Under present cir cumstances, however, with the larger production units, frequently complete with a feed operation and cartoning facilities, terminating egg production in favor of production of other commodities is prac tically impossible and ter minating with the idea of en- sustain top production with the BABCOCK B-300 Keeping production up...costa do wn... is the profit key in poultry operations. And more and more records on commercial flocks of Babcock B-300's...“The Busi nessman’s Blrd”...showsus talned production of top qualify eggs...often with an additional 20 to 30 eggs per bird housed over other strains. Come 1n... look at the records and the B-300 ...“The Businessman’s Bird". BABCOCK FARMS, INC Telephone (717) 626-8561) tenng other employment is equally unrealistic,” he said. “Therefore, we find today overproduction in relation to demand and the desired reaction that would occur with low prices is so slow that it can hardly be measured,” Urner pointed out. “There are sizeable production units that cannot cut back because financing then has to be settled, so these units continue ,n production, completely inflexible so far as market conditions dictate. They continue only with the hope that they can outlast their competitor. “Even when one of these units goes bankrupt, the facilities are not liquidated but are acquired by someone else at a lower in vestment and the production is maintained practically intact ” Urner said that one can con clude that the law of supply and demand operates with much greater difficulty under today’s conditions The speaker went on to outline how his firm issues a base price series and then told how prices are paid in relation to this quotation Noting the erosion of premiums over the years to the present situation where good producers in the Northeast do NOW, WE HAVE FROST. Top Dress Alfalfa .... CHIOROIPC A CM With 0-26-26 for Chickweed control Fall Plowing for Corn? Anhydrous Ammonia can be fall applied. Apply P & K needs this fall & save. Call us for prompt service! rt ORGANIC \OMMm PLANT ANHYDROUS AMMONIA - — t FOOD CO. GROFETOWN RD. " LANCASTER, PA. Ph: 397-5152 DECEMBER DISCOUNT DEALS Heavyduty Lightweight Halfton truck built tough like the heavies. Prices start at $ 2409. well to receive five or six cents below the top Urner-Barry quotation for large whites, Urner chided those who see as the an swer to the situation a higher base quote “If the quoted prices do not accurately reflect trading con ditions, the market will find its on level by some means. This may come about by a swing to more direct negotiations, by wider discounts in relation to the quotes or through a combination of bids and offers,” he said “But find its level it will and any theory that assumes that merely raising the quotation will answer the producer’s problems is absolutely untenable,” he added “Fortunately, we feel most elements of producer organizations agree with us and only a few diehards still insist that the industry would be irt clover if Urner-Barry would simply publish higher quotations ” Urner also discussed the role of United Egg Producers and its affiliates, stating “UEP effectiveness appears to have suffered some under in ternal dissension, particularly as regards the need for the proper methods of involvement in efforts High Style For He-Men Three quarter ton Cheyenne. Sedan styling and ride with heavy hauling capability. Yours for as little as *2599. VENTURES CHEVROLET, to affect market prices. We found a considerable dissatisfaction with the recent UEP activities in the Chicago futures market.” The speaker said that the first cutback in production advocated by UEP was quite effective. “In fact, if other areas of the country had followed the guidelines to the same degree as the Northeast and Southeast the egg market report today would be more pleasant to read.” In closing, Urner urged more effort to uncover the role of cholesterol and to correct misconceptions in this area. He Plant Pioneer "Leader" 3518 Most outstanding yielder in its maturity. Excellent combiner. 3306 Top yielder of quality corn. 3369 A Frequently 10 to 20 bushels per acre better than other corns. Sold by your Pioneer man 22-zLy corn, sorghum, alfalfa Pioneer is a brand name, numbers identify varieties "Reg trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc , Des Moines, lowa, USA At Kissel Hill - Lititz - 626-2091 also told the group that con sumers should be made aware of the cost per pound of eggs, noting that at 59 cents a dozen the cost is 39 cents a pound. ihe Old ionnot “The tip you leave for a meal now would have bought It ten years ago.” PIONEER® BRAND Heavy Hauler Two ton tough-can be equipped with stake, dump or van body. Durable As low os $ 3446. INC.
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