—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 31,1977 18 looks good 9 DOVER, Del. - Pork production m the U.S. this year is up by about 10 per cent over 1976 and the outlook for both producers and consumers is promising, reports University of Delaware Extension marketing specialist Carl German. Hog farmers, who began increasing their output a year ago, ex perienced a temporary setback due to bitter weather and disease last Wmter, but farrowings for most of 1977 have been up considerably over a year ago. Total commercial pork production for 1977 should reach a little over 13 billion pounds. In August, hogs slaughtered m Maryland and Delaware numbered 27,000 head, up 22 per cent from July and 30 per cent more than a year ago. The Sep tember hog kill was also up about six per cent over last year. Barrow and gilt prices reached a seasonal peak this Summer but declined in the Fall to a little under $4O per hundredweight (cwt.). German predicts the 1977 annual average price for finished hogs will be near $4O per cwt. - about $3 below the 1976 average. Retail paces for pork, which averaged $1.34 per pound in 1976, dropped to $12.5 per pound m 1977 as a result of the increased output. “Depending on production and the demand for pork,” says German, “we’re liable to see average retail prices of $l.lB-1.22 per pound for all of 1978.” This would be good news for consumers, especially in the light of predicted rises in the cost of beef over the same period. Per capita consumption of pork at 62 pounds for 1977 was 2.4 pounds higher than the amount consumed m 1976 and 5.9 pounds above the low consumed in 1975. Such shifts in consumption directly reflect changes in retail prices for this and other meats, explains the economist He expects 1978 pork consumption to average between 67-71 pounds per person This would bring us back up to the 69.1 pound level consumed in 1974 - the last time pork was plentiful Good news for swine producers is that feed costs during 1978 are expected to be below what they’ve averaged for the past few years Com prices can be expected to rise from their late Summer and early Fall lows, however, and when this happens, feeding costs will increase “If hog prices decline during 1978 as expected, hog producers could find their profits squeezed, par ticularly during the second half of the year,” cautions the economist If September farrowing intentions are earned out, pork production during 1978 could be up by as much as 10 to 14 per cent or more over this year Reason for the projected production increase is a favorable hog-corn ratio 6 78 pork CONSUMPTION Beef Pork PRICE PER POUND Beef Pork This ratio, which is the relation between com prices and hog prices, is one of the main causes of cyclic changes in swine production. Last Summer the hog-com ratio was 20-1, a very good ratio for hog producers and one which has encouraged them to increase production. There’s a large carry-over from last year, which means the price is likely to level out USDA tries to convince consumers stake EDITOR’S NOTE: The following was prepared by the U.S. Depart ment of Agriculture. Our agricultural assets are in the hands of farmers It is up to them to take care of these valuable resources and make them more productive The key to the success of meeting the demand of future populations for food and fiber is in their hands There is just over a billion acres of farmland in the United States That is an average of five acres per person So, each of us depends on five acres of land for our food and some of our clothing and lumber How much is five acres 7 Well, the playing boundaries of a football field cover just over an acre So, five acres is slightly less than five football fields But the 5 acres you depend on aren’t all flat and suited to be cultivated for growing crops Just over two of the football fields - 2 2 acres - are cropland It takes 37 gallons of fuel and 185 kilowatts of electricity to produce the food and fiber on your five acres of farmland Any interruption of this flow of fuel and power can affect your food supply Your five acres has a one-fifth interest m a beef cow, and a one nineteenth interest in a dairy cow Somebody must take care of those animals It is important to you that the person who is tending those animals sees that he can make some money doing it, or else you will be the one who suffers from a restricted supply of meat milk, cheese and other dairy items A farmer has to spend about 25 production says specialist PER CAPITA MEAT CONSUMPTION AND RETAIL PRICES 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 116.8 120.1 129.2 125.5 118-122 69.1 56.1 138.8 146 138.9 138 143-147 108.2 135 134.3 125 118-122 at a favorable rate for thw swme producer Under the circum stances, German says ho£ aimers are likely to go thr ugh with their intentions to increase farrowings during December-February. This suggests large increases m second half of 1978 pork production. The larger pork supplies are expected to result m in agriculture of their hours per year working on that five acres to produce your food and fiber It’s hard work and takes a lot of skill It is important to you that he has enough incentive to do it, and do it well A farmer has an investment of $2,294 in physical assets in that average five acres that grows your food and fiber The farmer has made the investment because he wants to make a profit taking care of that investment and the five acres For this, you, as an average consumer, would pay the farmer $427 54 last year He gets about 40 cents out of each dollar you spend for farm produced food The farmer used that $427 54 to pay $353 17 in production expenses That left $74 37 for the farmer who took care of the 5 acres, and who took care of the one-fifth interest in the beef cow and the one-nineteenth interest in the dairy cow How much is $74 37 7 Well, a 3 1 /z per cent return on the $2,294 investment in physical assets made on your behalf is $BO 29 So, the farmer who was looking after your average five acres of land didn t get back quite 3 ] /2 per cent cash on his investment - and he threw in his labor If you put $2,294 in a savings account - where there is no risk - you’d be rightfully upset if you didn’t receive at least a five per cent return of $ll4 70 on your in vestment at the end of a year Since you depend on that five acres to sustain your life you have a big stake in seeing that the farmer tending your five acres has the equipment supplies the know how and incentive to do 'he job 59.6 62.0 67-71 lower market prices. By next Fall, pressue from these larger supplies could cause prices to drop below $3O per cwt. Considering these factors, German says an annual average of $3l to $34 per cwt. for finished hogs is likely next year. How much of a squeeze this puts on producers will depend on what happens to the price of gram. important LOOK FOR ADAMS CO. 0 C. RICE. INC Biglerville, PA 717-677-8135 YINGLING’S IMPLEMENT RDI Gettysburg, PA 717-359-4848 BERKS CO. N.H FLICKER & SONS INC Maxatawny 215-683 7252 STANLEY A.KLOPPINC Bernville, PA 215-488 1500 MILLER EQUIPMENT Bechtelsville, PA 215-845-2911 SHARTLESVILLE FARM SERVICE RDI, Hamburg, PA 215-488-1025 H. Daniel Wenger, Prop ZIMMERMAN'S FARM SERVICE Bethel, PA 717-933-4114 BRADFORD CO CARL L. PIERCE RD2, Columbia Cross Roads, PA 717 297 3513 WYNNE’S GARAGE Canton, PA 717-673 8456 BUCKS CO C J. WONSIDLER BROS. Trumbauersville Road Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-1935 PAUL HISTAND CO , INC 397 North Mam Street Doylestown, PA 215-348-9041 CECIL CO AG INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT CO. Rising Sun, Md. 301 658-5568 CHESTER CO. CHAS J. McCOMSEY &SONS Hickory Hill, PA 215-932-2615 STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE Cochranville, PA 215-593-5280 MS YEARSLEY & SONS West Chester, PA 215-696 2990 COLUMBIA CO. ORANGEVILLE FARM EQUIPMENT Orangeville, PA 717-683-5311 WILLIAM F. WELLIVER Jerseytown, PA 717-437 2430 iNDCO ERNEST SHOVER FARM EQUIPMENT 19 West South St Carlisle, PA 717-249 2239 DAUPHIN CO SWEIGARD BROS RD3, Halifax, PA 717-896 3414 FRANKLIN CO CHAMBERSBURG FARM SERVICE, INC 975 S Mam St, Chambersburg, PA 717 264 3533 MEYERS IMPLEMENTS, INC Greencastle, PA 717 597 2176 LEBANON CO AC HEISEY FARM EQUIP! , INC RDI, Jonestown, PA 717 865 4526 UMBERGERSMILL RD4, Lebanon [Fontana], PA 717 867-5161 LANCASTER CO ROY H. BUCH, INC. Ephrata, RD2 717-859-2441 A.B.C GROFF. INC, New Holland, PA 717-354-4191 A L HERR & BRO. Quarryville, PA 717-786 3521 LANDIS BROS INC Lancaster, PA 717-393-3906 LONGENECKER FARM SUPPLY Rheems, PA 717-367-3590 N.G. HERSHEY & SON Manheim, PA 717-665-2271 LEHIGH CO C.J WONSIDLER BROS. Jet Rt 309 and 100 Pleasant Corners, PA 215-767-7611 LYCOMING CO RICE FARM SUPPLY, INC. Jersey Shore, PA 717-398-1391 MONTGOMERY CO WENTZ FARM SUPPLIES Route 29 Palm, PA 215-679-7164 NORTHAMPTON CO GEORGE V. SEIPLE & SON Easton, PA 215-258-7146 NORTHUMBERLAND CO MECKLEY’S LIMESTONE PRODUCTS, INC. Herndon, PA 717-758 3915 SCHUYLKILL CO. LL ECKROTH FARM EQUIP, INC. New Ringgold, PA 717-943-2367 STANLEY’S FARM SERVICE RD, Klmgerstown, PA 717-648-2088 SNYDER CO ROYER’S FARM SERVICE RDI, Winfield New Berlm-Middleburg Hwy. 717-837-3201 TIOGA CO. CANYON IMPLEMENT, INC Mansfield, PA 717-724-2731 WAYNE CO. MARSHALL MACHINERY Honesdale, PA 717-729-7117 WYOMING CO ACE-JURISTA, INC Tunkhannock, PA 717-836-2610 YORK CO AIRVILLE FARM SERVICE Airville, PA 717-862-3358 ANDERSON BROTHERS New Park, PA 717 382 4272 GEORGE N. GROSS. INC RD2, Dover. PA 717-292 1673 CARROLL CO . MD WERTZ GARAGE. INC 4132 E Mam St. Linboro, MD 301-374-2672 ROBINSON BROTHERS Cardiff. MD 717-456 5215 WALTER G COALE. INC Churchville, MD 21028 301 734-7722
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers