was a decade earlier, and this represents the real advance in primary crop production. A large proportion of many of these crops enters the commerce of the United States, not directly, but indirectly in the form of cattle, sheep, hogs, horses, and other farm animals; and poultry, eggs, country butter, milk, cream, and other country dairy products. A portion is also retained locally for final consumption and for seed. In 1914, for example, 39.3 per cent of the wheat crop was not shipped out of the counties in which it was grown and similar proportions for other leading primary crops were as follows: corn 81.4 per cent, oats 80.6 per cent, and barley 54.9 per cent. Corn, oats, barley and hay are commonly known as the "feed crops" and the United States Bureau of Crop Estimates has stated that during the five years ending in 1914, 85.6, 72, 47 and 83 per cent respectively were used on farms for food and seed purposes." In the case of some primary crops, however, such as cotton and leaf tobacco, but little is retained locally, the amount entering the channel of commerce being almost equal to the total crop produced. The value of the primary crops in different parts of the United States is graphically shown in Map No. I. A comprehensive statistical compilation by the United States Department of Agriculture shows a decline in the farm value of the principal crops from $15,423,000,000 in 1920 to $6,934,000,000 in 1921, followed by an advance to $8,961,000,000 in 1922. These estimates are not comparable with the census returns for 1919 because the crops included are not identical in every respect and the methods applied in arriving at them are different from those applied in making an agricultural census. 2. Live Stock on Farms.-A second group of agricultural products consists of "live stock on farms," the total value of which on January 1, 1920, was placed at $8,013,325,000. Horses and mules valued at over $2,500,000,000 constituted a large item in this huge aggregate, yet they are usually of much • Farmers' Bulletin, No. 629, p. 8. 7 Fourteenth U. S. Census. Agriculture, Vol. V, p. 519, less importance in the live-stock markets than the meat-producing animals because vast numbers of them are raised for use on the farms rather than for sale in distant markets. Many horses and also mules are sold in the live-stock markets throughout the United States but the commerce in live stock is principally dependent upon beef cattle, hogs and sheep. The total value of all domestic animals sold or slaughtered on farms during the census year 1919 was estimated at $3,511,050,000. The census returns also include poultry, the value of fowls on the country's farms on Jan. 1, 1919, being placed at $373,394,000. Live stock on farms constitutes mainly a secondary agricultural crop for it is in a large measure dependent upon the primary crops for its food supply. 9 3. Animal Products Produced on Farms.-A third important group of agricultural crops-also secondary-consists of live-stock products produced on farms. The total annual value. of farm-made dairy products exclusive of milk and cream consumed on the farms in the census year 1919 was reported to have been $1,481,462,000, including milk sales to the extent of $717,380,000, dairy butter valued at $346,356,000, butter fat in terms of which much milk and cream are sold to cheese and butter factories amounting to $303,552,000, sales of cream amounting to $111,906,000 and smaller amounts of countrymade cheese. Enormous quantities of butter, cheese and processed milk, moreover, were produced in factories, where they virtually become manufactures and from which they are marketed. Other live-stock products of great importance in the commerce of the United States are eggs, which were in the census year 1919 valued at $661,082,000, wool valued at $120,418,000 and poultry valued at $386,240,000. The value of all live-stock products of farms not including live stock sold or slaughtered on farms in the census year 1919 aggregated $2,667,072,000. In addition over 675,000,000 pounds of meat and meat products, the result of animals slaughtered on farms, were sold by farmers. 8 See Chap. VIII. • Fourteenth U. S. Census, Agriculture, Vol. V, p. 649. Foreign Commerce in Farm Products.-While the commerce in American farm products is mainly domestic they also constitute the basis for a huge export trade, and although the United States is the world's leading agricultural country, astoundingly large quantities of farm products are imported from abroad. In 1921, after prices had been deflated, the agricultural exports of the United States, including prepared foodstuffs derived from farm products, were valued at $2,119,750,000, and agricultural commodities valued at $1,249,768,000 were imported from foreign countries. Few phases of the commerce in the agricultural crops are of greater interest than the developments which are taking place in the country's international trade.10 BIBLIOGRAPHY The principal sources of information are appended to subsequent chapters, but the following may be consulted in connection with the commerce in such crops and marketing functions as are not hereafter described in detail: *JOHNSON, E. R. History of the Domestic and. Foreign Commerce of the United States (1915), 2 vols. *MCPHERSON, LOGAN. Railroad Freight Rate in Relation to the Industry and Commerce of the United States (1909), Chaps. III, IV, V. *SEIBELS, W. T. *SULLIVAN, J. W. *WELD, L. D. H. Produce Markets and Marketing (1911). Markets for the People (1913). "Studies in the Marketing of Farm Products," University of Minnesota Studies in the Social Sciences, United States Bureau of the Census: Live-stock Products, 1919 (1923). Summary of Census of Agriculture, 1919 and 1920 (1923). Individual Crops, 1919 (1923). Thirteenth Census, 1910, Agriculture, Vol. V (1913). United States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce: "Utilization of Potatoes in Europe," Special Consular Reports No. 64 (1914). 10 See Chap. XXI. |