402 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tion was received by wire at the Office of Markets and Rural Organi- 

 zation relative to price quotations and demand, which was compiled 

 and distributed among the growers and dealers in the producing 

 territory in cooperation with the Office of Extension Work in the 

 South. The oat crops of Oklahoma and Texas were marketed at a 

 better price than ever before, when compared with prices obtained 

 for oats in other sections. 



STUDY OF EXPORT GRAIN. 



In order to ascertain the quality and condition of grain entering 

 into export trade and the accuracy and completeness of the inspec- 

 tion service upon which grade certificates were based, the important 

 export markets have been visited and studied. The subject was of 

 special importance and interest because of the unsatisfactory condi- 

 tion of grain arriving in foreign ports and the resulting commercial 

 difficulties. 



MINOR INVESTIGATIONS. 



In order to assist the Southern States in marketing the corn crop, 

 which presented unusual and difficult problems, a leaflet relating to 

 methods of preparing grain for market and the utilization of local 

 facilities for storage and distribution was prepared for the Office 

 of Extension Work in the South for distribution among the State 

 and county agents and others. The rapid increase in the production 

 of grain sorghums has brought forth the problem of finding new 

 markets for them. A beginning has been made on a study of this 

 problem. In order to obtain information regarding the method of 

 warehousing and storing grain at large central markets and at coun- 

 try elevators special study of the subject was made at several of the 

 large markets and representative country elevators. 



Information resulting from the investigations of grain, seed, and 

 hay marketing will be made available for use as rapidly as practi- 

 cable. As supplementing the information and material supplied 

 by the grain standardization investigations of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, the results of the studies of this office have already been 

 of considerable value in connection with the framing of rules and 

 regulations under the United States grain standards act and in plan- 

 ning for its administration. 



FOREIGN MARKETS INVESTIGATIONS. 



Plans have been developed and formulated for the investigation 

 of foreign markets for American farm products under normal condi- 

 tions and for the assistance so far as possible in the development of 

 the export trade in these products. It is planned to continue inves- 

 tigation of the marketing of the farm products of the United States 

 by studying the disposition of and the demand for that portion which 

 is sold or consumed abroad, with a view to the development of our 

 export trade in agricultural products. 



The problems first to be taken up will be those most pressing and 

 those that give the best promise of early results. Europe, South 

 America, and China will receive special attention. Trade conditions 

 in the markets are to be studied carefully, while the factors affecting 

 foreign marketing of American grain are to receive special consid- 



