TEMPERATE SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS 47 



Although the per capita consumption of meat in the United 

 States decreased noticeably after the year 1900, it is still about 

 50% greater than that of the United Kingdom, which is the highest 

 among European countries. The annual rate of increase in the 

 population, including increments due to immigration, has been 

 (and will probably also be in the future) higher than that of most 

 other meat-consuming countries. An American authority l has 

 stated that the United States will probably be able to support a 

 much larger population in the future, in view of its great natural 

 resources ; but he adds significantly that, if the present standard 

 of living is not to suffer, the methods of food production will have 

 to be much more intensive and economical, for this increased 

 population to be realised. 



Secondly, the introduction of more intensive methods of meat 

 production, now necessary with the decline of the ranges, is difficult 

 and costly. There is a shortage in the United States of fodder 

 crops which are required for the higher grade stock maintained on 

 higher-priced land. The high cost of labour also, due partly to 

 the competition of rapidly expanding manufacturing industries, 

 increases the cost of raising animals under more intensive methods 

 in which labour charges are an important item. 2 Although there 

 has been a marked rise in the prices of finished animals, there has 

 been a much greater rise in those of maize and other concentrated 

 feedstuffs. 3 The proportion of American beef cattle reared in the 

 Western States shows a marked decline during the last 25 years, 

 and it is clear that the methods of beef production in the United 

 States have to be revolutionised. 4 Even in America, where adaptive- 

 ness and resourcefulness are characteristic human qualities, the 

 newer more scientific methods of agricultural production spread 



1 A. P. Brigham, Geog. Journal, Oct., 1908, p. 387. 



2 Compare the conclusion reached by a German investigator : "If the 

 United States ever again becomes a large exporter of meat products, it can 

 only do so at a much higher price, which will not offer competition to other 

 producing countries," M. Augstin, Die Entwicklung der Landwirtschaft in 

 den Veveinigten Staaten, 1914, pp. 120, 121. 



3 " During the last census period (1900-1910) corn increased in value at 

 the farm 80%, while steers increased in value only a fraction of this amount." 

 U.S. Dept. Agric., Farmers' Bulletin, 560, p. 25. 



' The period of exploitation is passing in the United States, and a new 

 era of constructive live-stock farming is at hand." U.S. Dept. Agric., Bulletin. 

 20, 1913, p. 2. " The raising of beef-cattle on old-time ranges or cheap pas- 

 tures and on low-priced corn has ceased, and well-informed men perceive that 

 the raising of beef -cattle must be established largely on new foundations," 

 farmers' Bulletin, 575, p. 7. 



