PRODUCERS HAVE THEIR RIGGEST YEAR 



More than 300 members and farm leaders 

 attended the 22nd annual meeting of the 

 Producers in St. Louis, March 8. This pic- 



ture was taken during the luncheon in the 

 Gold Room oi the JeUerson Hotel. During 

 1943, the St. Louis Producers transacted 



the largest volume oi business in its 22 

 years oi cooperative marketing. Cars han- 

 dled increased 1368 over 1942. 



' 



MORE than two decades of successful 

 cooperative live stock marketing at 

 National Stock Yards, 111., were signal- 

 ized by the St. Louis Producers in its 

 22nd annual meeting March 8. More 

 then 300 stockmen and farm leaders 

 from 50 Illinois and Missouri counties 

 were in attendance. 



In welcoming members of the asso- 

 ciation. President Roy Burrus, Cass coun- 

 ty, pointed out that the St. Louis Pro- 

 ducers and its members were happy to 

 contribute to the war effort in 1943 

 through the production and marketing 

 of more than 900,000 head of cattle, 

 calves, hogs and sheep valued at $37,- 

 000,000. The Producers last year, he 

 said, handled the equivalent of 17,473 

 cars of stock, or the greatest volume in 

 its history. 



"If there is one thing that we have 

 learned in these trying months for the 

 live stock producer," Burrus said, "it is 

 the need for still greater organization 

 and maximum use of our resources. As 

 producers we pledge continued support 

 of the war effort; as a marketing agency 

 we pledge efficient serv'ice and renewed 

 vigor in our fight for "fair play' for live 

 stock growers and feeders. Your con- 

 tinued support will help us obtain these 

 objectives." 



In his annual report, H. D. Wright, 

 manager, pointed to the splendid produc- 

 tion job performed by farmers and 

 stockmen in 1943 who succeeded in turn- 

 ing out an all-time high number of 

 meat animals in the face of shortages of 

 farm machinery and manpower. 



"While the year will be remembered 

 as one of record live stock production," 

 Wright said, "it was also marked by 

 increasing discouragement because of 

 frequent government orders, regulations, 

 etc. that resulted in a great liquidation 

 of herds and flocks, particularly during 

 the latter part of the year. The peak of 

 agricultural production is probably past, 

 inasmuch as we have had seven succes- 

 sive years of record crops which piled up 

 feed and provided pasture for the na- 

 tion's largest live stock production. 



"Two great tasks face the country this 

 year. The first is to devote to the win- 

 ning of the war every effort and every re- 

 source that can be employed. The sec- 

 ond is to make all possible preparations 

 to facilitate reconversion to peace time 

 work which will come as war demands 

 on industry decline." 



P. O. Wilson, secretary-manager of 

 the National Live Stock Producers As- 

 sociation, who addressed the meeting, 

 warned that this spring and summer will 

 find the country faced with the most 

 serious meat shortage in its history. This 

 situation, he said, is a culmination of ill- 

 advised government price control regula- 

 tions. "The effect in the live stock field 

 has gone so far now that only special ef- 

 fort will assure adequate supplies of 

 beef and pork next year. 



"For some time," Wilson declared, 

 "an apparent adequate supply of beef 

 has been produced by liquidation and 

 premature slaughter of cattle, but this 



year approximately 25 per cent to 30 



Eer cent fewer cattle were put in corn 

 elt feedlots. Also about 45 per cent 

 to 50 per cent of these reduced num- 

 bers were put in only for a short turn 

 and will be marketed by the end of this 

 month. In areas outside the corn belt, 

 comparatively few cattle are being fed 

 this year. 



As to hogs, Wilson said the general 

 live stock liquidation is most marked in 

 this class. TTiis industry was encouraged 

 into over-production primarily at the ex- 

 pense of cheap corn. Now it is being 

 forced to a level of production that will 

 be far short of producing the necessary 

 pork requirements. 



Other speakers included Prof. J. O. 

 Christianson of the University of Minne- 

 sota, D. Howard Doane, of the Doane 

 Agricultural Service, Inc., St. Louis, and 

 Lt. Col. Stanley DenHerder of Scott 

 Field, III. 



Two Directors Named 



Roy Burrus was re-elected director 

 from Illinois and Tom Douglass of Mc- 

 Baine, was the director elected from 

 Missouri to succeed J. Henry Brayton 

 of HoUiday. Remaining directors are: 

 J. D. Fehsenfeld, Troy, Mo.; J. R. Ful- 

 kerson, Jerseyville, 111.; W. E. Williams, 

 Garland City, Ark.; Arthur Weber, 

 Sparta, 111. ; Theodore Anderson, Mon- 

 treal, Mo. 



The board of directors named Burrus 

 as president for another term. Theo- 

 dore Anderson was named vice president 

 and Fehsenfeld continues as secretary- 

 treasurer. 



16 



L A. A. RECORD 



