CHAPTER XII 



THE MARKETING OF CORN 



1. HOME MARKETS 



With the increase of dairying and stock feeding will come a 

 corresponding increase in home consumption of corn. Tenants in 

 general do not feed their crops on the farm. Farmers who recognize 

 that the fertility of the soil can be maintained by keeping live stock 

 and returning the crops to the land in the form of manure, are now 

 raising a sufficient number of hogs along with a few cattle to consume 

 everything which is produced. Large returns in pork and beef usually 

 accompany this practice. Furthermore, it has the advantage of being 

 permanent and insures crops for the future. 



On the other hand, the commercial market has quoted corn at 

 such high figures for the past few years that the cattle feeders who 

 depend upon buying their corn have been forced to discontinue opera- 

 tions. This has been augmented by a prevailing state of affairs 

 whereby the feeder usually has to pay two or three cents more than 

 the market price in order to purchase any corn whatever. In dis- 

 tricts where cattle and sheep feeding are carried on, the corn grower 

 has a better market for his crop than in sections where every bushel 

 is shipped out. 



Often where growers live within a few miles of the cattle feeder, 

 the corn is hauled directly from the field to the buyers' cribs. A max- 

 im of feeders is "buy when it is for sale." Renters who have little 

 capital and must pay their rent at the first of the year, usually sell 

 during the month of December. The man who can hold his corn, if 

 it is of good quality, in general makes more money. *A factor of at 

 least 18 per cent shrinkage must be considered however. 



The demand for corn in the towns near the grower is only a small 

 factor. Some farmers have a regular trade with liverymen, teamsters, 

 and feed stores. A good quality is usually desired by these buyers. 

 Small mills which grind "chop" for consumption in the city buy a 

 limited amount. Cornmeal mills, though located in a corn growing 



*18.2 per cent shrinkage result of tests at Iowa Experiment Station. 



