Imperial Valley Press

REGULATION
OF HAY HELD
AS NECESSARY
By J. S. CAMERON
It seems appropriate at this time of the year to review the hay situation. As has been said recently in the Imperial Valley Press, and truthfully, there is nothing sensational about the alfalfa hay industry. It is however, a sort of background for other phases of agriculture in this country where the crop serves the dual purpose of furnishing a staple commodity and at the same time builds up the soil for the production of other crops. When the proposed code of fair competition, now before the department of agriculture in Washington was presented, it was difficult to establish the alfalfa hay industry as an outstanding enterprise, worthy of independent consideration. Those in authority seemed disinclined to consider it second only to the citrus industry in the state of California.
Reviewing the season's activities, we discover that the price of U. S. No. 1 alfalfa hay had advanced from $7 a ton last April, to $11 a ton today, and probably will go a little higher. Several elements enter into this price advance. First and perhaps the most important reason is that there is no overproduction of alfalfa hay in this area. Second, the alfalfa growers have intelligently studied their market and have released the product as needed. Third, they have undertaken to standardize their product through the hay grading service; and fourth, they have demanded cash for their hay, thus avoiding the speculative element in the industry.
If the relation of supply and demand in the alfalfa hay business can be maintained on an equable basis, there is a fair chance for the alfalfa grower to make something above the cost of production. It is likely, however, that the compelling force of government regulation will be necessary, through the medium of a code of some sort to maintain the desired level. The sponsoring of the proposed code is now in the hands of the National Farm Bureau at Washington, and if the farmers of Imperial Valley wish to help the industry and uphold the hands of the farm bureau, they can render this service best by assuring the national representatives of the farm bureau and the department of agriculture, that they want these regulatory measures, and make their wishes known by letter or telegram.