The result was great loss to both producers and packers. Armour and Company alone packed millions of pounds of pork during the period of high prices, much of which was still in the course of curing when the slump in the market came.
But the conditions that caused this decline and loss are exceptional and only temporary. The great foreign need for American meats still exists—the greatest need in the world’s history. The ability of Europe to buy will be restored with the full restoration of peace and the arrangement of international credits. The result will be a return of profits and prosperity to both producers and packers of pork.
First, there must finally be a realignment of prices on all livestock and meats, to levels below the prevailing high war prices. A fair balance must be struck between the interests of the consumer and those of the producer. Prices for meat must be sufficiently attractive to consumers to insure an adequate volume of sales; on the other hand prices for livestock must be sufficiently high to encourage production. Only on this basis can the industry thrive.
Second, the utmost care must be taken in breeding and buying of feeding stock and the most exacting economy practiced in feeding methods.
Third, the producer must realize that the packer is his natural ally in maintaining the prosperity of the two inseparable branches of the livestock industry—production and packing.
It is a reassuring sign that producers and packers are already getting together on a platform of better understanding of their mutual interests, both for protection against disturbing agitation and legislation and for the correction of whatever inequalities or abuses may exist in the shipping and marketing of livestock.
Armour and Company’s Farm Bureau was established three years ago as a point of contact with livestock men, through which better methods of breeding, feeding, shipping and marketing could be promoted.
Being in constant touch with the requirements of the markets, Armour and Company know the types of meat animals which are most demanded and which bring the largest profit to the stockman. The Farm Bureau has available many facts regarding the economical production of these types, and these facts can be had by addressing the Bureau, care of Armour and Company, Chicago.