Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Our Past Is Present August 16, 2017

August 16, 2017
            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
            The price of wheat has always been important to the farmers of Kansas.  In August of 1914 an interesting comparison was given of prices paid for wheat for the previous twenty years.  The report was published by B. Rockwell Merchandise and Grain Co., which in 1914 had been in the grain business in Junction City for about 40 years. 
            The report showed the lowest prices were 44 cents per bushel in 1894 and 45 cents in 1896.  The highest prices were $1.01 in 1909 and $1.00 in 1910.  In 1912 the price for wheat was $1.04 per bushel. 
            The price farmers would get for their wheat from September to December 1914 was difficult to predict.  If the foreign countries arranged for safe transportation of the wheat across the ocean, the price might go to 85 cents or a dollar.  The impact of WWI in Europe played a role in the challenge of getting wheat to those countries. 
            Farmers who were out of debt or were able to borrow money from the banks to pay their threshing and grocery bills would be the ones who would make a good profit on their 1914 wheat, and have enough money to support themselves and their families for a while.
            We all depend on farmers to provide the grains and vegetables we want and need for our diets.  They deal with a changing market, weather, pests, a “fickle” customer base and many other issues.  Those of us who go to Dillon’s grocery store or some other store for our food products usually don’t even think twice about where the produce comes for.  We mostly just think about the price we pay for items.  Perhaps we could all do a better job of showing our appreciation to farmers.  Something to think about.  Well, thanks for listening today. We look forward to sharing another story about Geary History with you tomorrow on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.


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