McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-04-17
Talks to Farmers
By Commissioner Peck
We Must Have More Live Stock
on the Farm

We have urged the farmers to raise
more live stock and better live stock
for we believe that there is no branch
of the agricultural industry which will
bring such sure and large returns OF
which will build up the farm on such a
substantial and permanent basis.
As time goes by we feel that even
more emphasis is needed on the stock
end of farming. Conditions were
never more favorable than they are
now for this branch of the industry
and, we believe, they will never be so
in the future.
Population is increasing all the
time, yet the meet supply is not even
holding it's own. This is true not
only in the United States but all over
the habitable globe. The removal of
tariffs on meat is not going to effect
prices seriously nor for any length of
time. Until supply passes demand,
prices on meat animals are going to
be high enough to afford a big profit
to the man who raises them.
We consider land values in the
country as high today. Without live
stock, prices on land are going to fall.
Without stock, the products of the
soil do not reach their highest value;
this in itself will bring lower prices.
Add to that the reduced fertility
brought about by constant cropping
and it is not hard to see ahead to the
day when land in this country will be
barren, impoverished and of little
worth. That is not an attractive nor
a desirable picture. The keeping of
stock in greater quantities will pre-
vent shrinkage of farm land prices
and will make it more valuable.
There are two good reasons why
the farmer should raise more stock.
The first is that it will pay him larg-
err, surer and more constant returns.
The second is that it is a sacred duty
to himself, his children and his coun-
try.
1t will pay him. because demand is
increasing and supply is decreasing;
because feeding stock from the direct
products of the soil is the most eco
nomical way to market them, because
stock utilize waste on the farms; be-
cause they condense values; because
their value 1uctuates less than grain
or other plant life; because they can
be marketed more easily and conven-
iently; because they add riches to the
soil instead of taking it away.
1t is his duty, because stock furn-
ish soil fertility; soil fertility is the
foundation of agricultural prosperity,
and agricultural prosperity is the
basis of general prosperity. Without
stock, the farm and the farmer de-
generates; he leaves his farm worse
off instead of better off, when he
passes it on to his children. The de-
mnnd upon the farmer today is not
for more grain. but for more pork;
more beef; more mutton; more dairy
products. 1t is right that he should
meet such demands. for they are
founded on real need.
We want the farmer to realize the
immense responsibility resting upon
him. He is used to being referred to
as the bulwark of the nation, and he
is. If he takes pride in that title. he
must be ready to assume the duties
which 60 with such an important
place. One of these duties is to sup
Il ply the mouths of millions with meat.
Because such work is both pleasant
and profitable does not take away the
responsibility.
There are some difficulties and