The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-01-15

States of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri
North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas
and Nebraska. ....
It is evident from the foregoing an
alysis of farm expenses and the varia
ton of cash income per farm in differ
ent sections that the enormous aggre
gates of farm production and values as
estimated for the whole United States
in 1913 do not mean that the average
is realizing any material profit over
and above what might reasonably be
expected from his labor and invest
ment. On the contrary, If cash In
come per farm and per capita alone Is
considered it would appear that in
many sections farmers and their fam
! lilies do not make wages comparable
with wages received in other occupa.
lions requiring an equal degree of ex'
perience, intelligence, and skill. Fur
thermore, the average farm income as
estimated herein is by no means GER
tain, all farm products depending upon
many uncertain factors, such as un'
favorable conditions, the depredations
of insects, and the ravages of numer-
GUS plant and animal diseases, while
the only certainty regarding farm
prices is that they will be far below
the retail prices paid by consumers.
The uncertainty of the farmers cash
income, however, is more than offset
by the certainty of a livelihood and the
sense of permanent security afforded
by ownership or a long-term lease of
the farm and equipment, and the fact
that he is his own employer and does
not have to make cash payments at
frequent intervals for his house rent,
water, fuel, and large part of the
food of his family, which are supplied
by the farm.
I1OWcVcI ucS4l dUlc I'LL CdoCu pAOuuS
ton on farms may appear to be from
the consumers standpoint, it does not
follow that such increased production
would result in any increase in the
cash income per farm or per capita of
farm population, or that prices paid by
consumers would be any lower. The
estimated total farm production in
1913 is less than in 1912, yet the esti-
mated gross and net cash returns to
farmers are greater than in 1912. Had
the total production in 1913 equaled or
exceeded the 1912 production, it
seems probable that the cash income
per farm would not have been greater
and might have been less than in 1912;
but it is extremely doubtful whether
the cost to the consumer would have
been any less, because retail prices are
promptly raised on prospect of un-
Reproduction, but are very slow to de.
cline if there is overproduction. The
long line of distributors and middle
men between the farmer and the con.
sumer are in a position to take advan'
tage of the market and to certain
extent control the market, in both d.
rections, because they are better or.
ganized to keep informed of crop and
market conditions, and to act prompt
ly, than either farmers or consumers,
who are not organized, and os individ-
uals are helpless. The high prices paid
by consumers, ranging from to near
ly 500 per cent, in some cases, more
than the farmer receives, indicate
that there is plenty of room for low
ering the cost of farm products to con-
sumers and at the same time largely
increasing the cash income per farm
without increasing farm production.
This condition is undoubtedly mar
keting problem which will have to be
solved by better organization Of farm
ers and improved methods Of market.
ing. When as the result Of such or
ganization and improved methods the
price of farm products can be main
tanned at a higher level without in
creasing the cost to consumers, farm
ers will be justified in increasing the
output of their farms with fair pros
pect of realizing a reasonable profit on
their investment of time, labor, and
money, which in the aggregate is
enormous. ..