Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-03-11
LOCAL FARMERS
SHOULD RAISE MORE
CORN AND STOCK
THE COUNTRY NEEDS MORE
MEAT-STATISTIC SHOW "A
DECREASE.
SOIL NEEDS MORE FER
TILIZER TO PRODUCE
Several Other Reasons Why the Need
Is Imminent the Present
Time.

With the coming or spring the far-
mer is considering seriously the sub
| ject OF the amount of his available
ground to devote to the corn crop.
While this is not exactly in what would
be called the corn belt yet enough corn
is raised and conditions are favorable
enough so that much more corn should
be raised than has been heretofore.
One reason for making this state
ment, and a very good reason too, is
because it pays. From now forward
| il will be more profitable, than ii has
! been in the past, to raise cattle, hogs,
sheep and horses on the farms, for the
reason that all conditions have chang
ed and are changing in favor of the
farmer. Range competition has almost
ceased. Average prices for live stock
are the highest on record. Pure bred
stock is still selling at comparatively
low figures. but young feeding stock
! is all the time at premium. There
is world shortage OF livestock, es-
pecially cattle, and the population of
all the civilized nations is growing
| faster than their meat supply. AS a
matter OF fact the meat supply is dim
! finishing and the removal of the tariff
| has not and will not add materially
/ 10 the meat Suppllto VI lilt
Again the country needs more meat.
/ Official figures show an enormous de-
crease in the meat food supply Of the
country, both actual and proportion
ately to the population. Market scar
city the decline of exports, and high
record average prices corroborate this
assertion.
Farmers should raise more corn be-
/ Ia Ac farti1fzar
The joint problem of meat production
and soil preservation is the most vital
problem confronting the American
people today. 1t will soon be learned
that the raising and feeding of live
stock on farms is essential to the con-
/ tinued growing of crops. Many of the
abandoned farms of the eastern states
and the unproductive sandy land of
the local districts could be made to
produce abundantly and at the same
time enhance the value Of the lands
by the intelligent raising Of live stock
and the careful use of fertilizers.
The local farmer should raise more
corn then, because the raising of it
enhances soil fertility. Soil fertility
is the foundation of agricultural pros
perity, and agricultural prosperity is
the basis of general prosperity. The
broad significance of this fact is grad
ully becoming recognized.
Again, land values and corn prices
cannot be maintained without the rails
ing and feeding OF livestock on the
farms. A permanent scarcity of live
stock will bring a permanent decline
in the price of corn, and a decline in
land values will be sure to follow
Livestock utilizes farm waste and
turns it into money. Livestock con-
denses the values on the farm, these
values can walk to market or the ship
ping point, the expense OF transport
ing and marketing and the farmer
realizes greater net returns than IL
marketed in any other way. The mar
ket is demanding younger animals for
slaughter, the demand is for choice
tender cut that can be cooked and
served Immediately and this means
that animals will be killed for market
at an earlier age and hence will not
yield as much per head.
Another important fact is this, that
the association with domestic animals
on the farm is essential to the right
development of the character and
practical knowledge and ability OF
children. The presence of livestock
inspires love for the farm, and tends
to prevent desertion of the farm for
the city.
Not least important, but rather a
fact of the utmost moment is that il
is every farmers sacred duty to leave
his farm in at least as good condition
as when he found it, for use by future
generations, and this he cannot dc
without the fertilization element fur
nished by live stock.