American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-09-23
LIVE STOCK ASSOCIATIONS
BY L. Y. MCGEE.

the cooperative spirit Is gradually permeating
all strata of society. In the humblest occupa-
ton and In the most complex activities 1t is
becoming not alone manifest, but is actually be-
coming the guiding spirit and the rule Of action.
To the average farmer this cooperative spirit
can be no better exempllfied than In the shipping
OF livestock. II our farmers here In the west
are to be successful with livestock they must. from
an economical standpoint, find a more profit
able method OF marketing than they have
had previously They must eliminate I'M
necessary expense and at the same time obtain
a method OF getting better prices for the product
they have TO sell.
Cooperative marketing OF livestock Is perhaps
the simplest OF all cooperative selling schemes.
II needs no expensive warehouses or buildings for
regarding. or extensive organized selling plans.
and. best OF all, II neds no special capital to carry
on It's organization. II is purely a shipping move
ment. Its plans are so simple that II Is surprising
that the farmer has not taken up the idea sooner.
Suggestions for Organizations.
The conditions are no doubt much different In
the west than they are In the middle western
states. In those states the seller has the ad-
vantage OF several open markets, while here In
the west but one has been organized-that at Port
land. There is no doubt. though. that the organi-
nation could be OF value. especially in seeing that
the itinerant buyer pays the proper price.
Many organizations are now In effect that can
be utilized. such as the Oranges. Rochdale COM
panies, Cooperative Creameres. etc. These or
CARNATIONS are generally strong and In the most
cases could be utilized effectively ana economical
ly In shipping. Wherever companies do not exist
the regular shipping associations could be or
ganized. ~
Where the shipping Associations Are
Most Effective.
The farmer who raises but a few head of live
stock is always at a loss how to market properly.
The cooperative movement solves the problem. On
the Portland market often cars come In with from
two to twenty different owners. The combined
expense IL small and each owner receives a sep
arate account sale for his lot. BY other methods
OF marketing. such as selling at home without
conception, the seller loses an amount that would
feel Just as well In the pocket of the producer.
What he University Of Minnesota Says.
I'm many places there have been two or more
livestock buyers. They have existed because the
farmers have not been posted as to market condi-
lions and also because each farmer has been lab
oring under the delusion that he Is Independent
and can do just es he pleases. Very few farm
es produce enough stock to enable each to ship
In car lots. Under the old system livestock buy
es have driven from farm 10 farm and purchased
the animals outright. The time they have devoted
TO this work and the cost OF livery hire and what
ever profits they have realized have been entirely
an economical waste TO the community.
Another advantage OF the cooperative system
of shipping is that II encourages the improvement
OF stock, because each farmer gets fer bis stock
exactly what II bringa on the market. less the
necessary cost OF getting II there. Under the old
system OF buying stock there was always a tend
ency TO pay more for poor animals than they ' ere
worth and a little bit less for the good ones. A
few Of the advantages which are found in most OF
the associations are very apparent. Under this
system farmers pay more attention to the market
reports and are encouraged TO raise those grades
OF stock for which the demand Is greatest. Man
ayers OF the various associations are unanim Jus In
the opinion that the standard OF stock raised In
their communities has been bettered tremendously.
The growing OF uniform breeds Of stock is also
encouraged. Therefore this meaas a step toward
community breeding Whenever a community pro-
duces A carload Of stock Of one type and kind the
MARKET always gives a better price for II than for
mixed iot.f
After me organization 10 complete a shipping
place Is seiscsed and a day each week Get asids for
receiving stock. IN souis eases he manager per-
scnally selects ths stock from each hsari for
shsppnas On the day Of delivery ths manager
sNsesess ths stocx weights ADD m&rxs H. A receipt
= Issued to each shipper showing All Information.
nkrk dapends upcn ths ssiscsion Of . proper
mnaaser. ffs must be honest. capable and . rood
ps6ss ~ Issssoccs. have . good grasp Of business
De~ctpl<s amt. sbsvs an. eas that Will kssp The
ssscciarlca posted a. to market conditions.
Al sasaAsls mas< be Married 90 that they may
~ easily bdsxtffea 1t the stock yards In the