The Monte Vista journal., 1915-11-06

The growing of potatoes has be-
come one of the big industries of the
San Luis Valley. and the enormous
yields of this crop and the splendid
quality of the product raised. should
encourage our farmers to each year
grow an increased acreage. How
ever, there has been a hesitancy and
a feeling of uncertainty among our
farmers as to the advisability Of
raising a larger acreage, owing to an
apparent limited demand for the crop
at an uncertain price.
A steady growth of the potato in
dustry has taken place in his valley
during the past ten years until now
the total revenue derived each sea-
son from the sale of the San Luis Val
ley spuds amounts to approximately
$40O.000.00. Thousands of dollars
are expended every year in the pro-
duction, harvest and marketing of
the crop, and the magnitude of the
industry makes potato growing one
of the leading factors in the develop
ment and advancement of our agri-
cultural resources
However, even though the growing
of potatoes in the San Luis Valley
carries with 1t a great volume of bust
ness and furnishes employment for
hundreds of people during the pro-
duction and harvest of the crop, yet
after the careful study / have given
the outside potato markets during
the past season, l am thoroughly
convinced that potato growing in
this valley is still in its infancy, and
that the time will come when the pro.
duction will be twice the present
yield and the entire crop be marketed
at profitable prices to our farmers.
There is a great demand for po-
tatoes throughout vast areas of the
United States where this crop cannot
be produced, and by going after this
business by having representatives in
those localities we can increase our
sales and handle the production from
increased acreage at prices tina. will
be profitable for our growers.
We must not expect the dealers
who reside in other localities to be
so interestd in our success and pros
perity that they Sill pay advanced
prices for our potatoes. Such con-
dition would be unnatural And the
buyers representing these distribut-
ors are shrewd and alert, and will do
everything in their power to make
their purchases at reduced prices. In
the large distributing points of the
country there are usually several
wholesale distributors of car lot pro-
duce, and these firms are all striv-
ing to buy their products at lower
price than their competitors. The
continual hammering of the price on
potatoes by each and every dealer
naturally weakens the outside mark
ct, with the result that unless there
is a great shortage in the crop
throughout the United States. they
finally force the price so low that its
production is Improbable for the
grower.
The price the grower receives for
his potatoes should be determined
and established on the basis of the
total crop estimate, which inform
alton is obtained and published by
the Government; but this season our
home market started at ridiculous
ly low price even with the Govern
ment Report showing a crop short
age OF ten per cent. II the early
Government Reports on crop estimate
had shown great over-production
then our market would have opened
low. but with the repored shortage.
and the very favorable conditions
and the big demand which | found in
the outside markets, 1t is my opinion
that the lowest price at Monte Vista
should have been sixty-five cents F.
o. B.
There is one very important matter
which desire to impress upon the
minds OF every grower of farm pro-