The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-29

Farmers of HaDkeye State
Prosper Through Liue
Stock Raising on Modern
The beef industry of Iowa is dis
cussed in the following article taken
from the Chicago Journal and written
by John Fletcher, vice president OF
ithe Fort Dearborn National bank, Chi
cago:
In very positive way the farmers
| OF Iowa are setting the pace for a
plan OF agriculture which makes live
stock production its leading feature.
| without minimizing the splendid ef-
forts and good results noted in Illinois
and other parts of the country along
this line of endeavor, 1t may be
claimed for Iowa people that they
nave been first to prove the wisdom of
peer production on the average farm.
They have been first to demonstrate
that beef raising is profitable on high
priced land, but before doing this they
proved to the world that mixed farm
ing, with live stock predominating,
augments the price of farm land more
rapidly than any other system.
1t is this method of agriculture that
has raised Iowa to its commanding po-
slt1on. There are more beef cattle
within Its borders than in any other
state except Texas, and Iowa contains
more milk COWS and hogs than any
other state. This kind of agriculture
explains the general prosperity of the
people and gives the reason for the
general advance in land values. Sub
stantial reward has come to the land
owners of Iowa who did this pioneer
work of making live stock production
pay in the general farming scheme.
They reaped profits when prices were
low. gaining both in cash and in land
betterment, and with the present high
level Of prices on farm commodities
their. system of agriculture will still
hold the foremost place and bring
larger returns than ever.
Farmers Become Capitalists.
The live stock breeders of Iowa
have thus demonstrated what business
farming means, and they have in
many instances become capitalists
through high degree of success in
land management. There are still
many farmers in that state, as else
where, who have not yet made the
turn to live stock raising and diversi-
fed agriculture. Some have lacked
the vision of a great opportunity,
while others have lacked capital. In
all farming communities there are
men who are land poor. This means
that they are operating places too
large for their capital. Every state
has many such land owners, and in a
time not very far remote they have
been burden on capital owners.
Farmers who have more land than
even more of drawback to agricul-
ture than those who persist in cult
waiting a single crop. Both classes
need to get the new viewpoint. Divers
ity should be the rule, practically
speaking, in all sections of the coun-
try, and in addition to that the fact
!should be accepted as a guiding prin-
Iciple that men should not operate
farms which are larger than they are
able to equip and work in a thorugh
manner.
Money Available for Needs.
To all those who are not sure Of the
results to be obtained, or who need
capital to enable them to change from
the old system to the new, the finan-
cial situation is full OF encouragement.
Money is available to an extent here
tofore unknown for the legitimate ad-
vancement OF agriculture. Two ele-
ments enter into this consideration
safety and national necessity. The
prevailing high prices for commodities
generally, with a steady advance in
land values, make farm loans COM
paratively safe.
Bankers have been quick to see the
new money making opportunities
which have come to land owners, and
they feel justified today in extending
all reasonable aid for the promotion
of a better order of agriculture. They
look on improved farms as desirable
security, and live stock paper Is
viewed with the highest favor in bank
ing circles throughout the United
States. A few years ago much was
said and written about the folly OF
specializing in unimproved lands. All
that was said then holds good today
so far as people with restricted capt.
tai are concerned The employment
of money on improved farms for the
legitimate expansion Of agriculture is
an entirely different matter, as many
progressive farmers have learned.
Therefore it has come about that
American land owners have new OPP
portunities for substantial profits
wherever they come. abreast with
modern conditions and requirements,
and banking capital is usually ready
to enable them to change from the
old order to the new.
Attention Given to Breeding.
A big feature In live stock produc-
ton is the turn which has been made
in recent years from exclusive cattle
feeding to more general system or
] hroadinc although this does not neceS-