The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-08
Kansas Needs More Cattle, Says
Jake MOhler.
Secretary Agricultural Board
Tells States Shortcomings.
MORE STOCK; LESS WHEAT
Something Wrong Between
Feeder and Market Place.
Cattle Industry Is Necessary to
Successful Farming.

Wichita, Kan, Feb. S-Kansas can
not continue a successful farming state
without producing livestock; without
livestock impoverished soil and pow
erty may follow, J. c. Mohler, secre-
tary of the Kansas state board of agri-
culture, told delegates 10 the conven-
ton of the Kansas Livestock associa-
ton here today. In his address Mr.
Mohler pointed out that with respect
to the livestock industry. Kansas, de-
spite its enormous crop yields, is retro
grading rather than going forward in
the upbuilding of a permanet, profit
able agriculture.
ITO retain the fertility of the soil
we must have Stock he said 1.-The
history of the world reveals clearly
that an agriculture TO enjoy undated
prosperity must depend in increasing
ratio on livestock as it attains more
nearly to its fullest development"
Mr.. Mohler asserted that an investi-
CATION of the conditions surrounding
the industry in the state had con-
WINGED him that something must be
wrong with the marketing end He
asserted that he was unable to say
just what the difficulty is and urged
that the great opportunity for the
farmers and stockmen to increase
their revenues is through properly
controlled better methods of diStribu
ton and marketing.
"Why are we raising more wheat
and less stock ," he asked. 'Why is our
4
in 1904 and stock cattle population
| less by nearly $4,000? The country
| is prosperous, labor is employed for
eign demand has been heavy, the do
nestle population is increasing. The
conclusion is there must be something
wrong with the marketing end. some
thing wrong at the front where the
prices emanate.
Profits in Wrong Place.
Just what this is or just where it
| is, l am unable to say. | am positive
of one thing only, and that is that the
man who handles your stock gets the
profit, and that the man who butchers
| your beeves gets his profit, and that
the man who deals it out to the ulti-
mate consumer gets his profit. When
men like some of the feeders in this
audience tell me that they have not
only not made money on feeding cat
tie but lost money for a year, some
thing is wrong. When men who are
among the most intelligent and skill
full feeders and handlers of stock can
not feed beef at a profit, meth1ng ls
wrong and that something they are
not accountable for.
1.-The interests of the few should not
be paramount to the interests of the
many. The feeder is of great impor-
lance When he can not make fair
profit on his business, then a vital
blow is struck at the very root of pros
perity. There appears to be a very
urgent need for a new alignment in
relationship between the feeding end
and the marketing end. All should
| cooperate and work harmonlously
with due accord to their respective
rights and importance and also with
| proper regard for that hapless CHAP,
/ the ultimate consumer, if beef is to re-
main in the American dietary
I'VE have been entirely too lax in
our attitude toward these phases of
our business. Those who dominate
the markets have done about as they
| pleased, with a natural and primary
regard for themselves. In the days OF
| long ago, when feeds were cheap. land
| IoW-priced and feeders could be mad
from the great range country at less
than cost of production, things were
| comparatively free and easy for the
beef maker. SO long as he made his
mite he felt little concern about what
the other fellow realized through han
ding of his commodities. This condi-
ton created the opportunity which APP
parently has been taken full advan-
tage of.
Change Has TRANSFERRED.
But a great change has come Land
is dear. feeds have gone up in price.
corn trebled in value. feeders are
much higher, the cost to produce Is
far above what il used to be, and 1t is
increasingly difficult for the producer
to maintain the old percentage of gain.
Better methods and improved stock
been
these changes, and the feeder is con-
stantly endeavoring to cut down the
cost of production as means 10
greater profits. This is a correct pro-
cedure, but economists and seasoned
stocknen, both alike are quite agreed
that the stockman is not obtaining his
lust due, is not securing so much of
the consumers dollar as he is entitled
to. Too much of it goes to those be-
| tween. 1t seems one great opportun-
ity for the farmers and stockmen to
increase their revenues is through bet
ter methods of distribution and mar
keting, properly controlled.
THE so-called transition of the
range the accompanying change in
the cattle situation. the uncertainties
of the effect of legislation upon the
industry, and the unsatisfactory mar
keting conditions form a combination
that has, temporarily, let us hope, put
a damper on beef production"
Mr.. Mohler produced figures snow
ing that the livestock industry in Kan
sas showed a gradual decline. begin
ming in 1904 and continuing until
1914 The year 1915 showed a sub
stantial increase in the number OF
! cattle in the state, he said, but the
number then was well under the two
million mark.
Down Since 1904.
Scanning the history of the live
stock industry of Kansas it is seen
that. numerically at least, cattle pro-
duction reached its highest mark III
1904, with 2,757,0OO head, exclusive
of all milk cows" he said. In ten OF
the eleven years beginning with 1895
the state had more than two million
head of stock cattle, but there has
been a more or less gradual decrease
since the record year of 1904 until in
1914 Kansas possessed fewer cattle
than in any previous year since 1896
There was a decided increase last
year. however, but the number or
hand then was under the two million
mark. Values have risen at such a
rate. though, that the cattle, although
fewer in number. We're worth more in
1915, in the aggregate. and avera &c