The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-10-06
BEANS AND POTATOES.

The cost Of production pus fair
profit as In other industries is the adj
vice from Washington In the matter
OF farm products. To assist the U. s.
government In this determination, 10
aid I'm stabiiizing prices. recompense
the producer for his crop grown on
the basis OF outlay. and secure max
imum acreage for next year was the
work Of this commission.
The personnel OF this commission
brought to this work business expert
ence and the knowledge OF agricul-
ture. Jason woodman OF Paw Paw Is
an alumnus OF the Michigan AgricuI-
tural college, one OF the foremost and
successful growers of potatoes in the
U. S. A soil specialist and also
member OF the State Board of Agri-
culture. lothian Allen OF Alma. IL
first farmer and in addition. the
manager OF the Alma plant OF the
Michigan Sugar Co. Crop costs in
beet growing are a familiar expert
ence with Mr. Allen. A. b. Cook of
Owosso, Is q graduate of the agricu!-
tural college, a farmer by choice, and
has served his state in making t.,
constitution and as legislator John
Bale of Lakeyiew, is one of the larg
est potato and bean growers in the
state. also a shipper OF produce and
live stock feeder G. y. Scully OF
ALmont. is a farmer. president of the
state association of Farmers clubs,
and represents his district in the state
senate. r. c. Rothfuss, OF Adrian. Is
president OF the National Bank of
Commerce of that city and squared
agricultural services with business
lines. Unavoidable engagements pre-
vented others OF the commission from
being present
G. II Graves representing the Fed
eral and State government in farm
investigations .digested large mass
of reports collected from county
agents who had consulted farmers on
crop costs The work Of Lewis Toan.
county agent Of Monroe county, New
York, who had investigated bean
growing in that state was also made
bisis OF consideration
The findings OF the commission Of
the acre cost OF growing beans was
$5S43. This. composite calculation
assuming favorable weather for the
completion and harvesting the been
crop was a. yield OF s Ia bushels Of
merchantable beans per acre. This
will compel al least a seven dollar
bushel price to the farmer this year
Crop damage that may intervene be
tween now and threshing time would
compel a revision of this calculation
Potatoes-The details OF potato
costs per acre was presented at great
length. An interesting conclusion
was that within reasonable limits the
cost does not vary so greatly. large
Yields involved this year. excessive
seed and labor costs. From Wexford
county was received telegram. show
ing the cost OF growing an acre was
$500 and the estimated yield there
on was ninety bushels. Extensive in.
vestigation In Montcalm county show
ed that this figure was Appropriated
there. The acreage cost in sections
outside the most favored potato grow
ing counties was less but the yield
also would be less. Damage by frost
and dry weather are still possible fac
tors IN reducing the yield now calcu-
Of potato growing this year with the
unusual cost of seen and every factor
entering into potato production the
commission were unanimous that the
potato grower must have S1O0 per
busheI for grade 1, United States
Standard In bulk. +. o. b Grand Rap
ids or AT points OF similar freight
rates for price ba sing purposes Space
does not permit In detail all tho fig
ures used in cost calculation. These
will be printed later. The thorough
ness OF the investigation involved dig
ging actual areas TO determine yields
Consumers who wish to pay a fair
price to the producer and not seek
the benefits OF unrequited service
will, by paying slightly above 81 for
potatoes, insure a maximum crop eacl
year and assist In establishing an
equity among those who serve IN
growing food stuffs.