The Brinkley argus., 1918-08-16
HOME PRODUCTION
 IF FOOD Is URGED
CAN THE ARKANSAS FARMER E PRODUCE ALL COTTON
 PROFITABLY?
By w. C. Lasseter, Director AgricUi rural Extension Division, Uniye1sl, .t of Arkansas.

" N %5nf''7' Atis IDiltCtOi AS iIts4-
 tural EXtension Division, Uniye1sl,.5
 ot Arkansas.
 Fer many years the agricultural
 agenc-es of the South have urged t..a. home production of food and feed
 supplies. The reason given was tn.
 such system added to the profits the farm. We have scattered throug ;
 out Arkansas and throughout t South innumerable progressive farm
 CTS who are living examples of tie
 correctness of this teaching. These
 men have grown their home supplies
 Of food and feed and have produced
 cotton as a cash crop. These me0 have prospereG and today are owne. g
 of unmortgaged farms.
 However, the question has been
 raised as to the effect of the high
 price of cotton upon the profits under
 a system of this kind. Many farmeEs
 today believe that they can better af-
 ford to grow cotton and purchase
 their supplies of food and feed that
 are used while the cotton crop Is
 being produced
 All Cotton Will Not Pay. It is true that w h cobGG at BOG
 per pounG many farmers of the state will be able temporarily to make bet ter profits through adherence to cot ton as one crop. However, these same
 men will be surprised when they come to reckon with the costs of feed. Cotton is worth only that which it will buy. If cotton at BOG per pound
 will buy no more in the way of food and feed than il would at 12c per pound, then in reality it is worth no
 more. Careful comparison of the re- | tail equivalent values of cotton Tn 1 July, 1914, and under present condi- tions show that on the average the purchasing power of cotton today is practically no greater in food and 1 feed supplies than it was before July | 1914. Previous to July, 1914, the av- craze for cotton might well be said
 to be 12c per pound or S60 per bale With recent prevailing prices it is
 worth 30c per pound or $150 per bale. I Yet a bale of cotton today will buy
 only one more bale of hay. will not buy as much corn, will not buy nearly so much lard, will not buy as much salt pork, nor as much bacon, very little
 more ham, only few more eggs and , a little more butter, only few more
 sweet and Irish potatoes. On the av- craze, considering ali farm products entering into the ordinary expenses of the one crop cotton farm, the pur- 1 chasing power of cotton is no greater today at 30c per pound than ia 1914 at 12c.
 If the progressive farmers of the South profited by producing their own food and feeE previous to 1914, why
 could they not prosper under present
 conditions by observing the same farm system4
 In producing our own food and feed supplies in Arkansas we can reaSona- bly, say that we are not sacrificing in money. On the contrary, we can say
 that we are rendering q patriotic ser vice.
 Grow Food and Feed Or Tou May Not Get 1t.
 MT McAdoo, Director General Of the Railroads, says for us to grow it--
 that if we do not grow it We may be
 unable 10 get it.
 May every cotton grower in Arkan-
 sas sign the food production pledge and receive his honor card to display testifying 10 the fact that as patriot ic citizen he recognizes his duty to his Government, his duty to himself
 and family and the best principles of good business management as ap- piled 10 his farm.