Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-07-30
Farm Department

High priced Farm Land: During
the past week 80 farmers have been
interviewed in regard to their atti-
tude towards the advanced prices on
land. Some Of these farmers have
sold their farms and are going to re-
tire When asked why they were re-
firing one man said:
"They could not make the interest
of the investment in farming and for
the past ten years up to the war
period he had not been able to make
over three per cent on the invest
ment, let alone making labor in
come. While he has q family of boys
he considered it fallacy to continue
farming when the abnormal prices
prevail for farm land" He further
stated, "He did not see how the man
who buys his farm for home can
even pay out even though he borrows
his money at 5 per cent"
Another farmer remarked, 1T was
a crime That the advanced land
values made it almost impossible for
a man with small capital togo to
farming. Furthermore that rent would
be advanced to point that renters
could not afford to farm high. priced
land, based upon the productivity. II
the owner will guarantee US defin-
lite price on our products we can guar
Antee them cash rent for their land.
But when We have to pay $12 to $15
an acre rent and our past experience
in production indicates that the maxi
mum we can pay is SO, it would be
fallacy to attempt to farm under such
circumstances. These conditions will
drive renters and young farmers to
towns and cities"
It was the opinion OF most farmers
interviewed that 1t will have gen.
eral effect of retarding farm improve
ments for several years, as they
claim men endeavoring to meet high
Interest payments cannot afford to
pay much out for improvements and
as result the farm deteriorates.
The opinion OF these men and many
Others substantiates the attitude
which the Farm Bureau has taken in
regard to the land craze. Some day
these payments on the inflated values
must be paid by someone and that
someone will be the farmer who Is
endeavoring to make 1t . home. pro-
.yiding he 10 fool enough to invest In
such property.
Careful inspection Of the crops dur
ing the past week indicates that our
yields will not be as favorable as
were expected early In the season.
especially in the regions where the
soil contains considerable sand. land
this represents considerable portion
OF the county, II farmers would only
realize that the soils in the older
settled sections Of Iowa have de-
perforated to marked degree from
the production standpoint they
would 60 slow on purchasing farms at
inflated values.
Crops and Livestock Report.
The farm specialist has just made
q trip of about 800 miles over the
county and notes that there is an
abundance Of hay this season and
plenty Of good pasture, in spite Of the
drOuth.
Some men have an excessive
amount Of pasture and they are plan
ming to purchase feeders that will
use up this roughage. The feeders
can be purchased at reasonable
price and are very good investment
as there are prospects Of corn being
lower than the average price Of last
season and feeding cattle and sheep
will possibly be more attactive than
last year.
The Farm Bureau has received re-
quests for practically ten carloads Of
feeders. Some of these ordered are
for younger animals weighing about
five to seven hundred pounds and the
for larger cattle and two-year-olds
majority for larger cattle and two
year Odds ranging from seven to nine
hundred pounds.