The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-01-24
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

atives from nearly all the townships of
Dane county were present, and the
prospects Of disposing of the balance
of the tobacco crop were discussed
from all standpoints. The prevailing
sentiment was strongly in favor of fix
ing price and holding the crop until
the buyers would meet their figures.
Following the lead of similar meeting
in Edgerton a week before, 80 cents
was declared to be the minimum price
the farmers ought to have. 1t seems
most difficult thing for the farmer to
understand when everything he has to
sell is bringing top prices that tobacco
buyers are not around ready to take
their tobacco at wartime figures, some
where near that paid in the early fall,
and no explanation that the war is over
and lreadjustments must follow salts
fies them. No argument will appar-
emily shake them in their determine
ton to hold their tobacco and it may be
taken as settled fact that the large
proportion of the crop lying within the
circle of influence of these meetings
will be taken out of the market for the
present unless the large eastern con-
Germs who eventually must move the
crop come to the rescue and meet the
figures named.
Having decided to hold their tobacco
for stated price, it will be up to the
growers shortly to arrange to carry It
over the summer without deterioration
or loss. for it is too valuable product
to be held in bundles in sheds and sub
iect to the elements. The crop should
either be sorted and packed in the reg
ular way or laid loosely in cases and
stored away for sweating during the
summer. Of course growers who have
not the time to care for the crop on
the farm can have their tobacco ham
died for them at the farmers ware
houses in various parts of the state.
OF course the expense of handling will
be high this season, that is expected,
but no grower can afford to neglect his
tobacco or permit it to deteriorate
while waiting for market to come to
him. If the buyers do not come to pay
the price before The. crop should be
packed, there is nothing to do but car.
ry out the program laid down at these
meetings sort and pack the crop.
But not all the growers who still
have their tobacco are prepared to put
up their crop and wait for later mar
ket. They have never yet carried
crop over and do not propose TO do SO
now when marketable offer is made
them. The question arises, how will
the upset price fixed at the growers
meetings effect their chances for saleI
Wilt tend to keep buyers away from
their locality and lessen their show for
unloading it when tax time is here and
interest accounts are coming due soon!
L
binding. For the best interests OF the
industry, we hope the movement has
not blocked an opportunity for the sale
of the balance of the crop while the
handling season is under way.
If the growers are determined to
hold their tobacco over the season,
then the logical thing to do is to start
movement at once to cut the acreage
for the coming year. Wisconsin raised
the largest crop in its history in 1913
and if it cannot be sold at what the
farmer considers profitable price,
why go on and grow as much in 1919?
Certainly with the prospects that the
coming year will witness decline in
the price of many farm products, there
| is no probability that tobacco will go
higher the coming year, so why not
commence to talk of a reduction in
acreage the coming year? We might
as we'll get down to. bottom facts, find
out the trouble and begin the remedies
right now.
~
There is no place where this feature
of general business policy has better
opportunity of development than among
the farmers growing tobacco. We have
had few years of rushing business
anything sold and prices were on the
upward trend But now, with the en0r-
nous world Indebtedness. resulting
from the war, all lines of business are
to be readjusted. Prices naturally will
come down in keeping with conditions.
and especially the law OF supply and
demand. Manufacturers and merchants
want to continue in business on prof
liable basis, farmers want to raise and
market their crops at profit, while
labor will want to be employed at
profit This will mean keen competi-
tion- The manufacturer and merchant
will try to offer better merchandise,
farmers will have To raise ard handle