South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-14
AGRICULTURE
arm Reserves Suggest Main
tenance of Prices at Re
numerative Level Despite
Fall in Exports-Labor
Outlook Discouraging.

The governments report on farm
reserves. uuequaled In history
changes the aspect Of farm produc-
ton somewhat and suggests the
maintenance Of grain prices at lev
els consistent with the price levels
OF other commodities Despite the
restrictions which car shortage and
the farmers disIncIination 20 sell
Imposed upon the movement. more
wheat left the farm from July / to
March ! than in 1913. Exports fell
$4,000. 900 bushels. Consumption Of
corn during the past four months
materially exceeded that OF the two
years previous.
Total farm reserves on March ],
including all principal grains except
rye. exceeded last YEARS by only
5000. 900 bushels Oats and barley
holdings were less. The corn crop
was OF fine quality. Apparently the
farmers have made exceptional pro-
lress in moving the bumper wheat
and corn crops. Demand has been
active The inference Is that the
years carry-over viii not be bur
densome and that prices will re-
GeiFF a WelCOIflt element OF supper L
The farm labor outlook shows no
perceDtible Improvement. and labor
Will constitute the farmers gravest
problem during the 1920 season.
Predictions are made that farm Ia
Dor will demand and receive higher
wages than ever before. The pres
ent tendency either TO cut down
holdings or TO extend them with a
view 20 making the most efficient
use OF machinery and large scale
methods may be expected 10
strengthen. on the other hand.
men have returned from the army
who were not available last year.
The tractor is gaining wider use
and helping 10 overcome the labor
shortage.
The dairymen Of New York state.
> aided by the Merchants Association
OF New York City and other bodies,
have opposed a bill introduced in
the legislature 10 regulate the dairy
industry and FIX the price Of milk.
The merchants argue that the pro
posed legislation is needless as a
protection against exOrbitant prices.
inasmuch as prices are determined
by costs OF production and distribu-
ton. and restricted by active and
continuous competition" and Is per-
nicious because they seek 10 control
prices by statute. To depress prices
BY municipal competition with pri-
vRte enterprise. and TO substitute
state regulation for the economic
laws"
Farmers generally unite with bus
mess men In opposing all needless
government regulation of private in
dustry. and condemn fixing.
The farmer IS especially hostile TO
efforts at price-fiXing that touch
only foOdstuffs and leave unregu-
lated the prices OF the articles he
buys.
Amid all the talk OF declining ex-
ports. a surplus OF goods. "a possible
.Sprices. there is growing recogni-
ton by the public at large of the
Importance Of the farmers buying
power as a sustaining element in al
most every field OF business The
farmer is frequently described as
the backbone Of retail trade. When
the prices paid him for foodstuffs
diminish ne buys less and trade suf-
fers as a result. Again is empha-
sized the necessity for price reduc-
tious that shall apply not 20 food
stuffs alone. but 20 all staple COM
nodities simultaneously.
Director Rogers reports that the
farm census is not making satisfac-
tory progress. Needless to say.
every farmer should and Will coop
crate to expedite the collection of
data which much depends i'm shap-
ING future policy