The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-13
IPRICES FARM PRODUCTS
DROP SINCE PLANTING
Secy. of Agriculture Suggests
Ways to Shorten Road From
Farmer to Consumer.

| washington, Dec, 12.-Americar
farmers face situation due TO falling
prices for farm products. which should
be dealt with as n national problem
Secretary Meredith declared In his first
annaul report made public Saturday
, on Nov prices were SS per cent.
below those prevailing at planting
time, the secretary of agriculture said
adding:
There is perhaps no single solution
| for the situation which the farmers
| are now racing, but there are many
steps which can and should be taken
to place our agriculture ON a more
| satisfactory basis and to stabilize the
| business OF farming, not in the IN
\ torest OF the farmers alone but IN the
| interest OF the nation as a whole. n
sober national thought with regard to
the Importance, the absolute necessity,
OF sustained agriculture IN this coun-
try is imperative.
Several remedies were suggested in
lcluding extension OF cooperative mark
etlng and some means OF aiding IN car
rylng over the periods OF low produce
ton the surplus of years of nigh pro-
duCtlon, The question OF farm ana
| personal credit must be given moro
favorable consideration, the secretary
declared, and ways be found to ana
in the business of agriculture to estab-
lish themselves.
The road between the producer and
the consumer should be kept open and
made shorter the report said, To IN
sure fair prices and that the consumer
viii be able to buy with only "reasun-
able" profits attached to the original
selling price. Cooperative marketing
undoubtedly affords an opportunity TO
shorten the chanIteI between producer
and consumer, the secretary SAID, as
wen as opportunity to reduce the cost
of production by use of governmental
information as to marketing, grading,
etc.
Ihe farmers OF America have again
justified the faith OF The nation TO meet
its requirements, Mr.. Meredith de-
clared, and have produced crops ,sti-
mated to be worth $l3,S0O,OO0, 900 this
year. The combined yield OF the ten
principal crops was IL per cent above
the average Tor five years.
The corn crop Of S,l99, 100000 bushels
is unprecedented, representing about
four tifths OF the worlds production.
the report said. The sweet potato
crop OF 1906 100000 bushels Is tar IN ex-
cess of any other year except 1919,
while the rice crop of b2,OOO,OOO bushels
In one-foTth greater than the largest
crop ever before harvested Tobacco
production of l,476,00O,0OO pounds, the
sugar beet crop of li9,O000OO bushels
and the potato crop of All. O0O, 900 BUSH
els stand out as high marks while the
apple production of 236. 900 600 bushels
has been exceeded only once.
1T ought TO be fact" Mr. Mere
dith continued, that when the farms
OF the country produce abundantly, the
consuming public win be literally sup
piled with food at reasonable prices
the farmer taking his profit because OF
large production and the consumer re-
ceiving his increment OF benefit from
having an adequate supply at ren-
sonabe cost.
I'm general, we should expect II to
be true that the farmers conditio Is
improved in direct proportion to tho
of bushels of wheat or corn or
the number OF bales of cotton he
produces. 1t frequently happens, how
ever, that when all farmers
have extraordinary good crops during
the same year low prices leave him
worse Off than he has been in other
years with short crops and high
prices"
This year, Mr.. Meredith said. high
prices for farm products continued UNI
til they were ready to sell. when the
price reduction set In, covering every
thing the FARMERS had to sell and ma
terially effecting nothing they were
Compelled to buy.
THE years output, produced at an
high cost" the secretary
added "ls worth at current prices 49,.
700, 900 600 less than the smaller crop or