The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1920-08-05
Articles of Interest to the Farmer
Edited by W. Hunmer County Agent Melrose Minnesota

Active steps toward the formation
of a great pan-American cooperative
marketing organization to handle
grain and livestock for farmers IN
the United States and Canada were
taken at a conference held last week
in Chicago, under the auspicies OF the
American Farm Bureau Federation.
Over 500 persons, most OF them rep
resenting one or more of the various
independent cooperative organiza-
tions now in field, discussed for two
days ways and means of gring about
a fusion of their varied interests into
a conglomerate whole. A result,
J. H. Howard, president Of the Fed
GRAFTON, was empowered to appoint
a committee of seventeen, which will
be instructed to bring a concrete plan
of action before another meeting
which is to be held in January.
The aim of the organization Will
be to eliminate spectators and heed
less middlemen, who take an annual
toof of $5O,OOO,O0O, permit the farm
er and his representative to regular
the flow of grain and livestock to
market so as to avoid price depres-
sions, and to give to consumers a
better product at a lower price
through avoidance of wasteful ana
inefficient marketing methods.
Mr.. Howard announced that 1T
would take him some time to deter
mine on the personnel of the commit
tee, as he desired to put only men
who are in "co-operative frame OF
mind" to work on the gigantic task
before them. 1T is certain, however,
that men who are now engaged III
cooperative marketing will be asked
to serve. 1t is probable that the De-
partnnent of Agriculture and the
Federal Trade Commission will SEND
delegates. This is the biggest un-
dertaking that the National Fedora
ton has tackled. The movement was
born at meeting of secretaries ana
presidents of midwest state fedora
lions, held at Ames, Iowa, July ~
and 23rd. Minnesota was repre-
sented at this meeting. Prominent
organizations which had representa-
tives at the conference were the va
rious state farm bureau federatlons'
the EQUITY Cooperative Exchange, St.
Paul State and National Equity I'm
ions, State and National Oranges,
Farmers Unions and the National
Board of Farm Organizations. More
than 100000 farmers were repre-
sented. Mr.. Howard, who presided
at the conference, made it PLAIN that
the American Federation did not
want to 20 into the marketing bust
ness. but it does earnestly desire TO
further and assist in every way pos
sible a movement that will remedy
present injustices to which the farm
er is subjected.
Benjamin B. Drake, attorney 1or
the EQUITY Cooperative Exchange on
his return to st. Paul said there was
every prospect for worth while or
ganization to grow out Of the con-
ference. "It will take time" ne said
<sbut the goal toward which we are
aiming cannot be attained in a week
or ten days"
L. E. Potter, Springfield, member
of the executive board, was the MIN
nesota Farm Bureau Federatlons
representative.
Do farm accounts pay, asks >. W..
Mendum of the agriculture economies
department of the University OF WIS
consin? Just listen to the real STORY
of this farmer, we will have to re-
g Su!zem e1oJeq '1ed1eH w!q eweu
decision he urges.
Harper was working a small farm
part of an eighty with growing
family, owned it free and clear ana
thought he was doing pretty well.
Several years ago one Of the men
from the agricultural college got hlrl
interested in farm business analysis
along with others. When the county
factor sheets came out year after
year Harper found he was working
at a disadvantage compared WIN
other farmers in the county. he tnen
kept accounts for a couple OF years.
the books confirming the indications
pointed out by the less accurate one
sitting" analysis. He concluded that
he was cramped on his small farm
and that he ought to take a larger
farm with more stock and tools.
He sold his small farm and with
the approval of his banker contract
ed for an excellent farm twice the
size well equipped with dairy build
ings, paying the highest price an acre
paid for farm land in the county up
to that time. Part Of the proceeds
of the small farm he applied on the
land after using what was needed to