Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-11

luStlned the fa1th Of the nation In their ability to meet its requirements of food, l feed and raw materials for clothing, says the secretary of agriculture in beginning | his annual report to the president. They l have produced this year in the face of enormous difficulties, he continues, the | largest harvest in the history of Amer ican agriculture with single excep- l ton. The corn crop of 3,1ss, 100000 bushels | is unprecedented, representing more than four hfths of the worlds production. The ! sweet potato crop of 106,000,000 bushels is the largest ever produced and far in excess of that of any other year excepe 1919. The rice crop of 52,000,000 bush els is one-fourth greater than the larg- est crop ever before harvested. The l tobacco crop of ], 476, ,000, 900 pounds con- siderably exceeds any previous yield. The sugar-beet crop is more than one-third larger than the largest ever before rec orded. The grain sofghun crop of l4S,00e,000 bushels is IS per cent. above | that of 1913, which was itself a record I crop. The potato crop of 421,0o0.00 bushels has been exceeded only once, and I then by a very narrow margin. The exceeded only three times, and the tame l hay crop of SS,000,000 tons only twice. The apple crop of 23s.000,00e bushels has
 been exceeded only once, in 1914. The yield of wheat, barley, buckwheat beach,
 es, peanuts, edible dried beans, faxseed, 1 and cotton are slightly below the av craze, but they, nevertheless, represent an enormous volume in the aggregate. The number of all classes of live stock on 1 farms, although less than the number in 1919, exceeds by 1S.21400o- the av- craze for the five years preceding the 1 outbreak of the European war.
 | These remarkable results, the secre- tary points out, were achieved under Igreat difficulties. In only four gears of the last 37 was the progress of blowing up to May 1 so backward as in 1920. Farmers were discouraged. They saw no hope of reduction in the price of fertiliz- CT, machinery, and supplies. which had steadily increased since 1914. The la
 bor supply was approximately 57 per cent short and wages had risen to such a point in 1919 that the farmers were appalled, at the thought of paying still higher wages in 1920. During the time when the farmers were cultivating their crops, paying for labor and supplies at unusually high rates, the prices of ag- ricultural commodities generally remain ed high. In midsummer when the farm
 ers' period of outlay was nearly at an end and their income period was about I to begin-after the problem of production had been solved-a sharp decline oc-
 
 I farm products. Covering nearly every
 thing the farmers had to sell, it did not
 materially affect the articles they had to
 buy. The years output, produced at a
 normally high cost was worth at cur
 rent prices $3.00o, ,0o0, 900 less than the
 smaller crop of 1919, and $1,000. 100000
 less than the still smaller crop of 1918. A note of warning is sounded that the
 stability of agriculture in the United
 States is threatened unless farmers re-
 ceive an adequate return for their pro-
 ducts.
 The secretary laid emphasis upon the
 importance and necessity for a sustained
 ] agriculture in this country. Every possi- ble, he said, must be done, ito prevent or at least to lessen the effect of the re- currence of conditions under which large numbers of farmers conduct their eopera- , tions at loss. The matter is of such tremendous importance to our entire pop . ulation that it should be recognized ev. anywhere as national problem and dealt E l with as such."
 While expressing doubt that there is . any single solution for the situation now facing the farmers, MT. Meredith declar ed that there are many steps which , should be taken to place agriculture or f l a more satisfactory basis and to stabilize the business of farming. not in the inter
 ] est of the farmer alone, but in the in f terest of the nation ~ a whole. "Wt . must see to it," he said that the roat ! between the producer and the consumer
 is open and direct, and that the farmer! have a free and competitive market 1T
 which to dispose of their produces. W,
 must omit no effort to improve our mar :, keting machinery and practices and {, 7 furnish necessary market information. s' that farmers may take full advantage O
 l modern business methods in the distribu D tion of their commodities.
 s "We must adopt every feasible mean c to enable the farmer to adjust himsel r to changes in economic conditions, sucl : as have recently occurred It ought to b e fact that when the farmers of thu D country produce abundantly the censum e ing public will be literally supplied wit = food at reasonable prices. the farme k taking his profit because of large pro n duction and the consumer receiving hi ?. increment of benefit from having availa o ble an adequate supply at a reasonabl 6 cost In general, we should expect it d be true that the farmers condition is i'm d proved in direct proportion to the nun ,t Der of bushels of wheat or corn and tn y number of bales of cotton he produces y It frequently happens, however, ths d when all farmers have extraordinaril. in good crops during the same year lo ,o prices leave him worse off than he hs le been in other years with short crops an le high prices One thing that would hel
 to remedy this as some means, wherevt ! feasible. of carrying over to periods 10 low production the surplus from years 'nn high production. More attention to ma q keting and the development of a later :: consumption demand in years of larl l- supply will also be helpful"
 .1, iS Important recommendations contail I. r. ed in the report are:
 ~ Studies in the cost of marketing As that the proportion of the consumer . '. price received by the producer and u 70 As proportion received by various markc sss ing agencies can be ascertained. ae ae Extension and development of coope 1s ative marketing work.
 T. Establishment of a world market-r It porting service to make promptly ava .o able comprehensive and dependable i n formation as to production, suppl eana en prices of, and demand for agricultur to commodities in different parts of t :, world.
 o,- 'i The consolidation of the bureau cA markets and the bureau of crop es ne ne mates for the sake of economy al '' greater efficiency.
 Material expansion of the studies of the cost of producing farm products. .H Thorough-going scientific study of t he whole problem of farm labor.
 i'd The making of every feasible effort be aid the farmer in obtaining necessa nt personal credit.
 in Broader studies of the methods e IT, ployed and results obtained by farnt Ter in attempts to improve their cre he through united and cooperative actio, 'p- The direction, through thorough-goi