Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-02
4.
MARKETING I TO
Be DISCUSSED
Holrnberg Says Minnesota
Farmers Are Ready to
Face Situation.

Chicago, ILL.,, Dec. 2.-Farmers Of
Minnesota, with more than 5000 co.
operative ssociations a majority mar
EetlnS1 organizations In purpose, are
prepared to move forward to solve
q big marketing problems that face
g american farmer, N. J.. Holmberg,
Minnesota commissioner OF agricul-
cure toldH.the National Association Of
commissioners, Secretaries and De-
partments of Agriculture, in conven-
Mr.. Holmberg discussed the prac-
teal projects of a marketing depart
ment, and told Of the experiences of
the Minnesota department of agricul-
ture in h marketing problems.
When the Minnesota department
was created about two years ago"
Mr.. Holmberg said, sit was given
rather broad powers with regard to
co-operation and marketing control in
addition to the authorization to stand
ardize and grade products, issue&har-
ket reports and regulate certain mar
keting activities.
Later on, at a special session of the
legis!ature, supervision yer the cold
stofage Of the state was granted, as
was the supervision of organizing CO.
operative associations. The DEPART
ment also has power to investigate
business practices, many of which are
not of an agricultural nature"
The first farmers elevators in Min
nesota were started in the seventies,
MI. Holmberg said, and the creameries
began IN the eighties, and the nine
ties were a period of rapid expansion
OF farmers elevators and creameries,
The past twenty years" the COM
missioner continued, has seen the rise
OF n livestock shipping associations
tive effort.
The first problem confronting the
department following the granting of
its new powers, was the organization
OF the potato growers. Approximate
~ thirty-five struggling cooperative
organization were made a nucleus of
a statewide federation, which today
embraces 104 associations, handling
one-fourth of the total potato crop Of
the state, or about 5000 cars, during
the shipping season. This was made
possible by h cooperation of the ex-
tension division of the agricultural
college, and the county agents, which
are In practically every one of the
states eighty-six counties"
IT Is proposed to organize the grain
elevators along similar lines of CO.
operation. Mr.. Holmberg said, and a
plan is contemplated to c%entralize by
cooperation the livestock shipping
associations now scattered over the
state. $3.50
Our conception of state department
of agriculture, in so far as it. relates
to marketing the speaker concluded,
lis to find out what the marketing
problems of the farmer in that state
may be and to establish from that
point onward to the consumer the
widest and most open channels for
the flow of farm products. 1t is my
belief that this can best be accom-
plished by recognizing the value of ex-
listing market agencies, and by utiliz-
ing these in so far as it may be pos
sible.
Il believe the time is here for the
farmer in cooperation with his neigh
bors. and federated cooperation with
other groups Of farmers, to finance
the market movement and the SELL
ing OF his own products through the
entire chain from the farm at least
as far as the terminal market" ssfs