Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-05-14
NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF WHEAT GROWERS

Adoption of a comprehensive pro-
gram for the cooperative marketing
of grain was the most notable work
of the national wheat conference held
in Kansas City, Mo, on April %,
Over $50 wheat growers and repre-
sentatives of farmers organizations,
ington, were in attendance. This
conference was called by the officers
of the National Farmers Union, in
compliance with resolution adopted
at the national convention held in
Memphis, Tenn, last November, but
all farmers organizations interested
in wheat, ard all bona fide wheat
growers, were invited to attend.
More of the time of the conference
was devoted to the question of the
cost of producing wheat, and the
proposition that farmers are not, and
have not been, receiving the cost of
| production, than to any other sub
ject; but the plan for the cooperative
marketing of the cereal products of
the farm through the terminals, and
even to consumers in finished form,
was considered the most valuable ac-
complishment of the conference
This plan is embodied in the report
of the committee on marketing GER
cal products, published in full below
Under this Plan, all producers of
cereal products are to be organized
into local marketing associations, the
local associations into terminal mar
market centers, and the terminal as
sOciations into a national association,
ali to be on purely cooperative
basis. When this has been accom-
Flished, the plan includes organizing
cooperative flour and cereal milling
associations and direct marketing of
finished products to consumers CO.
operative associations.
The chairman of the convention,
President Barrett of the National
Farmers Union, was directed by the
report to appoint a committee con-
sisting of one member from each
cereal producing state, to take the
initial steps to put this plan into eff
feet, and to serve until their sue
cessors are chosen by the co-opera-
tive associations in their respective
states.
The following men were appoint
ed: M. McAuliffe, Kansas; John
Havekost, Nebraska; A. w. Swift,
Oregon; A. d. Cross, Washington; j.
w. Batcheller, South Dakota, and
Geo, D. Baker, Iowa. President Bar
rett was authorized to add members
to this committee from other states.
That farmers have been getting
less than the cost of production for
their wheat was the conclusion of the
committee on the cost of producing
wheat. A recent investigation made
by the Kansas department of agricul-
ture was cited - show that the aver
age loss i'll growing wheat of the 1919
crop in that state was 43 cents an
acre. The costs of growing wheat
found in this investigation ranged
from $3.50 to $3375 an acre, with
an average of $500. The commit
tee recommended that farm organiza-
lions make similar studies in other
states and that from the findings a
report be compiled for the United
States as whole.
High wages in other industries are
robbing the farm of it's labor, de-
clared the committee on the farm
labor supply. Corporations have
been making such large profits that
they can outbid farmers for labor.
The committee recommended a re-
adjustment OF dlStr1Dutlon and land
prices, profit-sharing for farm labor
ers, and development of rural educa-
ton and social life to keep the farm
young people in the country
Government estimates of the CON
dition and acreage of winter wheat
on April l were too high, reported
the committee on general conditions
of the wheat crop. The government
report placed the condition OF the Ne
braska winter wheat crop at "a,
while Nebraska farmers at the con
ference agreed that it was not higher
than 10. Kansas was credited with
a condition of 73, whereas farmers
reports indicated a condition as low
as IS.
II