The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-04-14
FARMERS ARE NOT HOLDING
& RAftK n

is4is WnIe Lne shortage OF fIdrIn llDOl
and the assumption that prices of farm
products will drop materially within the
next year will reduce to some extent
( the acreage of food crops put in during
the present spring, Secretary of Agri
culture Meredith does not believe that
these influences will seriously affect the
\ food supply of the United States.
Mr.. Meredith bases this belief on in
formation placed before him by tbs
bureau Of crop estimates Of the federal
department Of agriculture. which main
tains close connection with every agri
cultural community in the states. The
question facing the agricultural world
Mr.. Meredith says ia not whether there
will be "a labor shortage, but rather how
serious that shortage will be. gs )
Labor Mr.. Meredith argues, is
the first thing the farmer considers
when he faces the question of how much
land he will cultivate during 1920. The
second item isNthe general assumption
that prices OF farm products will be re
duced materially within the next six
4 months or the next year. These tive
things operate to make him conserva.
tive, as any business man would be in
\ his position, but the indications are that
the decreased acreage this year Will be
q decrease only from stimulated war.
y time production rather than a reduc-
ton from the normal acreage. Il.
sit should be remembered that while
the farmer Is looked to as one who will
help to bring down prices. he is com
PEELED TO pay the prevailing high rates
to get his crops started The machinery
4 he buys this spring, his farm animals.
his living expenses and his labor are
costinge him unprecedented prices. If,
after meeting these expenses. his prod.
uct next fall ,0rs-Wiil3eE. ID sold at the
same rate that prevailed in normal
times he stands to- loses on the years
operations. a5s
..Thes farmer, however, lis not taking
pessimistic yiewS the future. We
do not hear that he Rngoing. to quit
farming and, let the eW0rid starye, pri-
marty because farming S'isfhis business.
His capital is invested In his farm. his
source of income h ibis farm, and he
will continue to, grow corn and wheat
and raise cattle and hogs so long as
there Is q market for Gthem.
1T may quiet some fof the fetrs that
have been expressed to say that In no
instance have the farmers taken con-
certed action with n view Of restricting
crop acreage or otherwise curtail the
food supply of the nation or the world.
They have organized and are organizing
for their mutual benefit. They are dis.
GUESSING, proDlemS OF growing ana mar
keting their products, but these mat.
ters are directed toward a decrease of
the waste and friction between the
grower and the consumer, and are to
be encouraged rather than regarded
with distrust.
OficiAla sof the depa rtment OF f.agri
culture declare that what the farmer
lacks ii available labor he ,issnakfhg eup
30 farsas possible with improved me-
chinery and modern agricultural meth
DDS. ike other Businessmen. they de
clare. he is meeting business emerYsl-
cies With the best remedy that comes
to hand. And, finally. 5depart mgnt Of
their Gmiiies represent nora Van 40
per cent of the consun0lnGs pubic tltey
are al much interested as any group
in reducing the cost Of. the necessities
OF life. asfs7ssss:st stLls- tessssssa