Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-11
FARMER RELIEF
PROBLEM AFFECTING
WHOLE COUNTRY

Washington, Dec. 10-American farm
ers face a situation due to falling pri-
ces for farm products which should
be dealt with as national problem,
Secretary Meredith declared in his
first annual report made public today.
On November 1 prices were 80 per cent
below those prevailing at planting
time, the Secretary of Agriculture said.
adding:
There is perhaps no single solution
for the situation which the farmers
are now facing. but there are many
steps which can and should be taken
to place our agriculture on more
satisfactory basis and to stabilize the
business of farming, not in the inter-
est of the farmers alone but in the in
terest of the nation as a whole. A
sober national thought with regard to
the Importance. the absolute necessity,
of a sustained agriculture in this coun-
try is imperative"
Several remedies were suggested in
Guiding extension of cooperative mar
keting and some means of aiding in
carrying over to periods of lew produc-
ton the surplus of years of high pro-
ductiR. The question of farm and
personal credit must be given more
favorable consideration, the Secretary
declared, and ways be found to aid
tenant farmers or men just embarking
in the business of agriculture to es-
tablish themselves.
THE road between the producer and
the consumer should be kept open. and
made shorter" the report said, to in
sure fair prices and that the consnm-
er will be able to buy with only 'reas-
enable" profits attached to the origi-
nal selling price. Cooperative aIket-
ing undoubtedly affords an opportunity
to shorten the channel between pro-
Queer and consumer, the Secretary
said, as we'll as opportunity to reduce
the cost of production by use of gov
ernmental information as to marketing.
grading, etc.
The farmers of America have again
justified the faith of the nation to
meet it's requirements" Mr.. Meredith
declared. and have produced crops es-
timated to be worth $13, 1900, 0o0c0J this
year. The combined yield OF the ten
principal crops was 10 per cen. above
the average for five years.
The corn crop of 3.199, 100000 bushels
Is unprecedented. representing about
four-fifths of the worlds production.
the report said The sweet potato cr,p
of Jos OOO, 900 bushels is far in excess Of
rice crop of 52,O00.0O0 bushels is one
fourth greater than the largest crop
ever before harvested. Tobacco pro-
duction of l,476,O00.0O0 pounds, the su-
gar beet crop of 100000 bushels and
the potato crop of 421,0OOo00 bushels
stand out as high marks while the ap-
pie production of 236,0Oo.C0O has been
exceeded only once.
1T ought to be a fact" Mr.. Meredith
continued, that when the farms of TIE
country produce abuniantly. the CON-
Stunning public will be literally sup
piled with food at reasonable prices.
the farmer taking his profit because of
large production and the consumer ;r-
ceiving his increment of benefit from
having an adequate supply at reas-
enable cost.
I'm general we should expect 1t to
be true that the farmer condition is
improved in direct proportion 20 the
number OF bushels of whea- or corn or
the number of bales of cotton he pto-
duces. 1t frequently happens. how
ever. that when all farmers have -eX-
traordinarily good crops during the
same year low prices leave him worse
off than he has been in other years
with short crops and high prices.
This year, Mr.. Meredith said. high
prices for farm products continued un-
til they were ready to sell. when the
price reduction set in, covering every
thing the farmers had to sell and ma
terially affecting nothing they were
compelled to buy.
1.-THE years output. produced at an
abnormally high cost" the Secretary
added. lis worth at current prices So.
O0e 900 600 less than the smaller crop Of
1919 and $1,000, 900. 900 less than the still
smaller crop of 1918. The best esti-
mate that can now be made indicates
that the total value of animal products
in 1920 is sS,75 900. 600 or about 500. 600, :
900 less than in 1919
'"There is probably no other indus