The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-08-10
State Department of AgricuI.
ture to Aid Potato Growers
in Marketing Crop
MEETING TO BE HELD ~
HERE SEPTEMBER 16
Proper Methods of Grading
and Loading to Be Discussed
By Experienced. Men |

Improper grading and loading OF
potatoes and other perishables causes
the Minnesota farmer and shipper q
loss that runs we'll into the hundreds
of thousands of dollars. This loss is
largely due to lack of knowledge Of
what constitutes proper grading for
marketing and to improper methods
adopted in loading, also to careless
and improper methods of billing and
accounting.
The state department of agricul-
ture believes that the best way to
| offset these losses is to carry the
story of how they may be avoided di-
rect to the shipper prior to the OPEN
ing of the heavy shipment season. 1t
announces the following schedule. Of
grading, loading and accounting
meetings: North Branch, August
10; Cambridge, August IL; Elk Riv-
err, August ~; Alexandria, August
20; Fergus Falls, August 80; Moor
head, August 81; Detroit, Septem-
Der, /; Wadena, September q; Little
Falls, September 3; Park Rapids.
September ~; Ada, September ID;
Crookston, September IA; Thief Riv-
err Falls, September Is; Bemidji, Sep
TENDER 16; Grand Rapids, September.
II; Aitkin, September 10; Carlton,
Duluth, September 20, and Moose
Lake, September 81.
The aim Of the department will be
to demonstrate at each of these meet
ings the methods essential to proper
grading, shipping and business ac-
counting. The meetings will take on
the nature Of demonstrations and in-
dividual work with shippers. Diff
culties that shippers have encounter
ed in the past will be met and the
manner of overcoming them will be
explained.
The department Of agriculture par
ty will consist of Hugh j. Hughes, di-
rector of markets., and George Wick
err, special assistant in auditing and
accounting, together with compe-
tent corps Of assistants including an
expert in potato grading, loading and
marketing. The party will also be
accompanied by Prof. Paul Miller Of
the Minnesota university department
of agriculture, and probably by
representative of the United States
bureau of markets. SSt r..
One-day stops will be made at each
of the points named in the itinerary,
and, unless otherwise definitely ar
ranged, the grading, the loading DEM
onstrations and accounting work will
begin promptly at o'clock and con-
tinue throughout the day. The direc-
tor of markets in charge desires that
each person attending these meetings
bring his own particular difficulty and
present it for explanation. Any spe-
cal difficulty that may come up To-
cally will be considered by the di-
rector of markets and his corps of
workers. r.
The railroads are lending their Goa
operation and will have freight and
refrigerator cars on track and con-
venent to the places Of meeting for
purposes of demonstration. Arrange
ments are now being made with those
locally interested. as to the exact
place of meeting, and ann ouncement
Of such meeting place will Big made
through the local press. ~,
While these meetings are designed
primarily to assist local association
managers, individual buyers and carr
lot shippers, to cut out their losses in
grading, loading and forwarding, all
who are interested in proper methods
of grading, loading and handling Of
potatoes are invited to be present at
these meetings. There will be no set
program, there will be no long speech-
es. All are urged to bring their
shipping troubles to the place Of
meeting, state them to the director Of
markets and the problems will ba
turned over to the person in the para
ty best qualified to help solve thems