The Washington herald., 1921-07-18

FSacnes all the way
from the organization of the indi-
vidual farm for production on the
one hand to the final distribution
OF the farm products to the ulti-
mate consumer on the other. Farm
management. strictly speaking, in
wolves the size, type and intensity
of farming. and the Individual own
er's application of science and good
practice to secure the maximum OF
production from his acres. Next
comes the question Of cost Of pro-
duction and the choice of crops and
classes OF livestock to be produced.
This leads to the question Of land
economics, methods of getting ag-
ricultural capital and credit for op-
GRAFTON. and a study of the relation
Of investment to return.
The broad subject of agricultural
adjustments must be studied from
the standpoint of the history of
prices and production both in this
country and in others which COM
pete with us in any way This in
wolves a study of supply. demand
and competition in foreign coun-
tries and the relation Of foreign
prices to the price OF the surplus
from American farms. The actual
marketing of farm products by the
producer, through organization un-
der regulations prescribed by law,
has been the main field of the Bu-
reau of Markets in the past. and
must continue to be from the farm
ers' standpoint most important
line of the work in the future. To
properly organize for distribution.
however. involves a knowledge of
| national and world markets, sup
plies and surpluses
Relates 10 Country Life.
Closely related to the farm or
ganization problem is the subject
of country life and its influences on
the efficiency and permanency of the
farmer. The fact that the farmers
business is intimately associated
with his homo makes rural social
! influences of great economic impor-
/ tance, frequently the determining z
factor in bringing about changes
in farming. The social aspects Of
farm tenancy Is the leading exam
pie and has very important bear
| ing on the question of farm eff
cheney.
The scope OF the bureau which
will ultimately result from the new
consolidation will probably include
definite divisions devoted to all of
the following main subjects:
Farm organization.
Cost of production and distribu-
tion.
Land values.
Rural social influences
Agricultural prices and crop sta
| tistics
History Of agricultural prices and
production.
Rural finance and credits.
] Foreign markets.
Market organization and methods
of distribution.
Enforcement. or regulatory acts
on grain standards, cotton futures.
warehouse. etc.
The development OF this work
having to do with the production
| and distribution of farm products
has proceeded very rapidly in the
| last fifteenLyears and the war ex-
perience in the present unprece-
dented agricultural depression have
combined to make the neHl particu-
larly acute for comprehensive sur
veys such as the new bureau may
be able 10 make. American farm
| ing has come to the beginning of a
reriod OF adjustment different from
anything. that It has previously
faced. Following the Civil War
! agriculture expanded rapidly into
/ new areas; but that period of eN-
pansion in area is practically at an
end, except for the improvements
by the recla ma ton of some of the
| less desirable lands. At the same
| time the American farmer is in a
| position of facing the competition
of foodstuffs imported from other
! countries to a greater extent than
/ ever before.
The development of a national
agricultural policy is declared by
agricultural leaders to be impera-
| tive. Farmers everywhere are
| clamoring for improvement in our
syster of distribution. both nation
ally and internationally
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