Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
100000 BALES IS
BROWNS FORECAST
OF STATES YIELD
Estimate Contrasts With an
Average Crop of 100000
and Is Based on Sixty
Counties

Commissioner of Agriculture J. J.
Brown, who returned to the state cap
itol Saturday from a survey of about
sixty Georgia counties, issued Satur-
day afternoon a forecast of 100000
bales of cotton for Georgia, compar-
ed with an average crop of 2,OOO,-
900. This, says the commissioner,
is the smallest yield that will ever
have been produced in the state in
comparison to the acreage.
He says he finds from actual in
vestigation that many farmers have
kept an accurate accounting of their
farming operations this year and that
the 1921 crop of Georgia cotton will!
cost them more than 81 FER pound
to produce, on a basis of middling.
81 am not undertaking" says Mr..
Brown, "to quote those figures as a
minimum price for cotton, but mere
ly to give the facts for basis to
undertake to, show the business in
terests of our state, as we'll as the
farmers, what it will mean to the
state of Georgia if we are forced to
sell our cotton at the present prevail
ing prices"
Mr.. Brown declares be stands for
diversified farming to the very linn
it, but diversified farming is not go
ing to be the necessary cure without
proper marketing facilities.
Throughout that Iart of the state
which he has just covered, the COM
missioner says, the other crops are
all showing up magnificently, espe-
cially grain, but cotton, taken as a
experience and, riding along the
roads the boil weevil were found to
be travelling so fast it became COM
mon to pick them off his clothing
as they flew into his automobile and
lighted on his clothing. THE air
seemed permeated with Them he
said. ...-. \.,
Mr.. Browns statement is as fol-
lows:
Less Than 100000
ITO the Cotton Producers and AL
lied interests Of the State of Geor'
gia:
"Ae we are now nearing the har-
vesting of the 1921 cotton crop,
feel that every interest in the cot
ton-producing states, as well as the
cotton consuming world, should know
the truth-the whole truth-as tic
the condition Of the cotton crop, as
we'll as the prospective yield for
1921.
1T have recently made an inspect
ing tour of from fifty to sixty coun'
ties south and southwest of Atlanta
reaching as far as the cost counties
and I am confident that Georgia will
produce this year less than 100000
bales. This, compared to a normal
production of 100000 bales, is pos
sibly the least yield ever produced
in the state compared to acreage
planted. 1t is true that the farmers
have used more economy in the cost
of cultivating the 1921 crop than DOS,
sibly any year in the last decade
but, while that is true, it has been
impossible, under boil Weevil condl'
lions, to produce cotton at cost OF
anything like a reasonable price.
"Quite a number Of farmers have
kept an absolute invoice cost on pro-
ducing the 1921 crop, and many hon
orabIe men assure me that their 1871
crop will cost them more than 81
per pound to grow it. basis middllng
I am not quoting these figures as a
minimum price for cotton, but mere
ly to give the facts for basis to
undertake to show to the business
interests of our state as we'll as
the farmers what it will mean to
the state of Georgia if we are torceo
to sell our cotton at the present
prevailing prices; and to the END that
the cotton-consuming world Will rec
ogniZe the fact that unless they are
willing to share at least a good por-
tion Of the cost of production in alb
normal times and cost plus reason
able profit under normal conditions,
they will force the cotton producers
to abandon the planting of cotton. \
Corrects Statement.
'"The agricultural society, at its
recent meeting at Macon. went on
record unanimously against the
nlanting of a single seed Of cotton
in the belt in 1922, to the end that
bv so doing we could eXterminate
the boil weevil from the cotton belt
and absorb the so-called surplus,
thereby putting the south in position
to produce cotton in 1923 under con-
ditions that existed before the adj
vent of the boil weevil. In This con-
nection / desire to correct a state
ment in which I have been quoted
by the press as having said that di-
versified farming would be of no
avail to relieve the farmer of his
present distressing financial condi-
ton. I have said, repeatedly. and
reiterate now, that diversified farm
ing will not repair the financial sac
rifices and losses that the farmers
are making annually unless sys-
tenn Of markets is installed whereby
the farmer can sell his diversified
perishable products at a margin. OF
profit above the cost: of production:
1t is mere folly and the worst OF
rot to argue to the farmer that d.
versified products in excess OF home
consumption will save him finan-
cia,ly, provided he is forced to sell
these diversified surplus products
for less than the cost Of production
or allow them to rot in the. fields.