The Bozeman courier., 1921-07-27
FARMING COOPERATION.

With conditions pointing to good crop TINS
wear. the farmer should look forward to the har-
vest;ng with considerable JOY. During the past
three wears If has been continued strain upon
the nerves as well as upon the purse, to keep 60
ing. and il is q wonder that large number nave
not given I'D the struggle. Taken from the view
point of the average business investment, the
farmer risk more to gam less than any other man
ufacturer. For the farmer is n1S--.u1&otureT a.
though he is usually looked upon as being just the
reverse.
The element of chance entering into the ousl-
ness OF farming is of such great magnitude, and
the percentage in favor OF profit to the farmer
is SO small that it requires the ever watchfulness
Of not only weather conditions, but OF market and
marketing possibilities as well. Very often the
prospects of a good return for the work Of the
wear are ruined by a sudden storm, hail, wind,
flood all of which come without the least warning
and will wipe out every vestage OF the hardest
kind OF labor.
The farmers life is not an easy one, and when
ne has chance to make little profit from his
efforts there seems to be some kind of an IN
fluence always boiling up to take the JOY out OF
life, and reduce the profit to a mere nothingness
If he has a bumper crop, it seems that every coun-
try in the world has the same if ne plans on mar
keting big crop and taking in big sum Of mon
ey for it-bang, go the prices of his product down
to the very lowest possible figure. Then again, il
there is, as has been the case in Montana for the
past three or more years, good price prevailing
for the farm products in steps old mother nature
and keeps away the moisture-or the grasshop
pers come-or hail, resulting in small yields-al
ways something happens to prevent the farmer
from reaping the benefits
Therein lies the real reason for the association
Of the farmers together IN some sort of an or
ganzation whereby they may be of benefit t.
each other. The many problems with which the!
are constantly brought up against can best b.
handled by concerted action, rather than to leav
each to shift for himself. The world is crowdet
with evidence of the very great success Of cooper
alton, IN the right manner. Bankers, merchants
builders, skilled mechanics, all have found tn
proper way to protect their interests and to fur
ther their development, has been through work
ing together. These have been required to forr
their own associations, finance their operation:
and bear the burden of all expense attached t
the work of research and study whereby thei
conditions may be improved upon and better RI
suits obtained for their members.
Farmers have one great advantage over a
other business organizations in that the state an
he federal government, through the extension d.
1artment, experimental stations, and the count
agents, assume the burden Of the work necessaI
20 know the best methods to follow in the con
1ating Of the many difficulties The extensiC
department has done and is doing a great wol
and the results arrived at through the experime
al department, is available to every farmer WI
desires to know how to do many things and no
10 do many things right. The county agent
nOt-as so many seem to think-a wizard WI
viii do wonders by the mere waving of the han
He is a man, usually one who has had years of a
tual experience in farming, who is at the call
every farmer in the county to advise and asst
IN meeting the problems of the daily grind up
the farm. If a difficult situation comes up, he
there to lend his aid in solving the matters
to perform some mysterious rite and cause
trouble to vanish-but to study the matter,
cause, its effect, and how to do away with it a
TO prevent, if possible, the recurrence of t
trouble Every farmer will make money if
will join in the cooperation of farm work
fostered by the county agent and through I
farm bureau which that agent can only make
success by the aid of every farmer in his coun
The county agent is the hub of the wheel, but
De good wheel it must have spokes, felly a
tire.
Tc fhoro c;r IL L