The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-29

The following is a summary of the
agricultural legislation passed at the
recent session of the legislature:
The cooperative law of 1919 was
extended to permit the federation OF
local cooperative associations into
large buying and selling units. BY
this action the legislature gives to
the Minnesota farmer exactly the
same power and privileges that are
now enjoyed by the great business
corporations, and makes it the duty
of the state department Of agricul-
ture to assist farmers in the estab-
lishment of local and central coop
erative selling associations.
The law of 1919 establishing the
state department of agriculture has
been so amended as to give that de-
partment supervision over all dealers
in farm products outside OF hay,
grain and livestock as now regulated
by the railroad and warehouse COM
mission, and to protect the shipper
of such produce against misrepresen-
tation in making returns and fruad
by allowing him to demand state in
spection OF produce shipped; or 10
require the assistance of the state
department of agriculture in the ad
justment of claims.
The Minneapolis Chamber Of Com
merce. the Duluth Board of Trade
and the South st. Paul Live Stock
Exchange have been declared open
markets and the farmer is given the
right to come on these markets with
his cooperative selling agencies.
The gambling feature in futures
trading is defined by law covering
gambling contracts and futures
trading. The essential feature of this
law is that the sale or purchase OF
grain that one does not own, or ex-
pect TO deliver, is forbidden under
heavy penalties.
Unfair discrimination in the price
paid for milk by wholesale dealers
protects the local creamery or cheese
| factory from price cutting competi-
| ton.
A law establishing an auditing di
vision within the state department o.
association. desiring an official audit
of it's books. to secure such service
| from the state at cost.
Additional funds are provided fol
the completion of the state tes
mill for the purpose of testing the
bread making qualities of Mime
sofa wheat and for the purpose o.
fixing the correct standards for the
grading of wheat This insures The
completion and operation of thi!
mill for the crop season of 1921.
Provision is made for ascertainint
the cost of production of farm pro
ducts through the CO. cooperation of thu
/ county agricultural agents and tn,
state department of agriculture.
Under an act passed. the matter o
establishing state rural credits will
be submitted to the voters at tn,
next regular election. Establishment
of such credits demands a change II
the state constitution.
Provision is made for the orgniZa
ton of land mortgage associations
Under this law. a group Of men cal
get together and finance the clear
ing and improvement IF agriculture
lands, giving. long credit terms Il tn
farmer desires
Counties are permitted under tn
Bissette Law to appropriate none
for the clearing of lands that are ag
ricultural in character. This law i
similar in its action within the coun
ty to the existing state law relativ
to drainage.
A land classification law is enact
led providing for the classificatic
, OF unoccupied lands within the state
This. together with provision TO
. continued experiments on peat an
sandy soils gives Minnesota the be
!, ginnings of a. business-like survey c
Its unused agricultural lands.
i A weed supervisor under the stat
, department Of agriculture has bee
) provided and state wide control
nlaced in his hands. SDecial provisio
is made for .he eradication of tn
wheat producing barberry.
The cold storage act of 1919