Oxford Democrat., 1921-05-31
Sweet Corn Growers Association

Growers Association are still firmly
convinced that the stand they have taken
In the present situation is the right one
from the standpoint OF the producers.
They fully realize the great benefits al
ready derived through the efforts OF the
association and most OF them consider
that In view of the financial gains they
have received as result of this associa-
tiou during the past two years, it L.
their duty to stand by and support 1t.
According to reports received from
various locals there is very small per
centsge OF the members signing up for
acreage this year. Without doubt there
has never been in the history of agri
culture in the State OF Maine Q move
ment directly In the interests Of the
producers In any line that has been 80
strongly organized aud SO well supported
In stand for justice to themselves. /:
was TO be expected that very small
percentage of the members in the fnal
contest would weaken and forget their
obligations which they took when they
became members OF the association
There are many very successful growers
who can grow sweet corn as cheaply a.
1t Is possible for II to be grown ln the
state and to whom this business ha.
been the larger part of their farming
project, who realize the serious chance
they would take in agreeing to grow
corn at the price offered this season, and
also that this association which has
proven its worth must be maintained for
the future good OF the industry and the
future generations. Yhey also realiz
that one of the greatest needs In agri
culture to-day Is something that will
interest the young men and women In
staying on the farms; In order to suppl,
this they must make the beginning b.
laying q permanent foundation upor
which prosperous agriculture can b,
based in the future. Further, that thi.
can only be made possible by and
through cooperative efforts by the pres
ent day farmer.
The association In encouraging tn,
adoption OF cost accounts, especially a.
relates to sweet corn, believe that as 3
result of this work the sweet corn indus
try will finally be placed on a permanent
basis, az II it Is found that 1t cannot b.
produced with the present day methods
at price which will sustain our markets
in competition with corn grown In other
states, then more modern methods must
be adopted which will lead to an In
creased production and not In an in
crease expense In production. The
influence of the association is furthe,
used to cause the grower to make q
more careful study of the crop during
the growing season and especially as II
is Just approaching the time of delivery
realizing that this has large bearing on
the markets, that by delivering all the
corn In the very best condition the pack
er will be relieved of the big job of mar.
ketiug second quality corn which seems
to be the stumbling block for the indus
try this year. The association also feels
that the packers have as much responsi.
bility In this line a. do the growers, as
in the past in the case OF large produc-
tiOn the equipment at many of the fac
tories has not been equal to the produc-
ton. Surely this is q situation for
which the producers should not be held
responsible. Neither should they be
expected to meet these conditions BY
reducing the price the following year.
There are many inquiries az to the
comparative production and the net in
come of the Early Crosby variety which
is usually grown, and the Golden Ban.
tam, which Is rapidly gaining favor 10
our markets. In the southern sections
Of the sweet corn territory the Golden
Bantam has been produced with good
satisfaction, but In the northern sections
nearer the frost line, the producers re
port thatthe Golden Bantam as crop Is
very unsatisfactory. The price of 4
cents which the packers are Offering for
Golden Bantam as compared with 3l2
cents for other varieties does not seem
sufficient amount to Offset the chances
In maturing and the difference In the
production per acre as It 10 reported that
unless the Golden Bantam is planted
very early 1t is difficult to get 1t matured
TO sufficient stage before the frost
strikes. The members of the associa.
ton feel that this is only one more way
in which the packer is trying to get the
members to break their obligations to
the association by signing up, expecting
to get as satisfactory results as they
would with the Early Crosby corn.
The executive committee of the asso-
ciation see no reason for changing their
position as according to the reports the
larger majority of the members and
growers are still firm for cents and pre-
fer not to plant rather than to accept
any further concessions. Therefore we
are asking all members and all growers
who are non. members to realize what
the association has done for them and
what It can do for them In the future,
to remain loyal and to refuse 10 sign up
for any acreage at any price less than
that stipulated ct the last conference
between the two associations.
The executive committee are planning
to make very careful survey Of the
entire field to get the exact acreage
secured by the various factories, also the
number of members who have signed up
for acreage and will give complete re-
port as soon as these figures are OBJ
tained.-C. 81. Crawford, for the Execu-
tive Committee.