The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-01-06
FARMERS MAKE GOOD
Demonstrate Ability to Meet Require
ments of Nation by PRODUCE
ton of F0odstuffs, Etc.
Secretary of Agriculture, in Annual
Report, Gives Facts and Makes
Many Suggestions.

III MS dIuAudA 1ePOAC 0SSA0voAJ VI
Agriculture Meredith shows that the
farmers of America have again justi-
fed the faith of the nation in their
ability to meet it's requirements Of
food, feed, and raw materials for
clothing. They produced in 1920, in
the face of enormous difficulties the
largest harvest in the history Of
American agriculture with a single ex-
ception.
The corn crop Of 3,1ss 1000, 900 BUSH
els is unprecedented, representing
more than four-fifths of the worlds
production. The sweet potato crop Of
106,OOO,O 900 bushels is the largest ever
produced and far in excess of that
of any other year except 1919. The
rice crop of 100000 bushels is one
fourth greater than the largest crop
ever before harvested. The tobacco
crop of Ia 100000 pounds considera-
bly, exceeds any previous yield. The
sugar beet crop is more than one
third larger than the largest ever be-
fore recorded. The grain sorghum
crop of 149,OOO,O0O bushels is IS per
cent above that of 1919, which was
itself a record crop. The potato crop
of 421, 100000 bushels has been ex-
ceeded only once, and then by very
narrow margin. The oat crop of l.
444,000,000 bushels has been exceeded
only three times, and the tame hay
crop of 88,OOO,OOO tons only twice. The
apple crop of 236,OO0,O0O bushels has
been exceeded only once, in 1914. The
yields of wheat, barley, buckwheat
peaches, peanuts, edible dried beans
flaxseed, and cotton are slightly be.
low the average, but they, neverthe.
less, represent an enormous volume ir
the aggregate. The number Of al
classes of live stock on farms, al
though less than the number in 1919
exceeds by 18,214,000 the average fol
the five years preceding the outbreak
of the European war.
These remarkable results, the sec
rotary points out, were achieved under
great difficulties. In only four year:
of the last 81 was the progress Of
blowing up to May 1 50 backward a.
in 1920. Farmers were discouraged
They saw no hope of reduction in tn.
prices of fertilizer, machinery ant
supplies, which had steadily increased
since 1914. The labor supply was ap
proximately 81 per cent short ant
wages had risen to such a point il
1919 that the farmers were appalled,
at the thought Of paying still highel
wages in 1920. During the time whe,
the farmers were cultivating theil
crops, paying for labor and supplies
at unusually high rates, the prices o
agricultural commodities general!
remained high. In midsummer whe,
the farmers period of outlay wa
nearly at an end and their incom,
period was about to begin-after tn
problem of production had been solve,
"a sharp decline occurred in tn
prices Of practically all farm prod
nee. Covering nearly everything tn
farmers had to sell, it did not ma
terially affect the articles they hat
to buy. The years output, produced
ut normally high cost, was worth a
current prices $4,000, 900 900 less tina,
the smaller crop Of 1919, and 81, 900,
coz, 900 less than the still smaller crol
Of 1918. A note of warning is sound