The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-11-25
Helping the Farmers
Develop
BY 7. +. PECK
Commissioners of Agriculture

| OuututSStOuGa VI agriculture
have letter from a farmer who
has be, n reading what have writer
about community cooperative effort
among farmers. He concurs in the
views expressed by me. but says thu,
the banks discriminate against the
farmers and do not furnish them The
same accondations accorded other bus
mesa activities, Personally had moi
the cause to complain of treatment
received from the banks. Their bus
mess 10 TO lend money, and naturally
they must safeguard their loans. And
tits equally natural that they accomodate
those who are prompt in meeting theii
obligations. Farmers are often at q
disadvantage in THE respect, because
Of the fact that returns from their
crops are available only about once q
year, unless they practice diversifica-
ton of crops. or engage In the farming
sidelines Of ds,rying or poultry raising.
This condition is 10 itself a fine argu-
ment for diversi6cation of crops and
more attention to dariying and other
sideIioes of farming. By such divsrsi
ficstion, they would have money com
ing in at different periods OF the year,
and would be on the same footing as
men in other business, and could ask
and receive similar Accommodations.
| do not know anything about the
banks where this farmer lives, but | do
know of banks In different sections of
the State whose officers are active 10
developing the agricultural activities Of
their sections, who furnish the money
at low rate or interest to farmers
who want to buy thoroughbred breeding
strck, or to buy labDrsaving machinery
or TO enable the farmer to hold his pro-
duce for q more favorable market.
Bankers, as careful business men,
must know that the farmers are going
odo their part In carrying out defin-
lie, practical program 10 livestock and
crop production: and marketing the
same. While have so far been ur-
ging cooperation among farmers be-
cause the value of cooperative effort
has long since been reconized and prac-
ticed among men in other activities. it
is equally important that there should
be cooperation between the farmer and
the financial institutions. because they
are .interdependent for the broadcast
measure of success of each, and
neither can attain the full measure of
prosperity without the cooperation of
the others.
Our individual prosperity is depend
ent in a large degree on the general
prosperity of the section in which we
live, ana we cannot have general pros
perity without proportionate prosperity
of the individual. Cooperation should
be encouraged between the towns and
the rural sections. Because their &C.
tivities are along different lines does
not mean that they do not have their
interests In common. Each 10 interest,"
ed In good roads, good schools good
churches, good social conditions. Botn
are alike interested in the officials who
serve them. Those living in the towns
are d pendent on those living in the
country for materials for food. clothing.
and 10 turn the farmers are dependent
on the non.producers for market for
their surplus. products.
While the farmer IL confronted by
many conditions that IRE discouraginR,
excessive taxes, low prices for his pro
ducts. and In many cases wal time
prices for things he has to buy, these
conditions must be faced. We know
that the people must be fed. They
connot live without fond, and the food
must be produced by the farmer, The
problem of the farmer is to get bis
rightfnl share of the price paid by the
consumer for the products Of the farm,
To do that he must be able to more
thoroughly prepare that product for
the consumers use. and himself get
closer to the consumer in marketing
his products. He cannot sfford longer
to dump II on the market without re-
gard for the demands of the market.
He must prepare himself to supply
his products just in keeping with the
needs and demands of the consumer.
This can be done only by farmers
working out feasible, practical plan
of comparatively preparing their pro.
ducts for the market. and by co-opera-
tivelv marketing 1t.