The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-05
J. C. MOhIer Is Optimistic as
to 1921 Crops.
Kansas Agriculturist Far From
Bankrupt, He Says.
GOOD FUTURE FOR FARMER
Price Depression May Be Bless.
ing in Disguise.
Points to Record Yield During
Last Year.

Kansas farmers are far from bank
| tary of the state board of agriculture
The depression in prices of agricul-
turaI products, altho keenly felt, may
be a blessing in disguise, he declares,
that will result in a more DIVERSE
fled farming which is desirable in this
state. better methods of production
and marketing, and constructive legis-
Alation providing for freer agricultural
credits.
An Optimistic View.
Secretary Mothers view is one of
optimism as the 1921 farm season ap-
proaches.
There are many things to indicate
a bettered condition in the not distant
future and chief among these is the
determination of the American people
to have them bettered," he said. 1.-The
waves of economic disturbance which
have followed the great war as one of
it's consequences cannot be wholly, or
Immediately, turned aside by human
agencies, but the individual may lay
his course so that more of his affairs
shall be directly under his own control.
Provided with an abundance of the
necessities of life, when in other coun-
tries of the world there is so much or
want. of misery and of starvation, we
are in a position to take the more
philosophical view and to realize that
the pendulum will surely swing back
as it has always done"
A Record Crop year.
Pointing to the crop record which
shows that the past year was the most
productive in the annals of the state,
Mr.. Mohler said:
1.-THE yield of all crops has been
greater than usual and several impor-
tant ones have exceeded all previous
records The sharp decline in prices
has operated to reduce the financial
showing and the aggregate values are
not as impressive as were those or the
preceding year, but it remains true
that the farmers of the state have
more than ever of the staple commodi-
ties to sell and these, even at the re-
duced prices, represent vast sums OF
money"
Quoting figures showing that e.s92,-
AL acres in Kansas We're sown 70
wheat last fall, which is 2,70S,742
acres more than the annual acreage
for the five-year pre-war period from
1909 to 1918, inclusive, and which is
only about 6 per cent less than the
sowing one year ago and practically
the same as that of 1918, Secretary
Mohler makes a plea for greater diver
To Meet World Needs.
1.-THE enormous acreage devoted to
wheat in the last few years have been
more or less abnormal and the result
of a patriotic response to the appear
for greater wheat production to meet
the world needs" he said. This has
served to throw our agriculture out OF
wheat under the conditions as under
stood, but that there has been too lit
tie diversity of farm crops.
''The wheat farmer has but one
market in which to sell and, in times
of stress. this market is very often af-
fected to his disadvantage The farm
err who diversifies his crops and who
has livestock as an important factor
in his farm operations has many
markets to which he can go and these
are less likely to all be adversely az
fected at the same time"
In proof of the statement that Kan
sas is now necessarily a one-crop
state, even tho whea+ is king, the i'm
mense 1920 output Of oats, barley al
falfa. potatoes and dairy and poultry
products is cited. One of the out
standing features of the year 1920.
it is pointed out. is that output of the
dairy and poultry yard not only sur
passed all previous, records but did
not suffer a depreciation in price as
did other farm products.
Knew Decline Was Coming.
1.-THE farmer has known all along
that prices were abnormal and that
they would decline" Mr.. Moh1er con-
tinued. HE does not object to this so
much as to the great inequality of the
decline by which he was hit first and
hardest. He will do, of course, what
he can to realize a profit on what he
has already produced and will then.
thru his various organizations. start
in operation the. machinery to open
up trade. to obtain credit for himself.
to improve transportation. to provide
credit for his legitimate customer and