The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-30
r ARM COOPERATIVE BUSINESS REACHES
 ASTOUNDING TOTAL
Effective, Organized Market ing Systems Are Achiev- ing Tremendously for
 Farmer
By RALPH BURTON Special Corresp Dndent of The Age-Herald Copyright 1891, by The Ase-Hersld)

Copyright 1891. by The Ase-Herald)
 Washington, October 2s.--Figures just obtained at the department of agriculture show that farmers CO., operative organizations last year did a business of s575.7l4,6s0 as against littl emore than $500 ,0oo. 900 In lsl9 The figures for 1921, it is claimed will show another tremen- dous gain.
 Under the auspices of the depart ment of agriculture the farmers Of tho country arc being led more and more toward business methods in tho marketing of their crops. Ac- cording to the reports of the county agents of the department, the farm CTS In the United States have come to realize as never before that sue cess In farming Is dependent upon effective. organized marketing sys- tems for farm products. Co-opera- tive associations formed among the farmers largely through the work of the county agents, are increasing rapidly In number and influence; only within the past they have att tained recognition by the federal re- serve board in a way that is ex- ptCLeu 10 lNdkb Ddnk CfeQlI available for farm use.
 Extent is AstontsliinE
 To the average city dweller, par ticularly those in the east. the ex- tent of the work of the county agents in organizing farmers will be almost astonishing. Certain business inter ests have criticised the attitude of the department but the policy that institution, has adopted is that the farmers business education must now be put on a par with his education in production.
 Last year 79S county agents assist ed in organizing cooperative enter priees. This was 61 per cent of the total number of agents in the field. The business done through these or ganizations as stated amounted to $375,714,66G, and the saving through the cooperative form was $2f,152,- 773. The average business per agent was $s26,121, and the saving per agent was s43,304 These figures, according to the department, are very conservative for only 5ss of the 7s0 agents reported on the amount of business done and only 5O3 reported the savings effected.
 Rapidly falling prices for products,
 
 ucts until thes market was favorable have awakened the farmer to the fact that his interest In his product must be more than is included in the mere process of production. He must be able, in part, at least, to follow the product to tho market.
 This the cooperative association plan enables him to do. NThere have been times In the past when the farmer has been disposed to under take cooperative ventures, but until recently there has been unwilling ness on his part to pay for high class management. The county agents have stressed the importance of real business ability in manage ment to such a.n extent that the farmer has now been converted. Practically. the policy adopted by the department and it's agents is to dis courage organization if competent management cannot be obtained.
 Both Buying and Selling
 The departments policy Is that the county agent is as much concerned in helping the farmer with economic buying and selling as he is in connection with economic produc- ton. That does not mean, of course, that he Is expected to do the farm er's business for him. It merely i'm plies that his relationship to produc- ton and business organization is essentially the same. He can help determine what crops should be grown and what business organiza- ton is necessary; he advises how to grow crops efficiently, and as to the best methods of cooperative organization; he helps farmers to help themselves; but he should never assume personally or off cially any responsibility for co-op- erative business.
 The county agent work has been under way only 10 years, but it's re- suits seem to have demonstrated conclusively the value of the pro- gramme. The great jump in the amount of cooperative business done in 1920. when 1t totaled sS75.- 714,680 is shown by a. comparison l with the preceding year. when the total was ss0.762,177. Figures for 1921 are not yet available but the farmers interest constantly grows.