Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-07
PROBLEMS OF
POTATO YIELD
TALKED OVER
Standardization of Valley
Product Is Urged BY
Speakers

Matters of vital Importance to Min
nesota and North Dakota potato
growers in the Red River valley were
discussed at morning and afternoon
mo s.es III the farmers Of tho
Grand Forks county court house Sat
urday.
Prominent potato men Of this sec
zion OF the country were present and
EXPRESSED their views on the potato
lions: establishment of warehouse for
tho storage of spuds and the proper
trading Of the tubcrs.
1t; was the opinion of the various
speakers that a thorough system OF
grading potatorS should be put into
every care 70 taken to insure the
:hipment of only first class potatoes
from the potato" ~nducing sections Of
The valley. Contrary to the report
that has been circulated Throughout
the country. that there was a bumper
crcp,jn the valley this year. q. F.. Bcr-
get, manager Of the Minnesota Rcd
F;iNcr Valley Certified Seed Growers
association. maintained That the acre
aee 'nrt.casc this year was not over
onc-third of last wear and that the
reports available showed that there
had beer a decrease in yield over last
= Years crop.
Yield Low This Year.
He estimated hat the average yield
was not over so bushels to the acre.
With Tbs decrease In yield this year
and the added acreage the speaker
estimated that the total production
Was not over 10 per cent more than
that of last year. o.
That the proper grading of potatoes
among the farmers should be a mat
ter of special education was the opin-
ion of the speakers at both meetings
and great stress was laid on this fea-
ture of the potato industry. 1t was
assured hat as soon as a creditable
system Of grading the spuds is estab-
lishad in the valley. eastern buyers
| Will be more ready to enter into con-
tracts for the potatoes Of this section.
Growers We're urged to sort their crop
before putting in warehouses 80 that
there will be no possibility of poor
~"hipments being made to outside
points
Credit Facilities Needed.
The absence of credit facilities for
tho farmers was given as one of the
hicf reasons for the weakening Of
+ the potato market this year. This was
attributed to the results of dumping
large quantities of potatoes on the
market With the resultant lowering of
prices. With the establishment of
warehouses in the various Ceuters of
production it is expected that this
drawback MAJ be overcome and the
potatoes released as the prices or
market warrant.
An efficient campaign of advertising
was, also suggested in the talks at the
meetings Saturday and it is expected
= that with a good system of grading
I and cooperation among the
tthis feature of the marketing of po-
Gatoes will he Civen a h0n9r.
Plan Meeting at Fargo.
A committee was appointed at the
afternoon session to go thoroughly in
to the matter of making provision for
a half day dealing with po-
tatoes at the Tri-state Growers con-
vention at Fargo in January. The
members of the committee will con-
fer with A similar committed appoint
cd from Clay county, Minnesota. last
week. The two committees working
together. will investigate the general
River Valley. The committee ap.
pointed saturday is composed OF
George Hoople. chairman; f. T. Spaf-
ford of Thompson. w. I. Forbes OF
Iilby. w. A. Andrews of Wahalla and
Mr.. Stevenson of Bcrthold.
Will Draft Resolutions
4 committee composed of O.; 4
Jeffrie was appointed to draft
Frank Jeffrie was appointed to draft
resolutions regarding the potato sit
uation for the information of the
AS a result of the meetings yester-
day. at which some SO potato grow
crs were present. it. ia expected that
a systematic campaign for the furth-
cring of the potato industry in the
Fed River valley and the assurance
Of fair returns on the crop, viii be
gotten under way. The standardiZa'
ton of the shipping product will be
one OF the chief objects of the grow
ers of the valley and this. together
with the establishment of warehouses
at stragic points. is expected to brlns
for the valley recognition of its tubel