The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-09-22
DECLINE D IN FARM
: IMPROVEMENTS
Cannot Buy at Present Prices; GO
a~s5 Counties Show Big Decrease
&: in Machinery Sales.
SALES DROP 80 PER CENT
Deflation Cuts Farm Machinery Pur.
chases, Handicaps Production,
Bureau Survey Shows.

St. Paul, Sept. 22.-Sales OF farm
machinery have fallen so to 95 percent
below normal in Minnesota this year,
and improvements on farms and farm
homes have decreased *'almost to
nothing" the Minnesota Farm Bureau
federation asserted today, in an
nouncing the results of a statewide
investigation into the effects of de-
fation on agricultural progress.
The federation's review of condi-
tions as reflected in machinery pur-
chases and improvements on Mime
sofa farms is based on reports from
50 county farm bureaus. The reports
of the county bureaus, federation Of
ficers said, were based on inspections
of a majority Of the farms in the
counties reporting, and on statements
obtained from retail dealers in lum-
Der, tile, fencing and farm machinery.
Five of the SO counties placed pur-
chases Of farm machinery at so per
cent of normal; the other Ga declared
that decreased buying power had com
PEELED farmers to reduce their ma
chinery purchases to rs or even per
cent Of normal. Just one county
Koochiching, estimates farm ma
chinery sales as large as in normal
times.
In 38 counties, the farm bureau re-
ports predicted, inability to buy equip.
ment will be a serious handicap in the
planting and harvesting Of next years
crop. In many Of the other counties
farmers said the lack of new machin-
cry would not hamper them, because
they are exchanging both machinery
and labor, and repairing every service.
able bit of equipment with parts taker
from castoff implements.
While five counties reported sales
of farm machinery normal or at least
so per cent normal, not one county re-
ported it's farmers making the usua
amount of repairs and improvements
on their land and buildings. Reports
from II counties estimate upkeep ex
penditures at more than half normal
SO report such expenditures are from
so to 95 per cent less than normal.
, decreases and increases in the pur
chase Of the equipment necessary tt
produce crops, and in the upkeep Of
farm homes and farm buildings re-
fleet the agricultural progress Of thu
state as nothing else can," the fedora
ton said in announcing results of its
investigation. "The fact that i'm
provements in farm homes have vir
tually ceased, and that in half thu
counties Of the state purchases o:
machinery have fallen off to poinr
where the efficiency of production i!
seriously threatened, is due solely tt
the absolute inability of the farmer
to buy The farmer will not deliberate
ly curtail production. Reduced pro
duction, except in rare instances
means reduced income for the indi
vidual farmer. But unless the defa
ton that has brought the farmer:
products to pre-war prices operates a:
effectively on the supplies the far
mer must buy, he will be forced t.
economic processes over which he ha:
no control, to produce less. Tha
eventually means much higher price!
for the consumer"
The above article was sent out b!
the Minnesota Farm Bureau fedora
ton news service.
Our local dealers in farm machinery
were interviewed on this subject, ane
two Of them report that their sale!
during the past year have been 81
and 80 per cent less than norma
One house reports that it's sales dur
ing the past few months have beer
up to normal These estimates woult
indicate that the farmers in Mill
Laos county are in as good condition
as they are in other sections of tn,
state.
In Koochiching county much new
land is beinp settled and this for