Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
FARMERS' PROBLEMS
To Be CONSIDERED
By RALPH BURTON

Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, August 81
What is the matter with farming in
America?
Why can't the farmer-or at least,
why can't great many farmers
make a living under present condi-
lions? Why is farm tenancy In
creasing? And what can be done
about it?
These are the big questions with
which the experts in the depart
ment Of agriculture are wrestling
today. Out Of the six and one-half
million farmers in the United States
two and one-half millions do not
own the land from which they are
producing crops, and eight southern
states have more rented farms than
all forty others. Mortgages are be-
coming a heavier load, and though
production is increasing the charges
upon production by reason of farm
debt are growing too rapidly.
Extension Of farm credits, estab-
lishment of federal bonded ware
houses for farm products, improve
ment in marketing systems and
economies in production are all ap-
parently necessary to put farming
on it's feet. The most encouraging
development of general Significance
perhaps is the breaking away Of the
south from the one-crop system. Inc
effect is illustrated in reports to the
department from Mississippi, which
show that 80 to 80 per cent of the
cotton producers there owe money
to banks, whereas comparatively few
notes are held against dairy farmers,
who are rapidly increasing in num-
Der.
Consider All Angles
The department Of agriculture, IN
any event, is going to attack the
problem Of agricultural depression
from every possible angle and even
tually a consolidation Of the office
of farm management and economies
with the recently combined bureau
of markets and bureau Of crop esti-
mates is expected to result, IN order
that the most effective utilization or
resources may be made.
First Of all, the department wants
to help farmers decide what kind OF
enterprise or enterprises they want
to undertake. That implies study OF
the size Of the farm. it's productive
ability, its, layout, it's location ana
in the neighborhood. Other factors,
Of course, are the labor supply, ten
denotes Of prices and market grades.
By setting farmers right on the
kinds of work they engage in great
deal can be done, it is thought, TO
make agriculture more profitable.
The cost Of raising crops and mar
keting them is another, very 1mpor-
tant item, and elementary cost &C
counting will be made practicable
for every farmer who wants to get
a better idea of his income and out
go. The question Of ownership and
tenancy is highly important, as are
land values generally. Land settle
ment and colonization will be made
it is hoped that a wholesome system
Of land tenure can be worked out.
It is also desired to insure harlnoni-
Gus relations among such groups as
the farm workers, land owners and
tenants.
Marketing Big Problem
Since one Of the big problems con-
fronting the farmer is that Of mar
to that aspect Of the situation.
Farmers all over the country are
complaining bitterly of exorbitant |
freight rates. Stories are told of
melon shipments on which the
freight was four times the value of
the melons, of enormous prices for
hay imported into the south because
of carrier charges. The demand for |
specific crops will be investigated by |
the department so the farmer may !
have a better idea of what he is do |
ing. Storage is almost as important !
problem as transportation, for |
now farmers must sell perishable |
crops as quickly as possible and for |
whatever price the buyer will offer. |
For that reason the interest in fed |
eral bonded warehouses is increasing |
steadily. They would form a buffer |
against the economic forces that |
now make the farmer a prey.
Statistics, history and geography |
all have their places in the general |
program, but perhaps the function
of the department that will most in
terest the real business man who
has gone into farming is that which
will look into the question Of farm
financing. The agricultural posi-
bilities Of other countries, methods
of making farm life more pleasant,
and various extension activities will