The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1921-01-13
FARMERS FACING
new PROBLEM

ant problems, the solution OF which
demands whole hearted cooperation
among all. members of society, &C
cording to President e. G. Peterson
OF the Utah Agricultural College.
President Peterson declares that the
future well being of American civil
ization and the very existence of
American agriculture depends upon
our ability to solve these problems
correctly.
As outlined by President Peter
son there are two serious problems.
First, there must be political and
economic adjustment that will in
sure the farmer a profitable bust !
ness and swing the population again
TO the farm, and. second. the farmer |
himself must learn to produce more
efficiently standardized products.
In a statement recently prepared
for the press by President Peterson,
the present agricultural situation
was analysed as follows:
Agriculture in the United States
entered a new phase of its develop
ment during 1920 The farmer is
now facing set OF conditions en-
tirely different from the conditions
he faced before or during the war
of 1914 The solution Of the new
problem now before the agricultur-
list will necesitate clearest vision
and earefulest statesmancraft II
they are to be correctly and lastingly
Isolved.
Agriculture in America up to the
present, has been largely the benefit
ciary of cheap land. There has al
ways been new and fertile land TO
reclaim and this land. as IL has be-
come settled and has given birth to
lgrowing communities, has increased
marvelously in value. The last de-
cade has seen exceptionally high
prices for farm products. Before
the war farm products brought salts
Ifying returns. During the war pric-
es rose TO extraordinary heights. II
should be distinctly recalled, how
ever. that the farmer who unselflsh-
I ~ answered the call of the nation
for increased production during the
. years of 1917, IS and 10 has benefit
) ted little from these high prices
= With inefficient floating labor, de
y handing high wage, with increas
ed costs for equipment the farmel
: found that his cost of production
was tremendous. In return ne re
ioeived but a small part of the grea
" increase in prices brought about b!
war conditions. The farmer profit
eered less than an other groap II
this country during the war and ha
prospered during the last few ear
much less than he has deserved.
: yet the farmer is now the frs
i to suffer under the present cond'
l. lions OF falling prices. Present da
h. prices for the great staples OF tn
e farm and range-wheat, wool, bee
n cotton, etc.--are below the cost
n production. Other commodities IN
h, GLIDING labor. supplies and farI
C. equipment. must quickly seek a le'
n eli comparably level to these staple
be or agriculture will cease to exist
tic Two big agricultural problem
IN face the country today for solution
n First. there must be political an
at economical adjustment which wi
m swing the population back to Il
pc farms. Second, the education OF Il
ed farmer to produce efficiently sta
We, dardixed product must proce'
of apace.
&c. 1.-THE census OF 1920 shows tn
i'd the Unite States has ceased to be
ne rural nation. Since 1910 the count
rs. has changed from an agricultural
ug an industrial state Today for Z
ca. first time In our history, the IN
m Jorlty Of ur 1O5,OOO,OOO people Ii