Arizona republican., 1921-01-09
A Sane Farm Policy

attended by hundred farmers and the clear .headed. practical discussion of the agricultural problems confronting this valley by MT. H. C. Heard county agricultural agent and Dean Working of the University Arizona College of Agriculture on the development of plan to bring this valley back to a system of we'll balanced agriculture involving intei- gent rotation dversificaHOn of crops. conserva- ton. and. A more general use of live stock. have launched a much needed movement.
 This is time. in a level headed way. to learn lessons from experience of the past, and to build plans for the future the basis of that experience Two lessons should have been pretty thoroughly learned this past year. One, that too large number of men, aIlured by speculative profit in Pima cotton. undertook to raise this with experience. and but a very slight knowledge of the business. Another lesson learned. was that in the excitement caused by s1.25 cotton many men attempted to raise cotton land which was not ready for producing or was not adapted to cotton. and should have been planted to alfalfa or other crops. The past season practically 1sooOo acres were fnrmed in cotton in this district and it now looks if this would produce approximately 10000 500 pound bales. The ginning reported Jan- uary 1, 1921. about 57.oOO bales.
 It is evident that the average production will be approximately four-tenths of a bale per acre. We had therefore, the past season. low average yield at exceptionally high production It would be a mistake. however suppose that this low average indicates any impairment of our producing possi- bitties in the valley. on tho good cotton lands which formerly had grown alfalfa and other crops. yields have not declined is there any impairment of the quality. The lower average production is to be ascrbed almost entirely to the rapid and more less speculative extension of the industry on new desert lands. and to tho casual handling crop by many men who were more spectators than they farmers.
 Practical students of the cotton industry agree that if year half acreage planted in 1920 cotton. sO0OO acres of best cotton land are planted and farmed by experienced men. there is no in the world why that acreage should not produce almost much cotton as was produced the 1s00O0 acres farmed last season. regular farmers more competent than ever before, and are making more general application of improved cultural methods.
 We should not fool ourselves by anticipating an abnormally high price for cotton, but practical students of the industry, having no selfish interests locally, the opinion that there is every reason believe that with the adjustment world industry cotton should be worth, at a minimum figure fifty cents. And practical men, in thorough touch with the local situation equally convinced that with the certain declining of production involv- ing an increased efficiency in labor, cotton can be grown the Salt River valley fair profit at fifty price. it is on such a basis that we must consider it as our fundamental cash crop.
 There is another feature that should be strongly endorsed this tme That is, the need of the firm est kind of cooperation, not only in producing but especially fin marketing the crop. California has shown the value of cooperative marketing The time has come for Arizona to learn this lesson and to put 1t into action,
 As Dean Working and MT. Heard clearly state Pima cotton. that it has been developed to be the finest cotton known, should be continued as a cash crop. and the balance of the farming land in this district should be so ntellgenty planted tc crops fitted the various types of soil that maxi mum production may be secured a minimum cost This problem is by easy one as it in- wolves the farming plans of nearly 5000 individual farmers but the whole future of the valley as well os of each individual farmer, is dependent on the solution of this problem.
 There is no body Of land in the world of greater richness. there is irrigated system existing with a more assured and satisfactory supply of water and no section is favored by climatic conditions All we need is cooperation looking facts squarely in the face. and building a farm policy along the general lines as indicated by the report published and approved by tho committee which has started this work.
 There is one thing on which there must bo no delay. We need to have every acre of good land with an assured supply. producing something. Certain farmers necessarily will have to farm grain on lands now in cotton. These where the per- sonal record is good should be helped, wherever necessary to get their seed in early insure oessful crop. Every to be planted in grain should be in the ground later than the tenth of February Tn this work the utmost possible help should be extended 10 the reliable farmer who has bee6 raising cotton and has temporarily exhausted his Tut working owe nd tbe stock to farm his land It is this whom tho helping hand should loo extended. and extended quickly.
 HN