The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-06-17
Talks to Farmers
BY T. T. PECK
Commissioners Of Agriculture.


While there are many problems in.
farm work snd management the indi-
vidual farmer can solve on bis own
farm, the problem of marketing farm
eproducts can heat be worked out BY
community cooperative effort. Variety,
quality and quantity Of product are
necessary to commend best prices.
The Individual can attain quality Of
product working alone, but on the small
farm be cannot pr, dnce quantity and
variety to get best prices, OF necessity
bis product must be sold TO dealers at
minimum prices. The dealer accum-
latss qeahtiIy sncvariety ard sells q
msximum prices. because buyers IN
quantities cannot Afford to hunt up and
assemble he small lots. even at lower
prices. Hence for eaat If community
concert of action the p1fit ct the buy
|els n small lots is lost TO the producer
when it might have been saved without
additional lator expense We buy
merchandise Of department stores sttl-l
er than from small stor,s because We
can have variety, quantity AID quality
TO select from, and We find the prices
more advantageous because Of the
minimum overhead expense Of the
business.
All conditions favor diversified farm
ing in Tennessee. Wherever diversified
farming is practiced, community ce-oE.
erative effort IL necessaryin marketing'
to assemble quantity of each product to
attract quantity buyers, saving 20 the
propucer the profit of the small quaint
ty buyer without additional expenses
to producers, and release such. buyers to
engage in some productive occupation,
| notice recently "a page advertise
lment 10 daily paper protesting agaiDs
the elimination of the middieman. The
iniddleman is necessary, and he should
have .legitimate'proft. but the pro-
ducers object to their unlimited num-
Der, each exac:ing his toll. until the
consumer pays more than double the
price paid the producer.
! am not criticizing the dealer who
buys and sels for profit, but | do
want to see farmers and men lin other
business as well develop community CO.
operation, market their products in
quantity, get closer to the consumer.
and save for themselves the margin Of
profit which is their just due.
A man who keeps a flock of sheep
and could get only 10c pound for bis
clip of wool, bought two suits of light
wool underwear, for which he paid
$500. The underwear weighed one
and one half pounds. The wool used in
its manufacture was bought from the
producer for l5cents. The labor and
the profits Of the mi6dleman added
$7.85 TO the cost to the consumer.
The producer is not getting enough
for his product, and the consumer Is
paying too much. There are too many
profits between the producer and the
consumer, Eliminate tie unnecessary
middlemsn, aud let them .find produce
tive work. Give the producer, the
dealer who supplies the manufacturer,
the manufacturer. the jobber. and the
retailer each legitimate profit.
The farmer working as sn individuil,
no matter how intelligent and nov in-
cannot correct these coudl-
tions. But by the community co-opera-
tive effort they can strengthen their
There is no need FIR rev
forms Of organic ,;iof, Toe commut
Il unit. these commamtis- blend. d il q
county councils o. agtIsatu Z. AID later
those b'e7dsd into state council will
put the agricultural producer Ia pvs:-