Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-12-25
Low Price
M ay Gu t
Corn Land
Farmers Of Middlewest Ad-
yised to Reduce Acreage
In Spring Unless Grain
Prices Rise.
Will Raise Other Crops


west that less corn than usual will
be planted in the spring unless the
price is increased considerably. Re-
duction OF the corn acreage in Hi
nois, which ranges next TO Iowa for
this crop. has been recommended
hy the executive committee OF the
Illinois Agricultural association.
This organization is extremely con-
servative, and its president states
that by cutting their production,
farmers only will be doing whit
manufacturers do-shapng supply to
fit demand.
A special committee from the
state farm bureau federations of
Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas
is reported to have advised similar
action. The Illinois resolution ad-
vises that the acreage of corn, which
is the states greatest crop. be "rea-
sonably reduced" and asks a pro-
portional increase in the acreage of
alfalfa, clover. soy beans and other
lesume crops to improve the SOIL
Acreage Depends on Price.
Past records have shown a num-
Der of instances where farmers re-
ceived larger total monetary re-
turn for small crop of corn than
they did for a bumper crop. Wha,
per cent Of Nebraska's corn land
will be planted as usual next spring
can not be predicted but whether the
price remains low or goes higher
will have everything to do with the
acreage.
There is no doubt that if corn
isn't up to the cost of production
in the coming year, in a systematic
or an individual way, farmers will
decide not to plant it" said N. B.
Updike yesterday. "On the 5000
acre farm of the Woods Updike
Land company at Herman there will
rot be an acre of corn planted next
year unless the price goes up to
meet the cost of raising crop. We
have notified the manager to sum-
mer fallow the 1000 acres of corn
land there if prices are not up %
cost. 1t is better that the land
should rest than that it should be
worn out growing crop that doesn't
pay out. We have 1000 acres OF
winter wheat growing on this farm,
which is all that can be taken care
OF, so we can't put in any small grain
on the corn land. The manager has
been told to hold all the corn raised
this year that he can handle prop
erly in the cribs and to sell only
what he can't keep"
Farmer Credit Arranged.
AS member of the Corn Belt
Advisory committee OF the War FL
nance corporation, Mr.. Updike has
been instrumental in arrangements
by which farmers can borrow money
10 hold their corn.
"The War Finance corporation is
talking about extending credit to
European buyers" he said. "a bill
now in the senate would authorize
loans on grain for export to take
care of buyers who can give security
or make proper financial showing
so that the loan will be good. This
is similar to The credit that is being
offered the American farmers.
The national administration is
doing everything in its power to
bring about better conditions for
the people in general. As the farln-
er is hit hardest Of all, more atten-
ton is being paid his needs than
those of any other. President Hard
ing realizes that prosperity starts on
the farm and spreads in all direc-
tons. Heaven and earth are being
raised in heroic efforts to prevent
the prices of farm products being
unduly> depressed. -.
"The surest way in the case OF
corn is to reduce the acreage. IT
that is to be the plan II certainly be,
hooves the farmers TO borrow and
hold so that they can get the beneht
on the grain they already have. 1t
they can get more by not farming
than by farming, the choice is easy.
Money Available.
All the farmers have to do is in
sist on their local bankers handling
loan for them through the War
Finance corporation. There is plenty
of money available for agricultural
loans where good security can be
given, and everything has been ar
ranged to give the farmers a helping
land and pull them out of the hole.
Some farmers will want to turn
to other forms OF agriculture. They
can go to their bankers and arrange
for War Finance loans to feed live
stock or go into dairying. Farmers
who live close enough 10 town to be
able to take care OF the milk and
cream would do we'll to get some
dairy cows. OF course. if everyone
did this, milk would be too cheap to
make it worth while. Dairying
shouldn't be overdone any more
than grain raising. The waste and
danger OF overproduction is some
thing the farmers have TO think hard