Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-21
Members to Stand By Sweet
Corn Growers Association

NOIH NIOWCIS ASSOCldtlON
!! The members of the Maine Sweet
Corn Growers Association are still
firmly convinced that the stand they
have taken in the present situation
is the right one from the standpoint
of the producer. They fully realize
| the great benefits already derived
through the efforts of the aSsocia-
ton and most of them consider that
in view of the financial gains they
have received as a result of this as
ISOLATION during the past two years.
1t is their duty to stand by and sup
port it,
According to reports received from
various locals there is very small
percentage of the members signing
up for acreage this year. Without
doubt there has never been in the
history of agriculture in the State
OF Maine a movement directly in the
interests of the producers in any line
that has been so strongly organized
and so we'll supported in a stand for
justice to themselves. 1t was to be
expected that very small percentage
would weaken and forget their obli-
cations they accepted when they be-
come members of the association
There are many very successful
growers who can grow sweet corn as
cheaply as it is possible for it to be
grown in the State and to whom this
business has been the larger part of
their farming project, who realize the
serious chance they would take in
agreeing to grow corn at the price Of
Tered this season, and also that this
association which has proved its
worth must be maintained for the flu
ture good of the industry and the flu
ture generations. They also realize
that one of the greatest needs in ag-
riculture today is something that will
interest the young men and women in
staying on the farms; in order to
supply this they must make the be-
ginning by laying a permanent foun-
dalton upon which a prosperous ag-
riculture can be based in the future.
and this can only be made possible
by and through cooperative efforts
of the present day farmer
The association in encouraging the
adoption of cost accounts especially
as relates to sweet corn, believe that
as a result of this work the sweet
corn industry will finally be placed
on permanent basis, as if it is found
that it cannot be produced with the
present day methods at price which
VIII sustain our markets in COMPETE
ton with corn grown in other States.
then more modern methods must be
adopted which will lead to an in
creased production and not in an in.
creased expense in production. The
influence of the association is further
used to cause the grower to make
more careful study of the crop dur
ing the growing season and especial
~ as 1T is just approaching the time
OF delivery, realizing that this has a
large bearing on the markets, that
by delivering all the corn in the very
best of condition the packer will be
relieved of the big job of marketing
second quality corn which seems to
be the stumbling block for the in
dustry this year. The association al
SO feels that the packers have as
much responsibility in this line as do
the growers, as in the past in the
case of large production the equip
ment at many of the factories has
not been equal to the production
surely this is a situation for which
the producers should not be held re-
sponslble. Neither should they be
expected to meet these conditions bv
reducing the price the following wear.
There are many inquiries s to the
comparative production and the net
income of the Early Crosby variety
which is usually grown, and the
Golden Bantam which is rapidly
gaining favor in our markets. In
the southern sections of the sweet
corn territory the Golden Bantam has
been produced with good satisfa ction.
but in the northern sections nearer
the frost line, the producers report
that the Golden Bantam as a crop
is very unsatisfactory. The price of
.04c which the packers are offering
for Golden Bantam as compared with
.033 for other varieties does not seem
sufficient amount to offset the
chances in maturing and the differ
ence in the production per acre. as it
is reported that unless the Golden
Bantam is planted very early it is
difficult to get it matured to a suffi-
Gent stage before the frost strikes.
Many members of the association
feel that this is one more way in
which the packer is trying to get the
members to break their obligations
to the association. by signing up with
the expectation that they will get as
satisfactory result as they would with
the Early Crosby Corn.
The Executive Committee of the
association see no reason for chang
| ing their position as according to the