The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-10-07
Diversification of Crops
BY 7. F. PECK
Commissioner Of Agriculture

Now that much Of the 1921 crop is
harvested, garnered and marketed and
that remaining getting ready for har-
vest, and the time for our 1922 activit-
les approaching, we ran afford to and
shouldg give some thought to our plans for
next years crOps-what they shall be.
Some of as have concentrated our
efforts on the production Of certain
crops to the exclusion of practically all
sthers. We may have found weather
conditions unfavorable. for that parti.
cular crop, or we may have been visited
by insects pests that ruined the crop.
market conditions maybe were so un-
favorable for our particular crop that our
entire year slabor and expenditures for
equipment and supplies have proved a
dead loss. and we may have been COM
PEELED to buy for the use lon the farm a
great many things that under more
favorable conditions our soils would have
produced.
Practically all the crops suited TO the
temperate zone can be successfully grown
en- Tennessee soils, at least to the
extent required for home consumption,
and they can be profitably grown.
Never put all your eggs in one basket"
is an old adage that Tennessee farmers
can apply with profit in planning their
farming operations for the coming
year. know the staple crops, such as
corn, wheat, tobacco and cotton,
because of volume, will find market
at some price, but We have not always
found that price profitable. because Of
shrewd msnipulstions by dealers and
spectators and because we have not
co-operated in marketing our products
and preparing them for the market.
Except on large plantations. q large
portion of the products of farms, II
properly diversified, can be profitably
utilized on the farms where produced,
That part of the product of the farm
consumed on the farm is not affected by
market speculationa, and when 40 con.
sumed the farm owner is assured OF
the part Of the needs of himself ant
family, and II the crops are diversified,
some OF his surplus will command
attractive prices.
The one-crop farmer. who has tt
depend on that crop to buy what hs
might as well have raised on the farm,
10 seriously handicapped II that croT
should be cut short by an unfsvorable
season, or there is an improbable mar
ket for bis product. Then, too, at this
particular time. when conditions are 81
unsettled and prices so uncertain, tb,
hazard IL greater for the one-croI
farmer. More security is.assured tbs
farmer who diversifies at least t,
the extent of providing for the require
ments Of himself and family.
With the development Of communit!
cooperative effort among farmers,
diversified system of farming is NOR,
secure. because with co-operativ,
effort, quantity, quality and variety O
product are assured. and those are th,
three requisites for good prices. Ever,
year some crops will command goot
prices. so we will he assured what W.
need for home consumption, which viii
not be affected by the fiuctustioDs loi
the market. And the bringing goot
prices will enable Us to stand the loss or
those less in demand, For the Ten
nessee farmer. diversified farming Il
the safest, especially under present
conditions.