The Delta independent., 1921-02-25
A QUESTION.

The year 1920 has become ancient
history but the experience fthat year
will long be remembered by all classes
in the United States, and especially
80 will this be true of the farmer.
In 1919 the call was still ringing
through the land for greater produc-
ton, that we might be able to feed,
clothe and furnish material for the
devastated area of war wrecked Eu-
rope, and SO the farmer, as in the
years Of the war, responded to the
call and met the issue with all the
force at his command with the result
that the harvest was far. in excess of
even the most urgent demands; but
let us see what happened. In the
spring of 1920, high prices were at
the peak, and in consequence, the
farmer paid more for water, seed, farm
machinery, labor-in fact, everything
pertaining to his line of trade, and the
natural consequence was he must re-
ceive for his produce the high peak
price or suffer serious loss, and that
is exactly what happened. High
prices held up until after the farmer
had paid for the harvesting, when the
prices were suddenly dropped from
under his products and be was buried
in the remains.
Whether this was necessary, we
shall not discuss, for the paramount
question confronting us now is, What
does the future hold for the farmer?"
Many are in distress, for in most
cases prices were below the cost of
production and those compelled to
sell, sold at deficit while those hold
ing their crops are facing ruinous
prices, with little hope of relief. This
creates serious condition, for the
spring is upon us and they are at a
loss to know just what to do. The
valley is full of spuds, onions, hay,
wheat, oats, in fact, all farm products,
with no sale, or if any, at prices less
than cost of production. The question
is, Shall we put in such crops an
other year, as the country already
seems to be over-supplied with pro-
duce and for which there seems to
be no sale, or shall we make strenu-
Gus effort to get our best land in first
class condition and try again for a
bumper crop of the only crop that
has a fixed value, the sugar beet 2"
In view of the favorable outlook for
the Republican Congress to place a
stiff tariff on sugar, which now seems
certain, the price of beets based on
the relative price of sugar, should
from money standpoint make it the
most profitable crop a farmer can
put in.
No crop can make proper returns
unless tonnage is produced and this
can not be accomplished unless GER
tain principles are strictly adhered
to. The beet land should be prepared
for beets; it should be well manured,
well plowed, narrowed and worked
down until seed bed is produced free
from clods and with surface suffi-
ciently uniform to admit of furrow irri.
cation without overflow or flooding
When these principles are followed
a yield of Is to 20 tons will result.
where from 5 to tons will result from
adverse conditions.
The cost of seed, labor, ETC., on three
acres on land producing six tons per
acre would be three times as great as
on the acre producing 18 tons. In
consequence, the sugar company could
afford to pay more for the beets rais-
ed under the better conditions as the
seed and labor expenses are a heavy
burden to them, as well as the far
mer. SO it is not acreage, but ton
mage that is profitable to both.
The feeding proposition deserves
serious consideration, and il this Sec
tion Is to retain its reputation for pro-
duction there will have to be more
feeding done each year and the man.
ure carefully preserved and distribut-
ed, and the pulp from the beets will
be an important factor in that indus
try. We have here one of the best
sugar factories in the United States,
and 1t is here to stay II it can be op-
Grated at profit. 1t is a credit to
Delta county and every resident of the
valley should show his or her appre-
citation by putting their shoulders to
the wheel and helping in establishing
and maintaining friendly coopera,
tion between farmer and factory which
will result in mutual benefit to all
concerned.