Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-12-27
PROSPECTS FOR AGRI-
CULTURE in 1928
New Years Statement and Resume of
Agricultural Conditions and Pros.
spects from Secretary of Ag-
riculture Wallace.

Twelve months ago most Of the six
million farmers of the United States
were starting on the long climb out of
the valley of economic depression.
They have not yet attained the heights
which are bathed in the grateful sun
shine of prosperity. Some, indeed
have fallen by the way. Others are
still in the valley. Nevertheless. as
we stop bit and look backward we
can see that very considerable ground
has been gained by the great majority.
and we can enter The New Year with
renewed hope and with that courage
which comes from the realization that
we are really making progress.
A year ago, when speaking of the
prospects for farming in 1922, | said
that while there was no reason to ex-
pect boom times for the farmer in the
near future, there was promise of bet
ter times, both for the farmer and for
those whose business is largely de-
pendent upon him. The year has brot
fulfillment of that promise. Speaking
generally, times are better, much bet
ter, than a year ago, both for agricul-
ture and for industry.
Crops have been good, on the whole.
Prices of the major crops are mostly
considerably higher. While there has
been a corresponding advance in the
prices of the things the farmer must
buy, the total sum which farmers will
receive for the crops of this year is
greater by million and a half dollars
or more than that which they received
for the crops of last year. This will
certainly mean better times on the
farm, and farm folks will be able to
ease up little on the grinding econ
omy they were forced to practice the
preceding year.
The labor cost of producing the
crops of 1922 was still further reduc-
ed. There were some substantial re-
auctions in freight rates. Much help
full legislation has been enacted and
more will be this winter. Interest
rates are lower and the credit strain
has been eased. This has made it pos
sible for many farmers who were rath-
er heavily involved to refund their OBJ
legations and get themselves in con-
dition to win through.
There are still some dark spots. In
some sections weather conditions were
unfavorable and crops were short, and
farmers in these sections are having
very hard time of it. Freight rates
are still too high, especially for those
who must pay for long haul to mar
ket.
Taxes are high, but this is largely
due to the increase in local taxes over
which farmers themselves must ex-
ercise control.
There has been gratifying growth
in farmers cooperative marketing as
sociations, and more of them are be-
ing organized on a sound business ba-
sis.
Aside from the help which has been
given by legislation and by admins
tration activities, strong economic
forces are at work to restore a more
normal relation between agriculture
and other industries.
The peril in the agricultural depres-
sion is more keenly realized by other
groups than ever before, and on every
hand a sincere desire is being evil
denced to do what can be done safely
to help the farmer better his condi-
ton.
Everything considered, we have good
reason to expect still better things for
agriculture in the year 1923.