The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-02
FARM i0PIcS
nr c. U. ALsrAuaH. c0anty Agent.


 By e. II. ALsPAUGH. County Agent
 The Farm. Bureau, Its Organization
 and Purpose.
 The Farm Bureau is perhaps the most widely misunderstood organiza- tion in existence today. It's own mem | bership as well as outsiders fall to comprehend it's purpose and possiDli- ities. Many farmers expect the Farm Bureau to perfect an organlza- tion which will control the price of farm products. The city buyer views it as a means of reducing the cost of living by producer to consumer sell ing. State and national politicians view it as the nightmare Of profes- sonal politicians because it wleids the Big stick of organized popular opn- ion on agricultural topics"
 All of these have viewed the Farm Bureau from a biased viewpoint. Their views lack perspective and tend to misrepresent the organization to others who do not take pains to in- vestgate more fully. It should be understood first and foremost that the Farm Bureau is not a commercial organization. It does not engage Tn buying or selling. It is non-sectar- ian and non-political in character. The great mssion of the Farm Bu- reau is educational. It is an organiza- tion of the farmers and by the farm CTS. Its object is to study farm con ditions and farm problems. It works out means of remedying adverse con ditions and presents them to farm CTS. The Farm Bureau is doing among farmers the things which the Chamber of Commerce is doing among commercial men.
 The scope of Farm Bureau work is almost unlimited. As the organization grows in strength more and more problems present themselves for speedy consideration.
 The Farm Bureau is not looking for something to do. It has been fighting for it's life to perfect the or ganization necessary to study its most urgent problems. It has been a marvel of efficiency. In short time it has perfected an intricate mechan- ism which is the most hopeful fac tor in American farm life today.
 Whether you belong to the Farm Bureau or not, it's influence is reach ing out and helping you in a thousand 1 different ways that you are moi aware of. Its Bureau of Research has dozens of our ablest specialists working on as many different prob. lems. Its marketing specialists have secured the world to learn the best means of marketing. They have called together representative farm CTS and presented their findings. A a result of this work we have a greai wave of cooperative marketing sweepng the country and meeting with success because the plan is based on we'll worked out business princi pals and has been in successful oper ation elsewhere. Just today the writ CT received the announcement of tht Producers Livestock Commission Company which is opening it's office 1 in the St. I,onis yards. This compan, is a part of the Farm Bureau plaT for livestock marketing which was re gently adopted. It is made up o- farmer stockholders and it's purpose is to reduce the excessive cost o1 marketing caused by excessive com missions. With a farmers non-profit firm in operation competitors will fint l it necessary to give efficient servict at reasonable price or lose thu trade.
 You will notice in this work that the Farm Bureau has simply planned the means of marketing and assisted farmers to perfect their organization for carrying out these plans. With this accomplished the Farm Burtaus part in the marketing plan ceases ex- cept that it's. legal department is ready to defend any of these market ing associations in case they become involved in court proceedings.
 Another phase of Farm Bureau Re search is that of establishing the cost of production. We insist that the farmer should receive a just return from his labor and investment, but what is just return? At the pres ent time no one is in position to say what the average cost of production IS. The Farm Bureau is attempting to establish the cost of production bJ actual records. Farmers will then bs in position to insist on getting fail return.
 In legislative matters, state anc national, the farmer has never beer considered chiefly because he has haC no one to speak for him and also be. cause there has been no unity o1 opinion. The Farm Bureau is calling to the attention of farmers variou. laws which affect their interest. Il seeks their opinion and presents i to the lawmakers. It is ths phase ot Farm Bureau work winch causes tn, i14sotrflfrcIrr t.aooffat,AI AD~1t4.1t nightmare" particularly the class O. politicians who are influenced b, "The interests" The Farm BureaI as throwing the light of truth on tn political situation, practice hithert, considered ungentlemanly The con stituents back at home are liable t. learn how their representatives stan, on questions of agriculture interest | This new influence in legislative mat l ters should have a wholesome in tiuence. 1t is non-partisan and sim i ply presents the facts in the situa tion- The Farm Bureau does no favor or oppose any particular mal 1 but it simply stands for the polio
 which unbiased study of condition would indicate. With an organization
 coverng the entire country certainl,
 we may expect great things alonI
 the lines of legislation.
 The legal department of the Earn
 Bureau has accomplished great thing,
 and continues it's work of giganti,
 proportions in the farmers interest
 The qneston of freight rate reductio,
 can be accomplished most feasibl,
 snru the Farm Bureau. Mir. Clifford