Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-08
POTATO AND APPLE
GROWERS AIDED IN
CERT|F|CAT|0N PLAN
Montana Products to Be Graded
at Shipping Points
in Future.
(Tribune's Helena Bureau.1

Helena, July Naturalization by
the United States department of agri-
culture of inspectors of the Montana
department of agriculture to inspect
and grade Montana-grOwn apples and
potatoes in accordance with federal re-
quirements means that these Montana
products will hereafter be recognized
according to their grading at the large
market terminals of the United States.
Under a tentative agreement that
has been drafted by II. w. Sampson
and Wells a. Sherman, representing
the United States department Of agri-
culture. and Chester G. Davis, commits
sioner of agriculture for Montana, at
a recent conference held in Helena. in
pectors of the Montana department of
agriculture will be especially licensed
this year with power to issue combined
federal and state inspection certificates
at points Of shipment for potatoes and
apples.
Commissioner Davis has been nego-
tiating with the United States depart
ment for the last nine months. looking
toward a cooperative agreement be-
tween state and federal departments
for food products inspections at ship
ping points. At its last session con-
kTtSS DdSStu 81 HuW VIipo" Sllu5 lax
secretary of agriculture to license in
spectors to inspect food products 1T
shipping points. Before that time the
federal inspection had been limited to
terminal markets. This arrangement
worked to the detriment Of the shipper
and grower. since a carload must reach
a terminal point before federal inspec-
ton would be available, and since his
freight had already been invested in
the car. the grower was to a certain
extent at the mercy of the commission
man or broker handling his car.
The Montana department of agricul-
ture had made plans for inspecting at
the growers request this years potato
crop. This plan will now be modified
to this extent:
Provision will be made for state in
spectors at important commercial po-
tato and apple growing and shipping
points. These inspectors will be bond
ed and the tentative plan agreed upon
provides for licensing them as federal
inspectors. They will inspect carloads
of potatoes or apples at the request of
the grower or shipper and will issue
a certificate of grade and condition.
which is backed both by federal and
state authority. Such a federal GER
tn1caIP is fecelVaDl" III any court OF Ine
United States as prima facie evidence
as to the grade and condition at time
of inspection.
May Get Supervision
Arrangement is being made by the
United States department of agricul-
ture to provide Montana with the serv-
ices of al expert supervisor for at
least two months next fall, and these
will be in charge of the inspection, act
ing as agents for the state as well as
the federal departments of agriculture.
1t is the intention to make this
inspection service as nearly self-sup-
porting as possible. according to Com
missioner Davis. The fee charged for
potato inspection will be 81 per car.
The agreement will not be finally in
effect until it has been approved at
Washington, and Mr.. Sampson and Mr..
Wells, who have been in Helena work
ing on this agreement. have gone back
to Washington with the crafts of the
cooperative agreement.
There has been a tremendous in
crease in acreage of potatoes in Mon
tana this year and since this condition
appears to exist all over the country,
it is important that every precaution
be taken to safeguard the marketing
Of the Montana crop this year, III the
view of the Montana department Of
agriculture. Indications are that this
years apple crop will be extremely
light,