The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1922-03-23
SPUD GROWERS
MEET IN OAKES
N. d. German of Fargo Urges Potato
Men to Stick to Association if
They Would Succeed
DISCUSS MARKETING PROBLEMS

DISCUSS MARKETING PROBLEMS
Farmers Will Increase Acreage and
Raise Standard of Product
Enthusiastic potato growers to the
number Of forty gathered at the city
hall last Thursday afternoon at the
call Of c. E. Roney, secretary Of the
Oakes Potato Growers association.
N. D. German of Fargo reported
his experiences in investigating the
marketing facilities while acting as
member Of the investigating commit
tee appointed by the extension depart
ment Of the Agricultural college.
"Fully fifty per cent Of the market
ing problems can be solved by the
grower right here at home," said Mr..
German. "Our investigation brought
out that in many cases the high cost
Of marketing was due to transporta-
tion costs, which can be cut materially
by avoiding the shipment Of dirt, FROST
ed potatoes and culls, confining our
shipments to the standard grade Of
U. y. No. /. In many cases cars
from North Dakota were rejected be-
cause they were not up to grade. This
incurred high demurrage charges,
heavy shrinkage, increased cost Of
freight and reduced prices. In some
cases these avoidable excess charges
exceeded the total return on the car.
This means that the most effective
way Of solving our marketing prob
lens 10 to pay more attention TO po-
tato diseases, seed selection and grad
ing, thereby raising the standard Of
our product.
'The other fifty per cent Of the
trouble lies in our method Of distribu-
tion. The Minnesota Potato exchange
has not been entirely satisfactory.
am not prepared to say which 10 the
best method Of marketing for the
grower, but feel sure that the local
association can do better than the in
dividual grower. In many cases that
were Investigated it was found thit
individual growers lost heavily by
dealing with some buyex who had no
financial. rating and no place Of bust
ness other than q desk in some office
in Minneapolis.
Stay by your local association, raise
the standard Of your product and send
a man to Grand Forks next week to
meet with the other growers and help
them in their efforts to devise better
marketing facilities, was the advice
given by the speaker.
Several farmers. present signified
their intention Of starting a seed plot
and improving the quality of their
product. Growers felt that with the
increase in acreage would come the
building Of warehouse with better
facilities for grading, handling and
storing Of potatoes. It seems that
potato growing is an industry that
has come to stay and one that will add
several thousand dollars annually to
the income Of the farmers living near
Oakes.
The yield Of No. potatoes is more
important than the total yield. Dis
eases prevent the development Of good
sized, smooth spuds. These diseases
must be prevented in order to insure
good yields. Seed selection, discard
ing all potatoes showing brown spots
after cutting off the stem end, follow
ed by treatment for common scab and
rhizoctonia by soaking all seed pota-
toes in ounces Of corrosive sublim-
ate dissolved in 80 gallons Of water
for an hour and half will prevent
the diseases.
Problems Of vital importance to
North Dakota farmers who plan to
raise potatoes in 1922 and in coming
years will be discussed at state wide
conference open to the general public
at Grand Forks, Friday, March 81.
according to a call issued by the direc-
tor Of the North Dakota Extension
division.
The Oakes Potato exchange will
send representative to this confer
ence. Any individual grower who can
attend is urged to do SO.