Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-12-29
PROPER FIELD FOR COOP
GRAFTON AMONG FARMERS
by Or. w. l. WanIass, Dean Of the
School OF Commerce and eusl-
ness Administration Utah
Agricultural College


could not and should not attempt 10
do. This does not mean that all
groups should attempt to do the same
things. Much depends upon the gen.
eral situation. What is the principal
object to be attained through coop
erationf What Is to be the size OF
the organization? what commodity
or commodities are to be grown or
handled7 What win be the probable
volumep
Upon tho answers to those and
similar questions the scope or actlvi.
tes OF the cooperative enterprise
should be determined. But through
II all this fundamental principle must
be kept in mind: Successful coopera.
tion. like charity, must begin at home.
1t is futile for any group of farmers
TO think OF reaching away out TO per
fo.m the complex functions of mar
keting or distribution until they have
learned to do well the things that are
close at hand. Failure to recognize
this important principal has been the
rock upon which many a well-inten-
toned enterprise has founered. AS
one studies the history of our most
successful cooperative organizations
he finds that nearly all of them have
had to back up for second start
simply because they did not at first
recognize their own limitations. Ma.
rnFntty fhn t0
rife cost. Most organizations are so
injured by the shock that they do not
have the power to start anew.
What then. are some OF the things
that group OF farmers can do in a
cooperative way with reasonable hope
Of successf III 1t is a marketing or.
ganization. one OF the easiest and at
the same time one of the most i'm
portant things such a group can do is
TO determine with great care just
what commodity or commodities can
be most successfully produced. There
are many factors to be considered
Soil and climatic conditions, distance
TO market, methods OF reaching the
market. the particular variety or type
that Is In greatest demand-these and
many other items must be carefully
weighed and examined. The writer
has In mind one locality which set
out comparatively to gain its economic
salvation by growing strawberries for
rather distant markets. After much
expenditure OF effort thew discovered
that the particular varie " of berry
selected and planted though lovely to
look upon, would hardly stand ship
ping across the street. Necessarily,
their salvation was considerably de-
layed II not seriously jeopardized.
Other localities that have studied
these matters with great care have
built up regulations which are worth
millions OF dollars. There is much
TO be accomplished in this direction.
Worry rarely are markets glutted with
superior products that have attained
market reputation.
Another marketing function closely
related to the one already described
which farmers working comparatively
can perform better and cheaper than
anyone else Is that of grading and
packing products for market. Here
again the opportunities for improve
ment are great. Few indeed are the
cooperative enterprises that have
realized their full possibilities in th,s
direction. Everywhere consumers are
more and more demanding commodi-
ties that are uniform and dependable |
To meet this demand
markets and market agencies are will
ing TO pay a premium for products OF
this class. Here is the producers op- |
pOrtunity.
To do these two things thoroughly |
and we'll ia an adequate program for
0ny now cooperative enterprise no
Steps beyond this in the marketing
process should be left TO other agen-
cies which, by reason OF experience |
and specialization, are much better
fitted to do the work than new or
ganization Of farmers can possibly be-
With a local group, actively coop
Grating TO do the things they are so
fitted 20 do, properly con
nected up with dependable distribu-
tive agency, we have an almost ideal
arrangement. Generally,
this should be the permanent ar
It may be, however. that
ms the local organization gains ex-
perience and is able to acquire eff.
Client management 1t may with profit
reach out and perform other runc-
K6ns that are more strictly a part |
OF tho marketing process. This Is
true where the volume OF
business handled Is large. A con-
siderable number or our most sue
cessful cooperative enterprises, after
a most humble beginning, have grad.
unlly wldened their scope until they
now cover practically the entire dis
TANGO from producer to consumer
Most frequently this is accomplished
by number of local organizations Ia
n district decorating themselves to-
gether to form a central sales agency. |
4.