The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-03-10

The Importance of agriculture in
its relation to the problems of re-
construction and as the principal
foundation of real prosperity is more
fully recognized today by the nation
as whole than since the middle of
the last century. This recognition
should make possible the solution of
some of the farmers problems which
In the past have been understood by
few except those actually engaged
in farming.
The agricultural problem, how /
ever, is deeper than is indicated by
current discussions in the press and
elsewhere, which treat it purely as a
present emergency.
In my Judgment, the root of the
, trouble is in the fact that Americas
farmers have not received adequate
compensation for their effort, as
compared with the compensation in
other vOcatiOns.
The accumulated wealth of our
agricultural classes largely repre-
sents enhanced land values rather
than the earnings from their labor
or the profits from their investment.
The farmer should have fair re-
turn for his services as compared
with the earnings of any other class,
and if we exclude the item of en-
HANGED land value he has not re
ceived this return even in better
times.
Perhaps the most serious aspect
of the agricultural situation is that
the farmers fixed expenses, which
the manufactures would call over
head or burden, are now much high
err than they have ever been before
The single item of farm taxes in
many localities Is higher today than
the rental of the same farm would
have been comparatively short
time ago. Again, especially with
the younger farmers, land has been
acquired during recent years at a
high valuation, and present crop re-
turns cannot meet the taxes and in
terest charges. These overhead OF
fixed expenses are beyond the far
mers control, and constitute a prob
lem that is more serious to him than
CHc ulHoTeHC0 DeIW0Gu lHo Values VI
what he sells and what he buys.
Curtailment Only Recourse.
The only recourse for the Ameri-
can farmer in the current period of
distress is one that he and man;
others have employed before that
Is, heavy curtailment of buying.
Farmers purchases were far below
normal in 1921, ana they renal at
low levels. Meanwhile the prices OF
practically everything the farmers
buy have been constantly working
lower until we now find that the
single item Of increased cost Of
transportation almost, If not wholly.
represents the reduction of the pur-
chasing power Of a given unit oil
farm produce today, as compared
with the pre-war period. This In
creased transportation cost decreas-
es the price Of what the farmer has
to sell and also increases the cost Of
what he must buy.
While the farmer has endeavoref
to meet the present situation by
temporarily buying less, The canno'
in that way escape the burden Of
land values, which must be met re
CARELESS of the price he obtains fol
his products
One solution Of the problem tina
suggests itself is a better system fol
marketing farm products. The de
vising of such a system would pre-
sent more difficulties than those
that have been met by cooperative
effort like the various growers as
sociations of California, but the,
are not insuperable. If foodstuH'
can be carried over when there Il
a surplus, that not only will sta'bi1
tze agriculture, but will provide in
surance against possible food
shortage in the following year.
Food Shortage Not Impossible.
Even though crops are now sell
ing below cost of production, 1T il
not visionary to consider the pos
sibility ofA food shortage,
America has repeatedly been al
importer of wheat in the past. Tn
indications today are that while III
1921 crop was sold below a fal
price, the surplus going abroad a
less than the cost of production, i
is possible and even probable tina
we shall be importing wheat il
1922. Aside from the question O
food supply these facts constitute
powerful argument for better sys
tenn of crop marketing.
Under such system the farme
could avoid the necessity of sellinl
under pressure at too low a price
and the worlds greatest grain grow
ing nation would be spared the eco
nomic absurdity of importing whea
to meet it's domestic requirements.
Why Not Insure Against Shortage
Nations and municipalities pro
vide sinking funds against futur
contingencies. Any we'll managet