The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-10
EIGHT MILLION FUND ASKED TO AID DTVERSfICATION
4 PROGRAM IN NORTH DAKOTA. HALTED WAR
Would Enable Farmers to
Work Out Solutions of Own
Troubles, Agricultural Col
lege Experts Declare-Pro-
posed That Loans BE Made
TO Enable Farmers to Buy
Stick


Dakota so that agriculture will more
quickly be- placed on q profitable
basis has been perfected at the North
Dakota Agricultural college and
will be presented to Congress with
request for an appropriation OF 49,
100000 to be loaned to farmers of
the state for the purchase Of initial
units Of breeding stock similar to
the plan of the federal seed loans
made to farmers in the di1uth-
stricken area of the northwest
short time ago.
War Wrecked DiversificatiOn
In justification of n claim against
the United States government, the
college workers present data show
ing that prior to the war definite
and rapid trend toward diversifica-
ton, existed, with 4 correlated de-
creasing tendency in the wheat acre
age of the stae; during the war, IN
answer to the pleas Of the govern
ment the farmers quit diversifying
and devoted most of their attention
to raising wheat, and at the end or
the war the government walked of
and left them holding the sack, with
the result that the production of
wheat. the major enterprise of the
Estate, has resulted in enormous loss
es for the farmers of the state dur
ing the past five years
Want Money to Buy Stock
That the farmers of the state can
work out their own solution to the
,,yDkln,,, 70 hnn &c ctn toL thn
report issued by the college, but the
fact is pointed out that an enormous
and needless sacrifice Of individuals
will occur unless some financial help
is given from outside.
The. plan is to secure a large APP
preparation for the purpose of max
ing loans to farmers for purchasing
breeding foundation of dairy or
beef cattle, hogs, sheep or poultry,
the animals purchased and the in
crease therefrom to be the sole Sc
curity for the loans. They contem-
plate that such action will result in
greatly increasing diversity in pro-
duction and will help to bring the
state more quickly to the point
where it would have been without
the interference of the war and the
ill-timed advice of the government, 4
from an economis standpoint at
least, to produce more wheat, is the
belief.
Plan May BE Extended
Officials and agricultural leaders
of neighboring states, Minnesota,
and South Dakota, where similar
conditions exist among the wheat
growers, have expressed themselves
favorably regarding the plan worked
out at the North Dakota Agricultural
college and believe it should be ex-
tended to include the spring wheat
areas in their respective states.
Due to the critical condition among
the wheat growers, many individuals
have been engaged in drafting and
putting before the public emergency
measures, President j ohm Lee Coul-
ter of the North Dakota Agricultural
college points out. He classifies
these measures in four general
groups, the purposes of which are to
reduce the surplus production of
wheat; to increase the consumption
of wheat; to reduce the cost per
acre and per bushel of producing
wheat, and to increase the prices re-t
ceived by farmers for wheat. In the
last named group are included the
efforts for tariff increases, better
grain-grading systems, better mar
keting organizations, price-fixing,
government purchase of the surplus,
development of foreign credits and
markets, and some form of export
corporation or control commission.
Program Is Basic
While not attempting to discount !
the value of any emergency measures
which may be put into operation, the
workers at the college are more in
terested in removing the underlying |,
cause of trouble-too much wheat
produced at cost Areater than the
selling price-and substituting diver
sified farming with products on
which a profit can be realized.
Existing agencies will not make
loans for the purchase of livestock
by farmers without some security |
additional to the livestock itself, and
even though farmers are convinced
of the necessity Of making change
from straight wheat growing, they
cannot obtain the necessary credits
Produce Own Living
The program of the college would
contemplate production on the farm
of higher percentage Of the articles
used fol. the living for the family,
increased sales Of similar products
to the residents of villages and cities
in the state who compose nearly one
half of the population, and organiza-
ton of commercial crops and pro-
ducts into a well-balanced business
with a large increase in livestock
and livestock products.
"The farm now provides home,"
declares President Coulter, MAKE it
also provide a living for the family
more fruits. vegetables, potatoes,
bees, poultry, pigs, dairy cows, beef
cattle and sheep and feed for the
livestock.
Many DO Not Have Stock l.
'sThe North Dakota farm has been
producing an average. of only 81 per-