, 1923-01-04
NINETEEN TWENTY-THREE's
AGRICULTURAL. PROSPECTS

The following sun of agricul-
tural conditions in general and the
prospects for the farmers in the SOM
ing new year is given out by Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wallace:
Twelve months ago most of the
six million farmers Of the United
States were starting on the long.
hard climb out of the valley of
yet attained the heights which are
bathed in the grateful sunshine of
prosperity. Some. indeed. have fall
en- by the way. Others are still in
the valley. Nevertheless, as we stop
a hit and look backward we can see
that very considerable ground has
been gained by the great majority,
and we a enter the New Year with
renewed hope and with that courage
which ZONES from the realization
that we are really making progress.
"A year ago, when speaking of the
prospects for farming in 1922, I said
that while there was no reason to ex-
pect boom times for the farmer in
the near future, there was promise
OF better times, both for the farmer
and for those whose business is
largely dependent upon him. The
yo'i hao plpuSuI lulilllIlltHt VI ludl
promise. Speaking generally, times
are better, much better, than a year
ago, both for agriculture and for in
dustry.
Crops have been good, on the
whole. Prices of the major crops
are mostly considerably higher.
While there has been a correspond
ing advance in the prices of the
things the farmer must buy, the
total sum which farmers will receive
for the crops of this year is greater
by a billion and a BALI dollars or
more than that which they received
for the crops of last yea This will
certainly mean better times on the
farm. and farm folks will be able to
ease ND a little on the grinding
economy they were forced to practice
the preceding ear.
The labor cost of producing the
crop of 1929 was still further re-
duced. There were some substantial
reductions in freight rates. Much
helpful legislation has been enacted
and more will be this winter. In
terest rates are lower and the credit
strain has been eased. This has
made it possible for many farmers
who were rather heavily involved to
refund their obligations and get
themselves In condition to win
through.
There are still some dark spots.
In some sections weather conditions
were unfavorable and crops were
short. and farmers in these sections
are having a very hard time of it.
Freight rates are still too high, es-
pecially for those who must pay for
a long haul to market.
Taxes are high, but this is large
ly due to the increase In local taxes,
over which farmers themselves must
exercise control.
There has been gratifying growth
in farmers cooperative marketing
associations, and more of them are
being organized on a sound business
basis.
aside from the help which has
been given by legislation and by adj
ministration activities. strong eco
nomic forces are at work to restore a
more normal relation between agri-
culture and other industries.
The peril in the agricultural de
preston is more keenly realized by
other groups than ever before, and
on every hand n sincere desire IS be-
ing evidenced to do what can be done
safely to help the farmer better his
condition.
Everything considered. we have
good reason to expect still better
things for agriculture in the year
1928"