The Bismarck tribune., 1923-01-19
COOPERATIVE
MARKETING IS
COULTER PLAN
President of Agriculture Col.
lege Urges First Local
Agencies
POINTS POSSIBILITIES
Farmers Can Control Disposal
OF Large Part of Their
Grain Crop
POINTS POSSIBILITIES

Fargo, N. D., Jan. 19.-An ufgent
appeal for the development Of first
local and then regional cooperative
marketing organizations for handling
farm products, but with a suggestion
against duplication of agencies ant
the use of existing organizations as
far as possible, was the keynote ol
the presidents address by DR.. Johr
Lee Coulter before the Tri-State
Grain Growers convention in session
at the city. auditorium Thursday
evening, January 16 to 10.
1--WE are looking for a plan ir
which those engaged in the many
processes of distribution shall have
as their motto, efficient production,
economic distribution with prices to
consumers based upon the principles
Of equity and justice" Dn Coulter
pointed out. The speaker traced the
history of marketing from the early
days when great fluctuations in pri-
ces prevailed in general and between
various sections of the country, and
through the later period of &chan-
ges and great corporations. While
at first this great system Of market
of regulation. more recent efforts
ing acted under an entire absence
were directed toward declaring the
great organization machine in charge
of distribution public service which
demanded regulation, DR.. Coulter de-
clared.
What Is Solution
"What further can the farmer as
producer do to take full advant-
age of an organized and properly
supervised and regulated market ?"
DR.. Coulter asked. "Sha,l each farm.
er devote himself exclusively to tho
more successful organization ard
operation of his farm and then s,n-
gle-handed deal with the market or
send his product direct r;o the
channels of trade? Those If us who
have now for fifteen years or moro
devoted most of our time to study
of the best way to use the machinery
of marketing think that far acrs
generally will be able to secu,e the
best results by developing amolg
themselves first, local and then, re-
gional organizations to direct the
flow of the products to the mark.:
places.
Only in this way does it seem that
we shall secure orderly and regular
and only in this way can
we retard or speed our products on
the way as the prices offered attract
us. Cooperation on the part of
farmers in local groups will mean
better grades and standards, better
storage and movement to
the market. Only in this way does it
seem that the best advantage will be
taken Of price variations. With re-
gional committees or boards of di-,
rectors to keep constantly in touch
with market demands and tendencies,
full advantage Of supervised mar
ket is within our grasp BY this plan,
too, the farmer may better sell on
sample and gain the much coveted
premiums paid for choice products.
There is nothing in all of my stud
les as yet to prove conclusively that
AL SuOuAu pun OE ScII Ou Sample Or
follow any other special formula.
The chief aim now seems to- me to
be to control local and as far as
may be reasonable amount of terA
minal storage and have regular re-
presentation at terminal points to
take advantage Of market require
ments. I would strongly advise
against an expensive duplication Of
agencies. The Wheat Growers, Graih
Growers and Equity Organizations
should suffice and represent the diff
ferent types Of organization to suit
The individual view Of the grower.
sol Farmers Elevators
"In North Dakota there are now
> total Of sol strictly farmer owned
elevators with q capacity Of 18.019-
BOO bushels. If we add the 318 pri-
vate locals with capacity Of s,s47,-
200 bushels we have total Of home
owned elevators to the number Of,
BIO or one-half Of all in the state
Continued on Page Three.)