The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-12-28
Somerset County Agricultural News
Farmers NOT Broke In the West

When the Western wheat and
corn growers are prosperous we In
New England are prosperous and
vice versa. Just lately things have
been going wrong in that section OF
the country, but matters are not as
bad as we have been led to believe.
In fact the general average shows
that conditions are improving in all
directions, and doubtless this will
continue to improve.
Any banker in Kansas or Missouri
whether country banker, city bank
err or the governor of the Federal
Reserve Bank of this district, will
tell you without eQuivocation that
the financial condition of the farm
ers of those states Is better now than
II was a year ago, and that it was
better q year ago than year before.
This in spite of thef present low
price of wheat. This, more ac-
curately than anything else. reflects
the improved financial condition of
the farmer.
1t is true the present price OF
wheat no where near covers all the
cost of producing this crop when
figured as the business man counts
cost. But the farmer has by no
means the full selling price of this
grain invested in its production.
After all his cash OUTLAWS are met,
there will be considerable left for
his labor. Without exception, this
has been a favorable season. The
corn prospect is unusually good. The
small grain yield was satisfactory.
Pastures rarely have been better.
Cattle were wintered we'll and have
made good gains on grass; they are
arriving on the market now in good
condition, and bringing a reasonable
price.
The hog crop was large and, while
hogs are not making money on the
basis OF the present price of feed, yet
they made market for the farmers
homegrown feeds at very profitable
prices 1t is immaterial whether we
credit the profit to the hog or to the
feed, so long as the farmer gets IT.
distressed in spirit because OF the
low price of his wheat. Yet he real
ICES clearly that there Is an over
remedy rests with him and Is In the
diversifieation of his system Of farm
ing. He Is diversifying rapidly by
adding dairy cows, brood sows and
hens to his equipment. The net re-
suits of this change will be more
prosperous agriculture than would
ever have been possible under one
crop system.
The farmers will go on buying
about as before. He will have about
the same needs and will have fully
as much, cash with which to satisfy
these needs. His bills are paid up bet
ter than they were a year ago. He
has not defaulted in his interest at
the bank, and in good many instanc-
es he has whitfield off some of his
indebtedness, and unless he meets
with some unexpected mishap he
will whittle off some more this year.
While the time has not yet come
for a rapid and extensive expanse of
the farmers buying, yet his situation
is steadily getting better and better
and there is nothing in the present
situation or in sight to indicate that
his statue will not continue to i'm
prove.
And we must not forget that we are
largely subject to the law OF supply
and demand. The condition of the
European markets are badly tangled
mess. When those problems are once
settled the demand for our farm prod
ucts will grow by heaps and bounds.
Let us all take courage and in the
meantime look sharply after our home
markets. We must all eat and drink.