Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-11
OPERATIVE FARM
MARKETING NOTES
Department Of Agriculture Plans
to Study Scientific Distribution
Equally With Production.

More attention must be given In the
future to the economics or agrlcuI
ture and to better marketing methods,
without lessening efforts to promote
efficient production, it is declared by
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace, IN
a contribution to the Banker-Farmer,
the bulletin of the American Bankers
Association Agricultural Commission.
Under the direction of D. H. Otis, the
commission is giving particular atten-
ton to cooperative farm marketing.
when land was advancing rapidly
in value the farmer could afford to
take some of his profit in the In
creased value of his land" says Sec
rotary Wallace. 1--WE are past the
period of advancing land values, and,
IL agriculture is to be maintained, II
must be ON a basis which will yield
q fair profit one year with another.
So have been studying the depart
ment with view to strengthening
our economic work"
1--WE have gotten into the habit OF
looking upon agricultural production
as a sacred obligation, and so 1t is in
one sense, but 1t is no more sacred or
binding than the obligation to market
crops without waste. If we do not
do that we might as well not produce
them" says Mr.. Wallace.
He adds: 'Tt is the purpose OF the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics to
inquire into everything which affects
marketing and price, with the thought
that we must serve the agriculture OF
the nation as thoroughly on the eco
nomic side as we have served 1t in
the past on the productive side. AS
to working our way out of the depres-
sion, the first responsibility rests
upon the individual farmer. If he Is
to get help he must help himself, both
as an individual and by joining with
other individuals in cooperative eff
forts. The Government is under obi
CATION to clear away any obstacles
which do not give to the farmers, in
diYidually and collectively, a fair
chance to help themselves. The farm.
er Is entitled to exactly the same
rights and the same opportunities
that are enjoyed by other citizens.
He Ia entitled to a square DEAL"
EFT is not the obligation Of the Gov
eminent to give the farmer any privi-
leges not given to others" Mr.. Wal
IaKe continues. EFF understand the
minds of the farmers of the United
States, they are not asking for spe-
cial privileges. All they are asking
Is that they may be assured Of equal
opportunities, Of open and competi-
tive markets, and the right to organ
ize and market their products col
lectively, and to have the same access
to the nations money pool as other
people have. Farmers can meet to-
gether, pass resolutions, make speech
es, and go home feeling better for a
time; but this sort Of thing alone
will not get them very far. The time
has come when the farmers must
themselves organize agriculture in
thoroughly businesslike way; adjust
their production to the needs OF con-
sumption; stabilize their products
and market them efficiently; study
conditions agriculturally and indus
trially which influence the demand
for and consumption of their crops;
get q better understanding Of the adj
ministration of the credit machinery;
and employ trained men to do for
them what they can not do for them
selves"
That IS to say, in substance, that
agriculture must be put on par in
eHiciency of method with other Big
Business.
II has been pointed out by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture that insufficient business and
poor management are the outstand-
inK reasons for the failure Of many
farmers cooperative associations.
Lack Of capital, liberal extension Of
credit and dishonest management are
the minor causes for the failure Of
243 farmers buying and selling asso-
Citations since 1913. At the same time
It was learned that out of 20 co-opera-
tive creamies, their average length Of
existence was a little over seven and
One-half years.
The State Bank Division of the
American Bankers Association is now
compiling facts Of successful co-opera.
tiyes Of all kinds and in all parts Of
the country, with the idea Of building
up a body Of sound method and ex-
perience to serve as . trustworthy
guide in the further development Of
the cooperative farm marketing
movement.