The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-11
WHEAT PROBLEM INTER ATI0NAL. DR. COULTER
TELLS FARM CONGRESS-; REVIEWS ENTIRE FIELD


] we'll show their appreciation ut the
( close of the war, At least Is short
time policy with proper warning, 30
that farmers might be able to re-ora
ganize their farming operation to .
sound peace time basis. 1t would
be surprising to me il the farmers
Of this country would support any
| state or federal administration which
failed to thus deal fairly with them.
1t is true that q succeeding admin.
istration Of an opposite party might
equally fail to do adequate justice
but at least the farmers would have
expressed themselves in a language
which is understood best by those in
public life.
Adoph Diversincattou.
Earlier l briefly discussed the in
ternational characteristics Of wheat
production and consumption. fol-
lowed this with q brief review Of
temporary measures which might
very we'll be taken by . national gov
eminent or people to protect an
industry which had been over-ex-
banded Is . war measure in response
to. the governments patriotic call.
Let US now turn to the matter Of
permanent, or long time policy. Any
far-seeine, qualified student Of the
problem, l think, will clearly recog.
nize that no nation or people are
likely over an indefinite period to
make up deficits for any one class.
To do this is an unsound, economic
policy.
Assuming furthermore that our
government may at last provide tenn
porary protection, what should be
the longtime program7' Clearly it
seems that it can only be one Of
organized diversified farming. It is
needless for me in this short address
to attempt to lay out the plans for
the wheat belts Of Texas, or North
Dakota, or any Of the states between,
or for any other OF the special wheat
growing belts. Each state must work
this out for itself in cooperation
with the Federal departments.
The system will vary from state
TO- state. Suffice it to say that while
at the present time wheat is the out
standing American crop menaced by
the world situation, other great sta
pie crops such as cotton. may any
year find itself in the same situa-
ton. Agriculture recognized 80
that every farm has employment for
power, machinery and labor through
out the year during all the seasons
seems TO be the longtime program
essantiaHe to success. Wheat 10
grown even today in parts Of the
United States in a, system Of diver
sified farming without loss and even
with. some profit to the grower. This
same can be accomplished over much
II not all Of the special wheat belts
by properly adjusted farm practices
or farm management.
# Adjust Farm Practices.
It must be -rscognized, however,
that this, 10 not q matter Of few
days. Many great areas cannot be
completely re-orsanized over a period
Of ten to twenty-five years.
Farmers believing in the special
wheat growing and called upon by
the government to pursue this policy
have gone heavily into debt and for
! them it. 10 . matter of q decade or
longer before thy can get .reorgan-
ICED without very special help and
in fact doubtless hundreds Of thou
sands will lose their farms in the
process unless some very especial
good fortune comes both as regards
Federal reorganization Of our prob
lem and an improved world situation.
An ypolicy therefore must have in
mind . considerable period Of years.
/ State departments Of agriculture
agricultural Organisations, the agri.
cultural and general press and on,
federal and state government Off.
Gals a. we'll as the Agricultural col.
lege and Experiment stations mus,
lend a hand.
Acts For Wheat Farmer
Such an address as this, brief az
it is would be pronounced faulty il
the speaker failed to touch upon
other proposals made, especiall,
since many Of them have both TEN
porary and permanent merit ant
will be of real service to the wheat
growers. In this address, l have
tried, principally, however, to poin
out the world situation and the
broad, general program which W
must all follow If we are to be saw
ed.
Under these special topics which
shall barely mention there are
those who would carry on campaign.
for an increase in the consumption
of wheat and wheat products, and
this is we'll. If demand can be in.
| creased it will show itself in The
prices paid unless surpluses increase
correspondingly, and 50 I would say
all strength to the hands Of those
who are trying to increase consump.
tion. There are those who would
devote their time to decreased pro.
duction, especially decreased acre.
age.
This is very we'll but in q large
measure is useless rs an organized
program, since the only success can
sec along this line 10 not to advo.
cate less wheat acreage. but rather
the planting Of more profitable
crops. The wheat acreage will b
reduced automatically as the othe,
crops take It's place. There arr
those who would solve the sntir,
problem by cooperative marketing.
have for more than twenty year,
strongly advised and urged this pro
gram and it 10 just - clear today .,
it was twenty five years. ago. Thii
would be wise program for .oul