The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-01-05
PROPER FIELD FUR CU-0P-
GRAFTON AMONG FARMERS
ey Or. w. L. Wanlass, Dean OF tho
School of Commerce and Bush
ness Administration Utah
Agricultural College

operation have failed because the
eooperators did not differentiate be-
tween the things they should and
could not and should not attempt to
do. This does not mean that all
groups should attempt to do the same
things. Much depends upon the gen
eral situation. What is the principal
object to be attained through coop
Grafton? What is to be the size of
the organization? What commodity
or commodities are to be grown or
handled? What viii be the probable
volume?
Upon the answers to those and
similar questions the scope or activi-
ties of the cooperative enterprise
should be determined. But through
1t all this fundamental principle must
be kept In mind: Successful coopera-
ton, like charity. must begin at home.
1t Is futile for any group of farmers
to think of reaching away out to per
fo.m the complex functions of mar
keting or distribution until they have
learned to do well the things that are
close at hand. Failure to recognize
this important principal has been the
rock upon which many well-inten-
toned enterprise has founered. AS
one studies the history of our most
successful cooperative organizations
he finds that nearly all of them have
had to back up for second start
simply because they did not at first
recognize their own limitations. Ma
tuTally, the lesson is learned at Ter
rife cost. Most organizations are so
injured by the shock that they do not
have the power to start anew.
What then, are some of the things
that a group of farmers can do in a
cooperative way with reasonable hope
of success? Ii 1t is a. marketing or
ganization, one of the easiest and at
the same time one of the most i'm
portant things such e group can do is
to determine with great care just
what commodity or commodities can
be most successfully produced. There
are many factors to be considered.
Soil and climatic conditions, distance
to market, methods of reaching the
market, the particular variety or type
that is in greatest demand-these and
many other items must be carefully
weighed and examined. The writer
has in mind one locality which set
out comparatively to gain its economic
salvation by growing strawberries for
rather distant markets. After much
expenditure OF effort they discovered
that the particular variety OF berry
selected and planted though lovely to
look upon, would hardly stand ship
ping across the street. Necessarily,
their salvation was considerably de-
layed If not seriously Jeopardized.
Other localities that have studied
these matters with great care have
built up regulations which are worth
millions of dollars. There is much
to be accomplished in this direction.
Very rarely are markets glutted with
superior products that have attained
a market reputation.
Another marketing function closely
related to the one already described
which farmers working comparatively
can perform better and cheaper than
anyone else is that of grading and
packing products for market. Here
again the opportunities for improve
ment are great. Few indeed are the
cooperative enterprises that have
realized their full possibilities in this
direction. Everywhere consumers are
more and more demanding commodi- |
ties that are uniform and dependable
throughout. To meet this demand
markets and market agencies are will
ing to pay premium for products OF
this class. Here is the producers op-
portunity.
To do these two things thoroughly
and well is an adequate program for
any now cooperative enterprise no
matter how ambitious it may be.
Steps beyond this In the marketing
process should be left to other agen-
cies which, by reason of experience
and specialization, are much better
fitted to do the work than new or
ganization OF farmers can possibly be.
With local group, actively COOP
Grating to do the things they are so
fitted to do, properly con-
nected up with dependable distribu-
tive agency. we have an almost ideal
arrangement Generally.
this should be the permanent ar
It may be, however, that
as the local organization gains sx-
perience and is able to acquire eff
cient management 1t may with profit
reach out and perform other func-
lions that are more strictly part
OF the marketing process. This is
true where the volume Of
business handled is large. con-
siderable number OF our most sue
cessful cooperative enterprises. after
a most humble beginning, have grad
ually widened their scope until they
now cover practically the entire dis