The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1923-01-25
Defines States
Farm Problems
Dean c. Larsen Emphasizes
Two Features That Need
Solution in His Address
at Mitchell.

The nineteenth annual meeting of
the South Dakota Improved Livestock
and Poultry Breeders association and
the annual convention of the South
Dakota Corn and Grain Growers asso-
citation which are being held at Mitch
ell this week have drawn a large num-
Der of speakers from State college and
others interested in farming. The
number includes Dean c. Larsen, Dir
ector James W. Wilson, =. }. Scarbro,
DR.. q. S. Weaver, DR.. a. n. Hume, j.
&. Hutton, Clara NJ. Suffer and others.
South Dakota has an annual income
of approximately $50,000,000 from dir
ect sale if crops, c. Larsen. dean of
agriculture of South Dakota State col
lege, told members Of the South Da-
kota Corn and Grain Growers associa-
ton Tuesday. I'm a normal year about
10000 cars of crops are shipped out of
South Dakota said Dean Larsen. AT
the present time the value of each
carload of crops will average close to
1i''"V' III duullioH th'Ic w N'iouSh
crops left to feed about 5000 600 head
of livestock of all kinds"
Agriculture in the state faces two
problems, however, he said. One is
the problem of getting these crops to
the consumers or the market III the
most economical tanner or in the
way that will net the greatest return
to the producer and give maximum
service to humanity. The other prob
lem is how to maintain the fertility of
the soil.
Speaking of the suggested plan of
lowering prices on things farmers
must buy, which it was said would be
equally effective in bringing farm
prosperity, as would an increase in
prices of farm products, the speaker
said the wisdom of that policy was
doubtful. The farm debts were o II
tracted during the period of high
prices and to pay back that debt would
require too long a time and be disas-
trous to many farmers.
South Dakota annually ships west
thousands of carloads of raw products
to be manufactured. Then these come
right back in some finished form to De
sold again. Would it moi be economy
to use our money at home for foster
ing home manufacture? We are fac
ing a desperate economic situation and
the location of South Dakota in re)a-
ton to our markets would seem to
warrant a progress that is more self
containing than now"
A guaranteed minimum price for
farm products was recommended by
Mr.. Larsen. But he said hat he did
not support the plan of having the
government buy a whole crop in order
to assure the farmer his price. The
plan which would work out best he
said, would be to have the govern
ment fix a minimum price on staple
farm products to be. kept at home for
home consumers, and that the gov
eminent sell the surplus in foreign
countries at whatever prices obtain
able. IF there is a loss on this sur
plus" he said, that loss must be dis
tributed pro-rata over all the wheat
producers. With a guaranteed price
system this probably would work out
best. The loss from the sale is aSsuin-
ed by the producers themselves an0
not by the public or the government.
The main problem which South Da-
kota farmers face, he said, is that
farm crops are too bulky and too dis
tant from the consumer. Our policy
he said. should be to condense and
finish our farm products before they
are shipped. Such a program would
foster two things-first, home 1000
manufacturing industries; second, IN
creased dairy and livestock produc.
ton"