The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-16
FARMERS GETTING
MARKETSBY RADIO
Extensive Use Being Made
OF This Method
FIRST SURVEY MADE
Greatest Interest Being Shown
In Wireless Grain Reports
Sent Out
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

WASHINGTON. D. c., March 8
Farmers are making use of the ra-
dio In obtaining market reports. Ma
ton wide. practical use of these re
ports sent broadcast by the United
States department Of agriculture Is
indicated in a survey just completed.
Nearly Hfty per cent OF the hundreds
Of returns to an inquiry sent out by
radio were from farmers who had
radio receiving equipment. Inc re-
mainder of the returns were from
grain dealers. mills. elecators. banks
telephone companies, cooperative
organizations. farm bureaus. ana
other agencies which disseminate
1.-THE reports among large groups oil
farmers.
, Greatest interest was shown In
the grain market reports, which in
form farmers OF wheat. corn and oat
prices at the leading grain markets.
Next in importance came the hVe-
Ietock reports of prices and move
lments at the principal livestock
markets of the country. The wealth
ar reports came next. followed by
lreports on poultry products, fruits
land vegetables, dairy products, nay
cotton, and other farm crops.
Use In WlOOic NCSt
Radio had developed more rapid
Nv In the middle west in the corn,
wheat and livestock growing regions
THAN in other farm sections. the
tsuryey shows. Missouri. Illinois, and
iIowa lead in number of responses.
MANY farmers in this territory own
radio equipment and praise the
lpractical value of the service IN
Iother sections farmers congreSate
lat central points TO get the raoio
REPORTS, but an increasing dlspoSi-
ltion toward installation OF sets LOT
lprivate use is indicated.
This is the first survey made by
the department to determine how
widely its radio market reports are
being received and used by farmers
and affords much valuable informa
.tion for developing the service 10
the maximum of efficiency. 1t has
been known in a general way that
the service has been OF value 10
producers and other agricultural IN
terests in the marketing OF crops
and to consumers through the reg
ulating of market supplies, but de d,
finite data were not availible until
developed by the present snrvey.
Covers Entire Country
The department practically covers
the country with its radio market
news and farmers everywhere are
using the service to aid them IN
conducting the business end or their
industry. In the replies numerous
farmers gave instances of specific
savings resulting from use oil the
information, one farmer declaring
that he regarded radio as direct
gift from God" Numerous general
stores and banks in small towns
say that establishment of their pia :
ces OF business as central point
for receiving the reports had result
ed in tremendously increased Dust
ness in many directions. The ser
vice has had far reaching results
other than removing the lsoiauon
which surrounds rural dwellers by
reason of their location from cent :
ers of activity. and the bringing OF
yotal market data to farmers with
almost unreasonable speed.
The survey shows there are now
few places in rural districts where
people congregate even in small
groups that are without the BENEFITS
of radio. Agricultural leaders see in
this the development Of tine com =
munity spirit which forms large
part of the base of agricultural
prosperity. The Department of Agri-
couture is much gratified at the
ipopularity and practical value of
the radio market news and is now
making plans for the further devel
opment and utilization OF the ser