Evening star., 1923-08-31
CONDITIONS PLEASE.
LAND BANK CHIEFS.
Voice General Farm Prosper
ity at Conference Here
With Loan Board.

Agricultural prospects were de-
4 scribed generally as satisfactory and
economic conditions throughout
farming areas were regarded as
hopeful by the presidents of the
twelve federal land banks. who con-
cludcd a conference yesterday with
the Federal Farm Loan Board. The
. land bank heads based their views
and subsequent report TO the board
on surveys made by their agencies
scattered in every section of the
country. and with only IL few ex-
captions their statements were op-
timiStic.
Commenting that the reports taken
isfactory conditions in some locan-
tics. Commissioner Cooper OF the
board declared the statements OF the
bank presidents clearly demonStrat-
cd the generally sound ana lmprohI
ing conditions in American aGricuI-
ture" The commissioner added that
he believed the farmers were back
on their feet to stay. .,,o
The reports. summarized pS the
First district tNcw England. New
York and New Jersey Farmers
liquidatins short-term indtntedneS;s .
in good shape. Labor shor,aet ! thi 10
their most serious problem. put th'S
condition appears temporary.
! second district maryland. Dela-
WARE. Virginia, West Virginia and
nsylvania)-Cr conditions gen
,rally good; some labor shortage. put
not serious Prices of wool, hogs ana
cotton have gone higher, and general
encouragement has followed
Boil WeevI Damages.
Third district (North Caro!lna'
South Carolina. Georgia and Florida,
CConditions much better than last
year. although recent rains nave
Caused heavy damage, and the Doll
weevil has damaged the cotton crop
Tobacco prospects, both as TO the
Hcrop and prices, are satisfactory
collections have been good. Ihe
armers are turning strongly to dl-
sersifcation of crops. and this has
helped many to make money TINS
Fourth district (Ohio. Indiana, Ken
ucky and Tennessee)-C on the
average are very good and genera
conditions have improved. Collections
HAave been good.
\lFifth district louisiana, Missis-
,pi and Alabama,-Of the four
crops. rice and sugar give most
omising outlook. Corn has suffered
Rough the crop prospects justify the
elief that a sufficient amount VIII
be raised TO supply home require
nents. Rains. likewise. have dam-
boil weevil have caused damage IN
the cotton belt there rs in the third
district.
Sixth district Gllinois, Missouri and
Arkansas) = Generally good crop
prospects reported throughout the
district. The Illinois farm@s stlll are
suffering from the inflated land val
ucs of several years ago. Arkansas
cotton late, but prices appear reas-
suring.
Presents DImcult Problem.
Seventh district (North Dakota,
Minnesota. Wisconsin and Michigan)
, The situation in North Dakota is
presenting a difficult problem to the
Mariner, but in the other three states
conditions are very satisiac1oi
SEheat III North Dakota greatly dam
ged by black rust and this, coupled
18th a low price, will make proht
impossible on most farms in the state
arley oats fax, corn and hay are
|ood on an average and the produc-
Ion on these crops will do much TO
make up losses in wheat.
Eighth district (Nebraska, Iowa.
South Dakota and Wyoming )-Prlces
on farm products are generaily SAYS
factory, aside from wheat, and the
district is rapidly recovering from the
depression of two years ago. crop con
ditions are especially satisfactory.
: Ninth district (Kansas. Colorado,
New Mexico and Oklahoma corn
and cotton crops generally satisfac-
4 tory but the wheat farmers nave
suffered heavily. The unusual con
dition Of droughts and floods in the
same district have combined TO pro-
duce substantial losses.
Tenth district (TeNas)-N heat
generally good, but cotton crop cut
short In last sixty days by ravages
of boil weevil and drought. The
army worm has been active in some
sections. Collections. however. have
been satisfactory.
Eleventh district utah. Nevada.
Arizona and Californial--Crop condi-
tions are satisfactory. Cotton in
Arizona is good and the sugar beet
situa ton. both as to acreage and con
dition, is better than last year. The
fruit market is depressed and the
cattle industry of the range country
has not fully recovered from the de-
preston OF several years ago.
] Twelfth district (Washingtor, Ore
gon. Idaho and Montana)-Thc great
| wheat crop. the largest ever known
for the district. is being harvested,
" but the low prices have not made ii
as highly remunerative as is pos
siblc. The farmers. however will be
debt burden as a result of the bounti-
full harvest. Severe conditions of the
past two years have left big holes in
the reserve resources of the district
and 1t Will be some time before
normal conditions obtain. The cattle
industry is at a standStill, but the
\ sheep men are prosperous