The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-07-25
GREATER CRISIS
FACES FARMERS

With wheat promising to reach a
O-cents a bushel market this fall,
Montana farmers will experience a
greater crisis than would be caused
by seven years of drouth. The farm
ers of Montana have already reached
the quicksands; they need a plank
placed under them to keep them from
sinking, and it should make no differ
enc whose plank is used, was the
view expressed by Chester c. Davis,
state commissioner of agriculture, at
his office a few days ago.
Commissioner Davis made this
statement in connection with his trip
to st. Paul last week when he attend
ed a conference called by officials of
the federal farm loan bureau to dis
cuss plans whereby it may be posi-
bic to provide credits for wheat
growing farmers in northwestern
states. Among the leaders taking
part in this conference were NJ. A.
Corey and Judge Lobdell, of Wash
Ington, d. c., Judge Lobdell being the
n who started the farm loan system.
Others taking part were chiefs of
federal land banks and federal inter
mediate banks in the west.
AT this meeting Commissioner Da-
Wis pressed his plan whereby farmers
of Montana who raise grain where
long hauls make expeditions market
ing impossible, can borrow on wheat
stored on their farms under the SUI
pervisiOn of county wheat loan assO-
Citations, providing the associations
approve and indorse the loan. When
he left st. Paul Mr.. Davis was assured
that his plan was considered a work
able one, and that probably it will
bring results in time to be of aid to
the farmers of this state this coming
fall.
During the consideration of plans as
to how the short time credit system
can be made to operate to the great
est benefit of grain and beef-stock
r~aisers, o. E. Bradfute, president of
the farm bureau in Chicago, present
ed the farm bureau plan to meet the
market crisis. His plan was based,
Mr.. Davis said, on holding the wheat
on the farms and advancing credit
against the wheat to the extent of
100000, 900 bushels. This plan also
called for the designation of every
farmers granary as a federal
licensed warehouse under the super
vision of the United States depart
ment of agriculture. Mr.. Davis re-
ported that this plan seemed greatly
conceded as being impracticable, as il
would involve a prohibitive amount OF
inspection before the federal depart,
ment Of agriculture could act.
The meeting was attended by 3
large number of bankers and others
who are interested in financing the
farmers in handling this years croI
throughout Minnesota, the Dakota'
Montana and other grain raising
states in the west. All seemed deep
ly concerned as to the outcome ant
the crisis that will follow if the farm
er is forced to market his wheat at
low mark, and their efforts are di
rected toward planes whereby fedora
loans may be obtained to the benefi
Of the wheat raiser, that he nay b
able to hold his grain on the farr
until the market reaches a more ia
vorable figure.
1t was realized, too, that there ar
counties in Montana like Sheridan
Daniels and Valley, where the chic
agricultural industry is wheat-groV
ing, and where it is next to imposs
BILE to reach local elevators, wheI
the grain is first sold, without consiC
cradle delay, and it was with the vie
of making it possible for them to b
able to obtain ready cash throug
loans on the wheat while stored @
the farm, that Mr.. Davis accepted tn
call to attend the ST Paul meetin
and present his plan.
Last week Mr.. Davis issued a stat
ment to the newspapers to the effe'
that if the farmers were compelle
to market their wheat this fall at
low price, which he seems to consid'
is inevitable at threshing time, Il
farmers of Montana would meet a loi
of $23,00O,O 900, a crisis he hopes CO
be surmounted through the feder
credit hank system.
WANTER--To boar from own