The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-02-15
RELIEF MEASURES
FOR THE FARMER
(From Montana State College)

l~NHERE have been two major pro-
posals presented at the present
L session of congress for the relief
of the farmer. The plan known as
the export corporation plan" re-
ceived its chief impetus in Montana,
has been quite thoroughly discussed
throughout the state and was ex-
planned in these columns recently.
The second of these major proposals
| is known as the Coulter Plan
which proposes a 50,000,000 gov
eminent loan for the farmers in the
wheat growing states for the pur-
pose of Fastening and speeding up
diversified farming. The plan con-
templates using the money as re-
volving fund and that 500, 100000
would be made available in 1924, a
like amount in 1925 and $4,000, 900
| in 1925. The money is to be loaned
to such farmers as do not have the
essentials for Investigation, which
| include, poultry, hogs, dairy cows,
sheep and gardens and not more than
| $1,000 is to be loaned to any one
| farmer.
DR.. John Lee Coulter, president of
North Dakota Agricultural College,
the father of the plan, explaining his
attitude on the matter of diversifi-
cation stated:
'The farmer of this section has
wonderful chance to raise much of
his own food. Fortunately we live
in the most temperate section of the
continent West of us it is too dry;
east.it is too wet; north it is too cold;
south it is too hot. Tens of thous-
ands of farmers in other sections
have to struggle with stumps or
stones or drainage or irrigation. We
are at the very center of the contin-
emit where most nearly average con-
ditions prevail. We can and should
produce: CD all of our own vegeta-
bles, including potatoes; (2) our own
trees and bush fruits such as plums
and cherries and berries and grapes;
CD our own poultry and eggs; (4)
our own milk and cream and butter
and cheese; 90 and finally our own
meats, pork, beef and mutton. We
should also produce our own honey.
In other words, the safest, most
profitable, soundest policy for us to
pursue is not only to make the farm
our home but also produce as much
as possible of our living from our
farms. 1t is the safest because no
matter what the state of war or peace
or prosperity or depression exists we
at least have a home and a living;
it is most profitable because the con-
sumner, in general, pays about three
times what the farmer gets. In other
words, city family of six would have
to pay $1,000 for food while the farm
family can produce it for $3.50. The
farm family should produce this and
IL @ 4 l.
save 1920 otherwise paid out over
cost of production. This item alone
would pay the interest at per cent
on a loan of $13,500.
GAS rule the farm family can |
supply this food at relatively no ex-
pense, for the labor is surplus labor |
bers of the family who are not en-
gagged in other employment. Often |
the farm garden may be tended by
cent for rent, for the garden may
utilize any odd corner that could
not well be used to produce field /
crops or for other purposes"
In answering a question as to whe-
Their it was advisable for every farm
er to produce each and every article
which can be grown Dr. Coulter re-
piled that he did not think this adj
visable as little cooperation in the
community often would make it pos
sible for one or two individuals to
provide all of the needs of the COM
munity in many products. The pref
erence of the individual should deter
mine what he may best supply and
then there should be sufficient COM
interest to help out in the
1t is poor business, ex-
planned DR.. Coulter, for a grower to
ship beef to Chicago or st. Paul and
then for the neighborhood butcher in
the same community where the beef
was grown to buy back the meat from
an eastern jobber to supply his trade,
with two freights and various prof
It's added to the producers price. The
of supplying beef may be
considered as community problem
while each individual should provide
himself with milk cows, poultry, hogs
and a garden. This, he said, is not
only the safe and sound thing to do
put it is the profitable thing to do.
In speaking of the number of
farmers in his own state who would
De eligible to loans under provisions
If the plan, because of their lack of
he essentials of diversification, DR..
Coulter stated that a survey made in
1920 revealed that out of 1880
arms in North Dakota, $4,000 farms
lid not have a milk COW, 23,40O did
lot grow their own potatoes, 1880
lid. not have pig and more than
$4,000 did not have a garden DUR
ng the preceding summer.
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