The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-12-18
IMPROVEMENT IN
FARM CONDITIONS
NOTED IN REPORT
Further Recovery of
Agriculture Needed
For Prosperity

American agriculture, on the
whole, occupies the best position 1t
has held since 1920, but much fur
Their recovery is required to bring 1t
back to its pre-war condition, the
agriculture department informed
President Coolidge in it's annual re-
port The report was prepared by
the late Henry c. Wallace and en-
bodies his views, but was signed and
presented by the present secretary,
Howard M. Gore, who was assistant
secretary under Mr.. Wallace.
Prospects are that the gross in
come from agricultural production
for the crop year 1924-25 may reach
approximately IL billion dollars,
compared with Ii n billion dollars
in 1923-24 and $9,550,00O,000 in
1922" said the report IA
favorable readjustment has taken
place in price ratios between agri--
culture and industry. While the
purchasing power of farm products
is IS per cent, below the pre-war
level, it is 16 per cent above the in
dex for May, 1921, when the depres-
sion was in its worst period. This
years harvest was the finest In five
years. Though not the greatest In
volume of products, it was the best
balanced and represented the best
income.
"Yet it would be a mistake to
conclude that the American farmer
is done with the troubles of the de-
preston period. If the readjust-
ment is left to blind economic forces
it will be many years before that can
be said. Although farm commodity
price levels are headed toward bet
ter position, they have still a large
gain to make before agricultural
products will be on a parity with
other products. This means that
agriculture is still laboring under a
heavy disadvantage.
1.-The improvement that has taken
place has not yet lasted long enough
to produce any marked betterment
in the finances of the farmer. AS a
matter of fact, the suffering of many
farmers is perhaps as intense today
as it was in the first years of the de-
preston period, because the effects
of the depression are cumulative.
Present favorable possibilities will
have to be turned into realities be-
fore it can fairly be said that agri-
culture again is enjoying normal
prosperity. Nevertheless the show
ing Of 1924 brings prosperity near
err"
Though the crop story of 1924
spells improvement to agriculture as
a whole, the improvement will not
be shared by all sections OF the farm
it was pointed out.
nately 800 million dollars more
L. Inf Of fhic tho WhaQf
growers stand to gain by far the
greater share. Corn growers will
have less to sell this year and as a
whole the corn belt must look for in
creased returns from higher hog
prices. The large cotton crop should
enable the south to hold it's relative
" satisfactory position. Dairying
continues to increase, but heavier
may not result in great
or income There is no certain
prospect of increased income from
cattle and sheep production.
The livestock industry is on
irmer foundation than at any time
since the price collapse of 1919 and
1920, said the report, although 1924
vas not year Of good profits for
cattle and hog producers. Cattle
men have had harder time than
Inv other group of livestock pro-
ULCERS. Slow, but steady, liquida-
ion has been going on in the cattle
industry for three years. Today.
however, many of the wartime
oans, with high interest rates, have
,een paid Money is available on
more favorable terms, conditions In
he cattle country are improving,
md the prospective reduction In
log raising should strengthen the
market for beef.
cooperative marketing is logic
i development in the rural economy
4 a nation" the report continued.
marketing may be des-
ribbed as an effort on the part OF the
roducer to, recapture the under
landing and control of the market
ng process which his forefathers
assessed Good, sound growth In
he cooperative movement has been
omewhat retarded in recent years
y overenthusiastic persons who
ave held it up as panacea for all
he ills from which the farmers are
Offering. Success in cooperation
epends on the finding of men capa-
lie of running cooperative associa-
ions, on the loyal support of the
membership, and on getting SUI
cient volume OF business"