Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-23
Bankers and State
Farm Interests to
Pull Together for
Aid to Agriculture

For the purpose of discussing the
question Of how the banks and the ag-
ricultural organizations Of the State
can work together for the betterment
Of Maine agriculture. an inspiring and
profitable planning meeting was held
at the University Of Maine on Wednes-
day of this week, being attended by
representatives of the Maine Bankers
Association, the agricultural commits
sion of the American Bankers Associa-
ton, the Maine College of Agriculture,
the State department Of agriculture,
the Maine Federation of Agricultural
Associations and the Maine Federation
of Farm Bureaus.
The Maine department az agricul-
ture was represented by Charles NJ.
White, chief of the division of mar
kets, who gave a pointed address on
What Can the Banker Do for Agricul-
tural Organization"
Mr.. White pointed out that general
business in Maine prospers to much
greater extent when the farmer has
more money to spend than when 1t is
actually used for the cost of mere ex-
istence. eft is fair to assume" he
said, that any arrangement which will
lessen the costs of production or i'm
prove methods of marketing farm pro-
ducts will give the farmer more money
to spend. thus improving general busi-
ness conditions of the State. Acting
on this principle, the department of
agriculture, working with the extension
service, has assisted in the organiza-
ton of some cooperative farm con-
Germs. Such organization work is iusti-
fable when careful investigation shows
that an actually opportunity exists to
give better service and when such vol
ume can be secured to obtain the re-
suits sought for at a reasonable over
head"
Mr.. White discussed the things that
cooperative marketing organization
can do which close corporation or in
dividual cannot do, and asserted that
it would seem that what is needed is
the creation of the means whereby the
department of agriculture, the extern
sion service and other allied interests
who are helping develop farm organ
izations could go over the financial end
of the plans with bankers during the
formative period. He suggested the
creation Of some committee or repre-
sentatives of the State Bankers As
ISOLATION with authority to meet with
and advise the directors of our farmers
cooperatives. "a sound financial plan
izations will, make the farmers in
vestment in them secure" said Mr..
White.
Another speaker at the session was
Frederic w. Lyman of Bar Harbor,
president of the Maine Bankers Asso-
citation, who put forward the following
proposed plan for cooperation by the
State Bankers Association on an agri-
cultural program:
1. Appoint committee on agricul-
ture.
2. Encourage and support the boys
and girls club work in agriculture and
home economics conducted cooperative
ly by the College Extension Service, the
County Farm Bureaus and the u. S.
Department of Agriculture.
3. Encourage cooperative markets
for farm products on an economic ba-
sis and sound business management.
4. Encourage the improvement of
livestock. (a) Pure-bred sides; CD
accredited herds free from bovine tu-
berculosis.
s. Encourage the increased use of
farm lands not we'll adapted to Guilt
waited crops for the growing Of forest
trees.