Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-01-10
FARMERS SHOW
GAINS IN 1923
Financial Conditions in Wiscon-
sin Better, Says Commits
sioner of Agriculture

Madison = After careful study
through many reliable sources, Conn
missioner of Agriculture John D.
Jones, Jr., finds the condition of Wis
consin farmers has greatly improved
during the past year.
while the exchange value Of farm
products is not yet up to pre-waR
level" says Commissioner JONES'
nevertheless, reliable information
and state bankers indicates that there
has been substantial improvement
in the financial condition of Wiscon-
sin farmers in 1928, as compared with
1921 and 1922 Exceptions are noted
in the case of 'one-crop' farmers, and
those living in localities affected by
prolonged droughts or visited by UNI
timely frosts.
Farmers Increase Bank Deposits
"a banker located in one of the fore
most dairy counties of Central Wis
consin told me recently that his
banks cash reserve had increased
from practically nothing in December
1921, to 2496. of deposits in December,
1928; that deposits had increased
$200,000.O0 in the last twelve months.
1870 of which belongs to dairy
farmers.
Sales of dairy cattle to outside
buyers are bringing thousands of dol
lars into the counties which have sur
plus animals for sale. The magnitude
Of outside sales is shown by the fact
that over $4,000 head, to the value of
over $3.00O,000, were sold to outside
buyers in 1922, and over $4,000 head,
to the value of over $4,000,0O0, were
sold outside in 1923.
'The heavy losses in the tobacco
crop, due to the frosts in the middle
of September, hurt He financial condi
ton of the growers, but most of these
farmers were able to market other
crops which helped to make up their
tobacco losses. Some farmers, it 10
true, have been forced to sell out in
order to meet their obligations, but .
a majority of these bought land at in
fated prices during the wartime
boom. The established farmer, own
ing land bought at fair price, is in
much better condition than one would
often be led to believe from the re-
ports based on the condition Of mex
perienced farmers, who paid double
price for their land.
Crop Production for 1923
"Wisconsin's crop production is es-
sentially raising hay, oats and corn,
and in the production of these three
crops the year 1923 did not set a rec
ORD, although results were far from
unfavorable. Hay in most Of the state
made only a fair crop, and many
heavy feeding areas are faced with a
hay. shortage. An early frost shatter-
ed prospects of a bumper corn crop,
but 100000 silos scattered over the
state have salvaged the frosted corn
crop to- excellent advantage. Small
grains made average yields.
Prices of these crops are of small
inasmuch as they market these crops
by feeding them to their dairy cows.
Milk prices, therefore, determine the
prices which these farmers get for
their crops.
Milk Prices Show Increase
milk prices throughout the year
have been uniformly higher than q
year ago, with the December prices
approximately 25c per hundred more
than in December last year. Higher
milk prices have had very encourage
ing effect on Wisconsin farmers.
When we realize that 5000 of the in
come Of our farmers comes from
cream or milk checks, we can better
understand the favorable effect of the
higher milk prices which have been
paid this year. Of Wisconsin's cash
crops, potatoes lead, and while prices
in 1928 have not been satisfactory.
they are an Improvement over the de-
pressing prices of last year.
Increase of Farm Income
"rhe Wisconsin farm income for
the last fiscal year, according to re-
ports of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, was Sal 100000 more
than year ago. OF this increase,
SIG 100000 was in dairy and live
stock dairy products; $16,OO0.0O0.0O
was in live stock and $9,000,000.00 in
crops.
when it is remembered that 819e
of Wisconsin's farm income is derived
from live stock and live stock prod
ueUs, it is apparent that agriculture
in our state is on much more solid
basis than that of grain crop regions.
Three Important Recommendations
"In conclusion, the State Depart
ment of Agriculture recommends
that:
''The growing of alfalfa be made as
general as the use of the silo.
"The live stock farmer diversity by
growing a cash crop. such as peas, to-
bacco, cabbage, potatoes or fruit.
1.-THE cash crop farmer needs live
stock to place his enterprise on
sound basis.
'If suggestions set forth above are
carried out, and if the farmers will
put forth collective effort in the es-
tablishmenG of a rational marketing
plan. / am satisfied that the Wiscoh
sin farmer will soon find that his eco