The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1924-01-24
STOCK LOAN WILL
AID NORTHWEST
>S5O,OOO,OOO Loan for Purchase
of Livestock Proposed As
Northwest Remedy.

Minneapolis of dairy
and beef cattle, hogs, sheep and poul-
try in the northwest is proposed as a
remedy for the present condition Of
the wheat farmer in a bill now before
congress which provides for the ap-
preparation of revolving fund of
$50,000,000 to be loaned to farmers
for the purchase of breeding stock by
the government without requiring
other collateral than the stock pnr-
chased and the increase therefrom.
Three Classes to Benefit.
Advocates of the plar point out
that three classes of farmers would
be benefited, those who have no stock
and. wish to purchase enough to sup
ply meat, eggs and dairy products for
the farm table; those who have scrub
stock not capable of returning a profit
which they would replace with higher
grade animals, and those who have a
few head of good animals but want to
increase their herds so that they can
produce animal products on a com.
mercial basis.
Farm surveys recently made under
the supervision of the agricultural
colleges in North Dakota and Mime
sofa have revealed the fact that many
farmers are without certain classes
of livestock and arc consequently
forced to spend considerable amount
of cash for food. More than nine
tenths of the farmers interviewed
have declared that they would apply
for such loan, and that they could
provide adequate shelter and feed for
animals secured. Many of this mum.
ber declared that they were under.
equipped, or that they wished to re
place inferior animals with a more
profitable type.
Plan Evolved by Coulter.
The livestock loan plan for acceler.
ating diversifcation was worked out
at the North Dakota Agricultural Col
lege under the direction of President
John Lee Coulter, and was afterward
enlarged to include South Dakota,
Minnesota and Montana at a recent
meeting held at Minneapolis A bill
was drawn up embodying the plan and
introduced as House Resolution No.
4,159 by Representative o. B. Burt
ness of North Dakota and as Senate
Bill No. 1897 by Senator Peter Nor
beck of South Dakota. Floor leaders
have given assurance that the meas
/. ure will receive early consideration in
committees.
The loan would be administered by
a commission composed of the secre-
taries of agriculture, commerce and
the treasury. They would use exist
ing facilities at Agricultural colleges
and the county agricultural agents
together with local, advisory commit.
tees in securing and distributing live
stock and supervising the care of the
same.
Loans Up to $1,000.
Loans would be made up to $1,000
to individual farmers and tenants and
would run for not more than five years,
the rate of interest not to exceed six
per cent.
In justification of special considera-
ton for the northwest, proponents OF
the plan point out that farmers of the
spring wheat area had started to di-
versify before the war, but that the
plea of the government for more wheat
at that time resulted in a sacrifice of
the livestock industry and curtailing
~ Ic
for North Dakota show that the wheat
growers have lost an average of 1858
per acre for every acre of wheat grown
during the past five years; that they
are equipped for wheat production,
and that even though they realize the
this crop, they are unable at present
to finance the purchase of livestock.
Little Danger of over-Production.
Will the extensive introduction of
livestock into the Northwest result in
an overproduction such as already
exists with wheat?
President Coulter of the North Da-
kota Agricultural College declares that
the dairy industry can stand consid.
cradle expansion and still barely pro.
duce the requirements of the consum'
ers of the country.
"The population Of the United States
is increasing at the rate Of 100000
each year, according to census author
tiles, and one COW is required to supply
the dairy products consumed by SO
persons, which means that the COW
population must increase nearly 800,
600, each year in order to take care
of the increase in the number Of PEG
ple," he. states.
Dairy Cows Decrease.
statistics show that the number OF
dairy cows in the New England States
has decreased during the past 40 years
in New York and Pennsylvania the
number is remaining stationary while
the north central states are the only
ones to show an increase"
Continue Raising Wheat.
u