Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-19
MAINE FORCES ON
IN AGRICULTURE
COM'R. WASHbURn

production IL falling off and our ag-
riculture passing out has no founda-
ton in fact, and It Is probably true
that the farms Of Maine have never
produced so abundantly Of quality,
marketable food products, as at the
present time" IL the statement made
by r. p. Washburn, Commissioner
Of Agriculture, in an interview for
this edition. He continues:
TT Is q satisfaction to learn that
one Of our Oldest and best known
dailiss, with q large circulation
amone the farmers Of Central Maine.
has arranged to devote one issue to
Farm Bureau affairs. An invitation
to contribute to such an edition con-
veys a real responsibility In the Sc
lection of 4 worthwhile subject.
Possibly a brief discussion OF the
present situation Of our farmers and
some records Of our recent accom-.
plishments along agricultural lines
might be most worthy the attention
Of our Farm Bureau members ana
other readers of the Journal. Such
4 record win necessarily contain
many statistics and crop report fg-
ures, but It win present some en-
couraging features and dispel GER
tain gloomy illusions regarding the
farm situation in Maine. The time
honored belief that our production
il falling OF and our agriculture
passing out has no foundation in
fact, and 1t Is probably true that the
farms Of Maine have never produced
% abundantly OF quality, marketable
food products, u at the present time.
mo general term or expression
will describe the situation of all our
farmers. Maine II so large and we
are engaged in 90 many lines of ag-
riculture that It Ii necessary to dis
,cuss the various branches separately
and because of the volume and cash
value Of their product. the potato
growers appear to rank first. After
several years of poor returns, potato
growers are now faced with situ-
alton that Is rosy with promise.
Rising above their difficulties In the
planting season of 1925. they dis
played q degree of courage and per-
severance hardly ever equaled by
any group of business men and sue
ceeded in making plant of fair
proportions. The yield in Maine is
considerably below that Of 1923 and
1924, but will still reach the tre-
tnendous total of thirty million
bushels. Considering the somewhat
startling figures from other potato
growing sections as revealed In the
September crop report, we may well
look for good prices this year for
both seed and table stock. The 1924
seed distribution involved some six
hundred and forty thousand barrels
shipped into twenty-four states and
during the present season some eight
thousand acres have passed the rigid
requirements OF certified seed.
Second only to potatoes in point
of volume and value. our hay crop
totals ore and one-half million tons,
the harvest of 1925 bringing the
third successive heavy yield. With
only limited demand for market
hay. the increasing surplus points
inevitably toward more beef cattle
and sheep for Maine farms.
The dairy products of Maine
farms total in value some seventeen
millions Of dollars annually and a
most substantial prosperity prevails
in those sections where dairying Is
l0tioW dS a OuSluCSSs LII TcCSuL
years. too much Of our product has
found it, way on to the huid milk
market, creating = large surplus
with correspondinsly low values. but
producers are coming to realize the
necessity of manufacturing q part
OF their output. Our ice cream bust
ness Is approaching the Ave million
dollar mark and two successful
cheese factories are In operation
with others likely to follow. In gen.
eral. prices for dairy products are
slightly better than those Of one year
ago. while the abundant corn crop
of the West with falling off in the
export demand for wheat, may bring
abon. lower prices for the concen-
trated feeds which the Maine dairy
man m,st tuy.
Y Apple estimates indicate a some
what reduced crop owing to late