Milford chronicle., 1927-11-25
SUSSEX FARMERS
HAVE OPPORTUNITY
TO SELL POTATO CROP
rContinned from "a Ed

GQHttWAtG lfNR 49,
handling the white potato crop, as
it existed on the Peninsula prior to
1927, there is not only the POSSIBLE
ity, but the almost absolute GER
tainty that such price changes Will
be brought about. Price records
for many seasons demonstrate the
truth of that statement.
1T ought not be difficult for any
one to understand that by no posi-
bility can any advantage result 10
the farmer by having a dozen or
more dealers engage in herce
price cutting competition in order
that each may secure the largest
possible share of the business OF
selling the farmers potatoes With
out regard to what price they shall
be sold at. A price war among
dealers may be very exhllaratlhs
and spectacular exhibition Tor the
dealers-but it's tough on the farm
er whose potatoes are being ham,
mered down to lower ana lower
prices.
"This annual price cutting COM
petition among dealers, which time
after time has played havoc with the
farmers profits in former seasons
was the direct cause for the organ
ization of the Eastern Shore Farm
ers' Association and the appoint
ment of it's Quotation Committee.
The design Of this new marketing
plan was to restrict destructive
competition among dealers and TO
protect the farmers rights and pro-
fits.
mo one doubts that there were
flaws in the plan as it operated IN
1927" DR.. Bomberger continued. 1t
was far from one hundred per cent
perfect. It operated under incred-
ible difficulties. Only minority OF
farmers supported it. Many dealers
gave it only grudging support. some
dealers openly defied 1t. The crop
was the largest ever marketed. fet'
in spite of these handicaps, the OPP
Grafton of the plan brought several
millions of dollars to the farmers
more than they would have received
without it. In spite of the biggest
over-production ever known on the
peninsula, the 1927 crop brought
over four millions of dollars more
gross return than did the 1926 crop
when there was no Quotation Com
mittee. In former years Over-pro-
duction brought disaster.
"Now the question is put up to
the farmers like this: The plan has
been amended to bring in the COM
petitive areas in the Maryland ana
Delaware counties. 1t has been
strengthened in other ways. If pro-
-ducers representing $50 of the po-
tato acreage will join the Assoc1a-
ton and sign the agreement to sup
mort the Quotation Committee, II !
will undertake to protect them IN
1928 even more effectually than
they were safeguarded in 1927. II |
$50 will not join the Association Dy
January II, 1928, the effort to re-
strain the dealers price cutting !
competition by cooperation among
farmers will not be made There Is
no other question involved in the |
issue and no one can decide it but
the farmers themselves.
"The campaign begins in North
ampton and Accomac counties on
December 5 and will continue until
the issue is determined. The Mary
land and Delaware campaigns Will
begin on December IL. The Eastern
Shore Of Virginia Bankers Assoc1a-
ton and the Tri-County Bankers
Association have Endorsed the move
ment and have pledged their efforts
to induce the growers to join the
Association.
"If the potato grower will con-
sider," concluded DR.. Bomberger'
that the person who will be direct
ly benefited by the effective action
of the Quotation Committees plan
of marketing his crop. is the farmer
himself, it ought not be hard for
him to decide the question as to
what he shall do in this crisis. In
the meantime the cooperative spirit
of farmers on the Peninsula is be-
ing tested as it has never really
been tested before"