The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-03
Farmers TheskDelves Reduce
Costs Of Production Through
Increased Efflcieney - Op-
poses Idea o. Government
Entering Into Agricultural
Business

showing Tor agriculture In general
for the year has been good. Sscrs-
tary Jardine told President Coolidge
in his annual report today, but much
remains to be done before the posi-
tion Of the farmer viii cease 70 b
q problem.
"While farmers themselves are re.
ducing their costs Of production
through increased efficiency" Mr..
Jardine said, ~public agencies should
cooperate with them IN affecting q
better adjustment Of production to
demand. Also, efforts should be
made to diminish waste, to LESSEN
margins between producers and con-
sumers' prices, to reduce transporta-
tion and distribution costs, and to
lessen the farmers overhead charges
by lowering or redistributing tax
burdens and by improving Agricul-
tnral credit facilities. Farmers
should be encouraged to enhance their
bargaining power through cooper
ative marketing, and the responsi.
bility Of the public in helping TO re.
duce price fluctuations due to nm.
avoidable gluts and shortages Of
agricultural products should be rec.
ognized in . practical manner.'
Unity Of Action Needed
The need for unity Of action IN
agriculture is generally recognized
but opinions differ as to means Of
getting it, the secretary said.
Some would assign tho task Of
directly controlling this or that phase
OF economic life to the government, !"
he declared. "They would have the
government either merchandise farm
products or enter into agricultural
business In some other way. ! need
not reiterate my opposition to this
view. Such policy would bs detri-
mental to the farmers and in the long
run would jeopardixe the legitimate
functions OF government.
Il believe that what ID necessary
can be obtained by the joint effort
OF organized farmers, with the rov.
ernment giving such assistance g II
may safely give and protecting the
public interest by laying down broad
rules Of policy"
The beat way TO visualise the fu-
ture Of agriculture, - Of any indus.
t!!H = s9o STAINING *ha .4xAnaplee tA4
itefeceht past Nj. /a6dina declar-
ed. IT the farmer Has. tacklo6 hid'
problem sensibly and theoretically.
with resulting increase Of efficiencv
m both production and marketine.
his outlook may fairly be considered
good. This he has done In Z manner
which has no historic parallel. TSch.
meal progress in American aerieul.
ture mas taken place at IN extra
ordinary rate since the close Of the
world war, and in consequences the
productivity Of the individual farnaer
mas been increased, while at the sane
time the agricultural industry g I
whole. through the shifting Of crop
enterprises, has been bstter adapted
TO its market conditions.
In the nine years since the world
war ended, our aericult,,re ~
UNDERGONE fat,reaching changes that
nave materially increased che out
put OF both land and labor. This
augmented production has been IS.
tanned on decreased crop acreaee
and with fewer farm workers. Here
IS evidence that agriculture has not
lacked vtgor or resourcefulnesg In
the trying years Of the postwar de-
preston. Here also is an aueurv Of
i!s future prosperity. Farm eff
cheney has been incressinr. And sff;-
-