The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-01
Diversified Farming
Has Brought Higher
Living Standards

necessities have taken q large toll
from the produce Of the land.
A second important factor has
been the cost Of transition from
grain farming to mixed farming. A
clothing store cannot be converted
into a restaurant over night and Al
no cost. Similarly, q small grain
farm must be equipped with build
ings, fencing, wells, new machinery
and breeding stock It mixed farm
ing is to be adopted.
Increased volume Of production
per farm has turned the trick
Maintenance Of small grain produc.
ton with an increase Of IS per cent
in livestock production per farm &C.
Cured during the period from 1920
to 1925, according to . study 81
census records made by Rex E. Will.
lard, farm economist At the North
Dakota Agricultural college. Accur-
ate figures are not available, but
observers declare that rs much ~
more progress has been made from
1926 to date.
The new farming system mean,
q living in a poor year and large
profits in q good year. ]. p. Phelan
president of the First National bank
ut Bowman, in the southwestern
corner Of the state, each year has
published a leaflet showing the to.
tai railway shipments Of agricultur.
al products from the six stations in
Bowman county.
In 1922 these stations shipped
81, 799,340 worth of agricultural
products including $685. worth
of wheat. In 1925 the value Of agri.
cultural products shipped was S..
8S0,8l8, Of which 1921 600 was
wheat. This figures an increase OF
IL per cent in value Of wheat pro.
duced but an increase Of As per
cent in value of other products such
as sheep, wool, cattle, hogs, eggs,
butter, cream and poultry.
Enormous Possibilities
Last year WAS u poor one fol
small grain production in that Sec
ton Of the state, however. The rec
ords Of the previous year show the
enormous possibilities Of small
grain production in a favorable year
even though the mixed or Ensured
system Of farming is being prac-
ticed. The value Of all agricultural
products shipped from the six Bow
man county stations in 1926 was
$3,043,616, of which wheat consti-
tutcd 81 COS, 150-an increase OF
more than one million dollars each
for both wheat land other agricul-
tural products over 1922. The pres
ent year will probably exceed the
results Of 1925, according to Mr.,
Phelan.
"Thc storm period is passed, and
it is time to stop whining and begin
to count our many blessings" is
the way he summarizes the present
situation. ITO make . showing Of
such results, you can realize that
our intelligent, diligent .agricultur-
list did not loiter or fall by the way
side"
Regarding conditions this fall,
Mr.. fhelan reports: Farmers obi
cations outside of real estate mort
cages have been reduced very de-
cidedly this year. There has been
almost fever on the part of farm
ers and ranchmen to pay their
debts. Rediscounts that we have
handled for our customers outside
Of the resources of the hank have
been more than cut in two.
1.-THE living standard has not only
improved in the direction of acquir-
ing tractors and trucks, but a de-
cided increase in the number Of
closed cars, while the display of
silk stockings and modern apparel
of good quality among the ladies a.
well as their brothers, fathers and
husbands is another indication Of
the trend Of the times. The morale
Of our farmers is decidedly i'm
proved
Must Work all Year
From the eastern part Of the
state the reports are of a similar
tenor. D. O'Malley, vice president
Of the First National bank Of Val
ley City, says: "All those who farm
intelligently and make up their
minds that it, is necessary to work
all tho year around-that is, milk
cows, feed pigs and raise poultry
are getting along fine. Those who
don't care to work early and late
arc quitting. There have been a
great many auction sales this fall,
it is true, but these sales are most
" BY people whose absence will not
be missed.
ION the other hand. the farmers
who are making it 60 and coming
to the front in good shape a.
bringing in to market every day
cans of cream, turkeys and chickens
by the hundreds, and hogs ready for
market at this time by the carload.
These farmers are paying cash for
what they buy and 1t is . blessing
that such conditions are coming
about.
Regarding farm loans it seems
to the writer there are two distinct
classes Of farmers. The class who
are able to pay are those who prac-
tAS0 0AVC4 0S&tS&k A04 1bAAAAk 04tNA AtV0 VII
their own farms. Such farmers are
taking care Of interest on mort.
cages. It must b remembered that
it takes time and money to change
over and diversity, but eventually
those who do will come out al right
and mortgages should use good
judgment with such farmers"
Noticeable Progress
"There has been noticeable prog
ress since 1921 with marked in
crease Of steady income and with .
material betterment in standard Of
living" says Planding Fisher Of
Devils Leke, president Of the Ram
Iey County National bank. Farm
loan interest payments are satisfac-
tory, although many payments are
being deferred In the hope Of OBJ
tanning better prices for gre!a.
Probably not more than half a.
many taxes are unpaid this year as
in 1921. Great progress has been
- oA0 - thn awA12es>ASAvn - su,aAk