The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-04-29
FARMS LOSE 100000 POPULA
TON IN FIVE YEARS

sharp drop in the farm population compared
with 1920 and pronounced increase in the bur
den OF farm mortgages are outstanding features
IN the 1925 farm census of the United States
compiled by the department of commerce. The
census figures reflect the drastic deflation farm
ers have suffered since the war boom
Inc farm population of the country in 1925. &C
cordlng 10 the census, numbered 3. 9S1 693 In
1920 the figures was 31614,269 so that even after
allowance for certain differences in gathering
statistics between the , census years the farm
population appears TO have fallen al last $500 600.
There were 6,371,640 farms in 1925 compared
with 6,44S,343 in 1920 and 6,361, SOP in 1910. OF
theSe S'5lS,+9O were operated by the full owners
II 1873 ana 5566,5l0 by full owners in 1920
The census bureau received reports on the
mortgage debt carried by ,2O7 Of these own
er-operated farms. The total value of these mort
gageu farms, including land and buildings, was
SlO'79O,2 ,351 and the total mortgage debt 81.
0I''20S'0S9. The 1920 reports covered 1,198O47
mortgaged farms valued at S13, .5OOO13 with
q combined mortgage debt OF S4,OO8 767 1872 Thus
the combination Of a slump in farm values with
STEADY increase IN mortgage debt has raised the
ratio OF mortgage debt TO the total value of the
farms from 291Ts to 1890.
The report shows a striking increase IN +bs 90
1919 and 1924. In 1924 the value of farm nro-
ducts sold comparatively was SS57652 1866 comnar-
ca with SI21983 500 in 1919 But in the mean
time farm prices had declined about 36oe A.
1919 prices the farm products sold coopera+;1eI,
IN 1924 would have brought 1885 600 OOO IN
other words the quantity Of farm goods sold on
cooperative basis probably increased $50 in the
Swear interval.
Cooperative purchases By farmers ara nor rs.r
" as extensive as their cooperative sales In
1924 the value Of supplies comparatively purchases
was 1882 100 compared with sS4.615. SEQ AT
1919 prices the goods purchased comparatively h,
farmers IN 1924 would have cost At least s1O4 600
UUU an increase Of about 23C over the coonera-
tive purchases Of 1919
recent report Of the L. s. department Of 40
reulture shows that in the years since the cen
sus was taken the farm population has lost
-uE'ner IOSs'OOO bringing the total Jan. 1. 1927
Gown 70 about 2I692,O00. The department. point
ing % the decrease OF $4,000 during 1926 as the
Oisges1 decrease IN any year since 1920. saws:
It Is estimated that 2,155OOO persons moved
from farms 70 cities, towns and villages last wear
ana mat 1,l50,OOO persons moved from farms
liAlls net movement OF 100000 persons away
from farms. Births on farms during 1925 ara >.
timated at 65S,O00 and deaths at $4,000 1asvi,,,
a natural increase Of $1,000 persons. which r,
oueea me loss due to cityward movement to $40.
mere was a net movement Of $4,000 person.
away rom farms IN 1925. In the last wears
pressure on the farms has produced from the
farms total Of 1S54,OOO persons available e.
employment in industry and trade. This shows
"efe industrial capital is meeting the CUTTING off
OF the supply Of immigrant labor