Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-02
YEAROF
Achievement,
JARDINE SAYS
Although Income Big
Farm Ills Still In
Need of Cure, Ayers
Secretary's Report


WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-P1-De-
spite the clamor of demands for
farm relief legislation. Secretary
Isrdine in his annual report TO Pres
ident Coolidge declares that lit il
beyond question that 1928 will To
down in American agricultural his
tory as a year cf achievement
Insisting that the gross income
from agriculture this year will be
well above the 192S-2S total of Sia.-
25S, 600 600. the secretary neverthe-
less couples his forecast with the
statement that this does not mean
that agricultural grievances are in
substantial nor does IL mean that
the remedy for these very real diff
ficulties should be left tu the free
play Of economic forces"
"The situation from which arri-
culture - still suffering has complex
economic, social and other roots
he says. For these the nation can
not escape its just share of respon-
sibility in thrt its officials advocat-
ed overwhelming expansion of pro
fduction during tho war. I'm like man
ner the nation must accept its share
Of responsibility In seeking and ap-
plying sound and adequate relief.
Urges Quality Production
I'm short. agriculture is entitled
to practical governmental help in
rebuilding its fortunes on a firm
and permanent foundation
Without offering any hard and fast
farm relief proposal the secretary
suggests that farmers could benefit
themselves by giving major atten-
ftion 10 quality production. Discus
sing agricultural legislation, he
draws attention 70 laws already en-
acted, such as the cooperative mar
keting act Of July > 1926. the agri-
cultural credits act of 1928, and
statutes in - states authorizing for
nation "a cooperative associations.
Much has already been done BY this
and similar legislation, Ne argued.
toward improving the situation cf
the American farmer.
In the fields of farm credits and
crop insurance the secretary found
the greatest need for future i'm
provement, though he felt that the
federal farm loan system and inter-
mediate credit banks have already
greatly increased safety and stabil-
ity. much has been done IN recent
years" he says, "to improve agri-
cultures credit facilities, but much
remains to be done
Record Crop Acreage
Mr.. Jardine's optimistic outlook
took into consideration his notation
that in value our agricultural ex-
ports for the yea we're 4 pcr cent
less than those 81 the preceding year
and were the smallest III the last five
years He set forth that arricul-
itursl exports amounted to only IS
per cent of the total and explained
that cotton exports fell off so per
cent IN volume. wheat q per cent,
and that apples and pork products,
both leading export items. showed
reduced totals. Barley. corn rice.
tobacco and prunes, however. showed
encouraging exEOrt increases.
In spite OF bad weather conditions
in some sections. he says, the acre
age of crops harvested was the lar
gest ever recorded. and 5000. 900
acres above the 1921 total. Yields per
acres, moreover, were about 3 pcr
cent above the average for the last
10 vars and about M per cent above
those of last year
Ills estimate of gross income he
based on conspicuous betterment IN
the live stock industries the increased
income from which he believes will
more than counterbalsnce lowered
returns 10 be expected from cash
grams, hay. tobacco and potatoes.
Livestock Improved
General Improvement in the live
stock industry. IN which aIl NJ
branches shared was the most one
standing development in the 1925
agricultural situation the report
says. Cattle prices continued the
advance which started late in 1926.
and by last midsummer reached the
highest average level ever recorded
~ peace time. Hog prices early IN
|, IN year touched the bottom NC "A long
!, decline which had started IA months
previously and are now IN The up-
ward swing OF n new price cycle
Lamb prices were well maintained
? notwithstanding increased produc-
ton. Wool prices were higher.
Range conditions generally were fair
TO good throughout the year; All
sections were free from serious
|, droughts- Abundant supplies of
. corn. hay and other feed-tufrs were
harvested
Crop production In general, the
report asserts, was good in All parts
OF the country except in the east
ern and central parts of the cotton
belt, IN parts Of the eastern corn
belt. and in an area affected by
drought. comprising most of South
Dakota. western Nebraska. eastern
Colorado, New Mexico and southern
Texas
SHARP changes IN temperature III
the spring destroyed the winter
wheat seeded on fully 10000. 0oa
acres and thinned the stand on =
large additional acreage" it adds.
"Reseeding was complicated BY n cold
and wet June. IN the late summer
and fall the South Atlantic States
had torrential rains that SET new
precipitation records w. many sta
tions. These adverse conditions,
however. we're largely offset by gen.
nrally favorable harvesting weather
; IN the more important agricultural
states"
Big Major Crops
All the three major American
! crops, wheat. corn and cotton, are
! estimated ~ showing high produce
ton in comparison with last year. but
heavy losses to cotton were noted be-
cause Of the boil weevil and bad
weather, and a severe price depres-
I. sion was reported in the wheat mar
ket.
Our wheat production exceeded
e00, 000, 600 bushels for the first time
: since 1919" the report says. The
Increase was mostly I'm hard winter
. and durum wheat. Indications are
: that he worlds supply OF wheat for
H. Nnrn On ". -
? about 5 per cent greater than that
) of the 1929 season.
In the last two months wheat pris
cas- " ~. TFrftaI rAmfnw have awer~