New Britain herald., 1928-12-01
Agriculture HAS
IMPORTANT Year


wash. Dec. NeDespite the
c!amor Of demands for farm relief
legislation. Secretary Jardine in his
annual report to President Coolidge
declares that ''it il beyond question
that 1898 will 20 down In American
agricultural history as q year OF
achievement"
Insisting that the gross income
from agricultural this year will be
well above the 1s.7-2S total of $12,-
253,0OO.000. the secretary neverthe-
less couples his forecast with the
statement that this does not mean
that agricultural grievances are in
substantial nor does it mean that the
remedy for these very real difficult
ties should be left to the free play
Of economic forces"
The situation from which agri.
culture is still suffering has complex
economic. social and other roots, >
he says. For these the nation can
not escape its just share of respon-
stbility In that its officials advocated
Overwhelming expansion Of produc-
ton during tho war. In like man
ner the nation must accept its
share Of responsibility in seeking
and applying sound and adequate
relief.
Entitled to Help
I'm short. agriculture 10 entitled
to practical governmental help In re-
building its fortunes on 4 firm and
permanent foundation"
Without Offering any hard and
fast farm relief proposal the secre.
tary suggests that farmers could
benefit themselves by giving major
attention to quality production.
Discussing agricultural legislation.
he draws attention to laws already
enacted, such as the cooperative
marketing act OF July 2. 1925. the
agricultural credits act Of 1928. and
statutes In Is states authorizing for
nation Of cooperative associations.
Much has already been done by this
and similar legislation, he argued.
toward improving the situation Of
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 sta
bility. "Much has been done in re-
cent years." he says, Ito improve
agriculture's credit facilities. but
much remains to be DONE"
Optimistic Outlook
Mr.. Jardine's optimistic outlook
took into consideration his notation
that "in value our agricultural ex-
perts for the year were four per cent
less than those OF the preceding
year and we're the smallest in the
last five years" He set forth that
agricultural exports amounted to
only 3S per cent of the total and ex-
planned that cotton exports fell off
80 per cent in volume, wheat 6 per
cent. and that apples and pork pro-
Hucts, both leading export items.
showed reduced totals. Barley. corn.
rice. tobacco, and prunes, however.
showed encouraging export in
creases.
In spite OF bad weather In some
sections, he says, the acreage OF
crops harvested was the largest ever
recorded, and 10000 900 acres above
the 1927 total. Yields per acre.
moreover, were ''about 3 per cent
above tho average for the last 10
years and about IL per cent above
those Of last year."
His estimate OF gross income he
based on conspicuous betterment In
the livestock industries. the increas-
ed income from which he believes
will more than counterbalance low
cred returns to be expected from
lash grains, hay. tobacco and pota-
toes.
Livestock Industry
general improvement in the live
stock industry. in which all its
branches shared was the most out
standing development in the 1928
agricultural situation the report
says Cattle prices continued the
advance which started late in 1925.
and by last midsummer reached the
highest average level ever recorded
in peace time. HOG prices early In
tho year touched the bottom Of
long decline which had started is
months previously and are now in
the upward swing Of new price
cycle. Lamb prices were well MAIN
tanned notwithstanding increased
production. Wool prices were, high
er. Range conditions generally were
fair to good throughout the year:
all sections were free from serious
droughts. Abundant supplies Of
.orn. hay and other feedstuffs were
harvested"
Crop production in general. the
report asserts. was good in all parts
Of the country except in the east
,rn 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 in
tho spring destroyed the winter
wheat seeded on fully 100000
acres and thinned the stand on Z
large additional acreage" It adds.
"Reseeding was complicated by =
,old and wet June. In the late sum.
mer and fall the South Atlantic
states had torrential rains that set