Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-28
IS
PROMOTEDB BY
WILDCATERS'
Marketing Specialist
Urges Organization
VI Association By
Growers

wise expansion Of truck-crop acre
ages, aggravated by "wild cat"
paintings Of promotion agencies. Is
responsible for the most serious
over-production problems Of the
fruit and vegetable industry, ac-
cording to A. w. Mckay of the
United States Department of Ag-
rlculture.
Mckay, who is a cooperative
marketing specialist Of the Bureau
OF Agricultural Economics, urges
the organization Of strong CO.
operative associations by growers.
n inter-regional cooperation
among these groups, to prevent
sucn "unwiSe expansion and to dis
courage promotional schemes which
many sections have resulted in
large paintings Of fruit and vege-
table crops and long periods Of low
prices"
Citing the acreage increases In
lettuce and Strawberries as exam
pies OF unwise expansion, Mckay
SAID the lettuce acreage in the
Imperial Valley of California was
expanded from 10000 acres in 1924
TO 54,40O acres in 1927. Production
was increased Al per cent. The net
result 70 growers was that in 1927
they received $4,796,000 whereas for
the smaller 1924 crop they had re-
ceived $6,327, 900.
Big Crop Cuts Worth
Missouri in 1926" he saws chad
II, $50 acres Of Strawberries. THE
average yield was 2,100 quarts per
acre, the average price paid to
covers 19 cents per quart, and the
total farm value Of the crop was
$4,772,OOO. In 1923, acreage in Mis- !
our was increased to 26, 400 acres
n yields were only approximately |
half those In 1925, or l,O65 quarts
per acre. However, total produc-
ton increased; the average nrice In
growers as a result declined to ~
cents per quart, and the total farm
value was 81 03, OOO."
Increased paintings Of over 57ynnn
acres In 1928 in the United States
as compared With 1925 increased
the total farm value Of strawber-
rieS only approximately $4,000 900.
although acreage was increased an
proximately 40 per cent, the farm
value of. the total crop increased
only slightly more than 9 per cent.
Oftentimes, Mckay declares.
when acreages are unduly expand
ed, prices are reduced to such a
degree that a portion Of the crop
Is never harvested. Last year, for
example, more than 5000 car
loads of California grapes we're vi
left on the vines. Many thousands
Of acres of potatoes we're not har- !
vested because prices did not JUS
tlfy the expense Of digging and
shipping the crop. In the case Of
the 1928 potato crop, large yields
and expanded acreage combined to
produce a ~burdenSome surplus.
Need Large COoperatives
These large wastes benefit no
one," Mr.. Mckay SAYS. 1.-THE COLI
sumner, as a rule, obtains little ad-
vantage from low prices to pro-
ducerS. 1t Is financial suicide to
continue planting more and more
acres to grapes, lettuce, peaches or
potatoes, Il 1t is apparent that the
limit OF consumptive demand has
already been exceeded.
"A greater degree of coopera-
ton than is in evidence at the
present time-cooperation which Is
mter-regional, which will discour-
age wildcat paintings on sub
marginal land and by submarginal
producers, and which will bring to
the individual growers a clearer
conception Of their place in the
general production programs re-
CURED to prevent unmarketable
supplies. There is need. first. for
n development Of LARGE efficient
c~ooperatives within nrodncinc roo.
IONS: The functions Of such asso-
clatlons should extend beydnd mar
ketlng. They should onerate As
farmers business or-ganizaticns ana
assume direction OF the ouaIitv and.
as Tar as possible, of the n,antitv
OF products produced nv their
members. This does not imnlv com
troll OF production by coonerot;ves
put that they should taLa ! rasi.
I'VE ratner than a passive attitude
ton. overprooucr
Need Joint Program
J., As q second step, cooperatiyes
IN tne various Producing regions
should agree upon a Joint 10y
with reference to p~roductioic
marketing questions. With fsr
ceptlonS, the success will
Is a11ected by the success -
same crop" uclng
The need for -inter-repio,,,
operation especially with rsaa
potatoes Is emphasizes rpsalu
are marketed Comparatively hu'atq
y growers Association " Sos1
are q half-dozen large ~ The
keting organizations h,, ttotato-ms
= OF miles apart ana sse =
Is DONG its own JOB with IN eafJ
erence 70 the others. 1t IL hal;rel
maj an effective program for rf
Aetlng the total crop involves iar
operation among the associs GO
In an important regions. "n
movements have hear
t t,a.ed recently to put a program |
.lis KIND on potatoes into effae
alInougn neither OF these ncs.
Ments has been developed
sroWerS, organizations. One W.
| Naelonal Sotato Institute. has bse'
/, e up on a national scale and T.
Guides growers, dealers, ~coonerat;,s
associations and representative