The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-01-30
THE MINNESOTA PLAN

ton so that prices to consumers
can be held down while at the
same time careful farmers get
fair returns, and also that our ex-
port farm markets may be held
so far as possible. Along this
line there should be increased
support of farm schools and col
leges, county eXtention agents,
boys and girls club work and all
those other agencies calculated
to improve business management
of the farms.
The present day farmer not only
recognizes that cost cutting is a
means of better farm returns for
those who can accomplish them, but
tha's the consuming public of Amer
lea is entitled to the results of eff
ficient farm production. 1t is gen.
orally recognized that fair consumer
prices widen the market and produce
a stability not obtained through arti-
fetal restriction.
Hence any wise national farm
policy must embrace liberal allowance
for aid in cost reduction. Plant and
animal diseases and parasites must
be fought. Better types of plants
and animals developed; we must know
more of fertilizers, crop rotation,
market types needed. There must be
adequate provision for wide and rapid
diffusion of farm knowledge so that
the farmer may have at his command
services similar to what corporations
secure by hiring technical experts.
Farm schools, agricultural colleges,
county agents, boys and girls clubs
and associations for advancement of
farm technique must be literally
supported.
While there is general admission
that our farm exports are unsatis-
factory with serious unfavorable fac
tors, we must none the less fight to
retain this export outlet with every
means at our command. Lower costs
of production through rebuilding Of
fertility, weed control, improved ma
chinery, labor-saving methods will
have favorable bearing on our bid
for foreign markets. It ought to be
generally recognized that decreas-
ing yield per acre is a major factor
in farm distress because it increases
the cost per unit while the price does
not CORRESPONDENCE increase.
We must produce more cheaply if
we are to have any chance with our
farm products in foreign markets.
Butter can be produced more cheaply
through grading up of herds, culling
out poor producing cows and the
general policy of developing that con-
dition where one cow produces what
two cows formerly produced. This in
conjunction with program of rails
ing on the farm the necessary feeds
for balanced rations combine to ma
terially reduce butter production costs.
There is an immense field for increas-
ing net profits in this kind of effort
and anything which contribute to as
sisting in these farm cost reductions
should be still further encouraged and
supported by the government. We
mention butter in particular simply as
an illustration. The same purpose
should be carried into the production
of hogs, poultry, sheep and all farm
products including grain. Wise sys-
TENS of seed selection, crop rotation,
soil building, contribute materially to
increasing grain yields per acre and
thus cutting down net cost of produc-
ton. Important agencies aiding in
this development are agricultural
schools, county extension agents,
boys and girls club organizations, etc,
Creation of a federal farm
board with wide powers to as
sist and advise, but without pow
er to determine prices or to make
sumptuary rules. Such board to
be established at once.
We think it will be agreed without
opposition that to more properly
carry out agricultural policies, study
new ones and be on the job generally,
that the establishment of federal
farm board clothed with the neces-
sary powers is desirable. This board
could be new department in the al
ready established Department of
Agriculture or the secretary of agri-
culture could be charged specially
with the establishment of such office
and departmental machinery as will
insure that the general plans to adj
vance agriculture are put into oper-
alton speedily, smoothly and eff
ficiently.
We believe it against good public
policy to establish more new boards
or departments than necessary and
so in the creation of any new ma
chinery to initiate or put new farm
plans or policies into effect we sug-
gest the wisdom of using the present
Department of Agriculture through
the process of giving it new authori-
ties and power, as well as charging
it with new duties. We also regard it
as against the public welfare and as
not calculated to promote the ulti-
mate solution of farm problems to
give to this board or to any other