The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-01-30
CONDITIONS ON
FARMS IMPROVED
State Bureau Leader Claims
Peak of Unfavorable Con-
ditiOns Reached
WILL REGAIN LOSSES
1New Co-operatives Point the
Way to Prosperity" Says
President A. ]. Olson


year 1929 brought the American
farmer little to be thankful for,
and left him in worse financial con-
llition than he was in a year ago, he
may count substantial gains that
eventually should greatly improve
his condition, declared A. j. Olson,
president of the Minnesota Farm
Bureau Federation in delivering his
annual address at University farm
auditorium today. Mr.. Olson's ad-
dress featured the eleventh an
nual convention of the Gopher bur-
eau, which opened for a four-day
session at the Lowry hotel, st.
Paul, Monday morning. Tuesdays
sessions were held at University
farm, as an event of the annual
Farmers and Homemakers' week.
Farmers today are worse off
financially than they were one, two
or five years ago. They have had
one more year of losing deal for
agriculture. They are, however, of
better morale. They have accom-
plished some things" the bureau
leader asserted.
These accomplishments are but
plans, in the early stages of de-
velopment. It is not too much to
say however, that our progress has
been phenomenal, for no nation
wide movement has advanced so
rapidly as has the movement for
agricultural equality.
"The Minnesota Farm Bureau
Federation, which is leading the
condition, has been in existence
but II years. We have concentrat-
ed on the present program for less
than eight years. Up to 1920 agri-
culture was on the incline. Prices
were fairly satisfactory; land val
ues were increasing from two to
ten dollars per year and the farm
ers upon taking inventory of them
selves found that they were worth
more money each year. At least
they were enabled to borrow more
money and thereby the mortgage
on the farm could be and was in
creased from year to year.
''The war ended. Defiation for
agriculture was ordered and before
the farmers realized what had
happened, organized industry got
busy and congress enacted the
Observation-Disclosures tariff act. This
so completely unbalanced agricul-
tural conditions that the organized
forces of the farmer set out to
seek a new deal for their people.
This fight resulted in the calling Of
a special session of congress which
enacted the marketing act. This
act, first of all, established a policy
for agriculture. This statement Of
policy says that agriculture shall
be placed on an economic parity
with the industries. This act pro-
vides for the Federal Farm board,
which is charged with the respon-
sibility of carrying out the provis-
ions of the act. The act also pro-
vides the funds with which to do
the work."
The president said that the Farm
bureau has constantly stressed CO.
operation as the key to agricultur-
al prosperity. The government has
at last recognized this program and
has made cooperative marketing
the nationally approved system for
distribution of farm products, and
the nation is now committed to
the task of it's successful operation,
through the Federal Farm board
and the federal marketing act. 'Tt
is now the duty of the farmers,
themselves, to do their part by sell
ing their produce only through rec
ognized cooperatives, in order that
the marketing act may be success
full to its greatest degree" the bu-
reau chief asserted.
Mr.. Olson stressed the need for
tariff revision, in order to give
agriculture the same benefits in
dustry and commerce enjoyed in
the past.
It is through the farmers grow
ing realization that he must coop
crate if he is to prosper, and
through the strong cooperative or
CARNATIONS he is building, that his
condition has received any ad-
vancement, Mr.. Olson said in clos
ing.
Sam H. Thompson, of Quincy, ILL.,,
president of the American Farm
Bureau Federation, also spoke, as
did J. s. Jones, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of the Minnesota Farm Bureau,
and other state officers and agri-
cultural leaders.
Election of the president, two
vice presidents and two directors
win be held late Thursday after