The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-12
FARMERS ADOPTING
BUSINESS METHODS,
PARLEYS DISCLOSE
Director Of Extension Service
Analyses Lessons Of Re.
cent Conferences
WILL CUT WHEAT ACREAGE
Advice to Increase on Flax viii
Be Followed in Hope Of
Better Returns

Fargo, N. D.. Mar. l2.-"That farm
@ers in North Dakota no longer pro-
Guce their crops and livestock without
regard to market conditions and the
world outlook Is indicated by 1880
farming policies formulated by more
than $500 farm residents in nine
counties in which economic confer
ences were recently held" declares G.
r. Monroe, director of the extension
division of the agricultural college.
The nine conferences. the final Of
which was completed in Towner
county. March Z. were sponsored by
the extension division.
"Basing their decisions and recon-
mendations upon sound economic in
formation compiled by the agricul-
tural college, the farm people pre-
pared farming programs fol. their
counties that already have been
proved successful by scores Of out
standing farmers.
Plan Several Years Ahead
with North Dakota farmers thus
analysing their farming operations
thoroughly before starting the years
program and planning ahead not only
for the immediate year but for several
years, the agriculture Of the state is
putting itself upon a business basis
neve before cqualled here or else
where" This Is the assertion Of Di-
rector Monroe.
Farmers are taking determined
steps to curtail surplus and overpro-
duction, the recommendations drawn
Up at the nine conferences reveal.
In every case the delegates taking
part in the farm business meetings
advised-and are backing up their
advice by making use Of it themselves
that the wheat acreage be reduced
this year. Even counties in, the heart
of the Wheat-producing area OF the
state are planning on cutting their
ecreages below that planted for a
number of years.
Rely on Flax Tariff
Flax is being planned to take up
some of the extra acres made avail
able through the growing of less
wheat, farmers believing that, with
the present protective tariff and un-
reproduction of this group in the
United States. it presents opportunity
for profit beyond what car reason
ably be expected from wheat.
But still more of the former wheat
acres are going into alfalfa, sweet
clover, corr and barley this spring
the farmers assert. An increasing
J. tendency to summer-falloN larger
acreages also was evident from dis.
cussions taking place at the confer
ences. The farmers state that they
have found from experience that tn
greater yields Of wheat or land aftel
alfalfa and sweet clover. or a cult
waited crop like corn in some sections
is alone enough to warrant the grow
ing of more of these crops.
Shift to Livestock, Too
However, increasing acreages o
these feed crops is indicative of an
other strong shift taking place IL
farming in the state; production o
high quality livestock ready for top
ping the market Is a trend into which
the farming business is working. M
general recommendations were mad
that livestock numbers should be IN
creased under present conditions, bu
q decided belief was prevalent tina
superior types of livestock plus plent.
CT good feed is a combination tina
will enhance the present livestock IN
come on farms without the nccessit
for raising larger numbers.
Marketing Of both grain. livestoc
and livestock products is a phase Q
farming not being neglected by farm
crs. In all the discussions nlarketin
end market possibilities were subject
considered whenever county farm
policies were being set up. All OF tn
conferences were almost unanl1nou
in their favor of cooperative market
ing associations. Local livestock ship
ping associations were strongly ap
proved, as we're also local association
of farmers for the marketing OF graf
and dairy products.
Competitive Markets Best
Central competitive markets !
most cases were declared by the cor
ference delegates to be preferred I
the direct selling Of products. IN
statement made by farmers at TT
conference in Washburn, in McLea
county, in that "in the long run Il
average farmer will be money ahea
BY shipping through local cooperative
and c~onsigning to central conpetltls
markets" typifies the sentiments
farmers at the majority Of confer
enceS.
The federal farm board and I
efforts to bring about the order
marketing Of farm products was al
commended. Resolutions were draw
up at most Of the conferences, callir
for the cooperation Of al farmers
those counties with the board.
Approximately q fifth Of the 2,5(
people present at the conference
were farm women who formulated pc
icics for home and community bette
f1cnt. In each county q peymanel
county agricultural extension commit
tee was appointed to assist the coun'
agent in carrying out the rccommel
dations made by the conference.
Conferences were held In the 70
lowing counties: Stutsman, Kidde
Burle!gh. Mclean, Mountrail. Burk
pierce, Benson and Towner.
DR. RS. Enge