The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-10-29
100000 BUSINESS
HANDLED BY FARMER
CO-OPS HERE IN 1929
LAB Redwood County Farmers
Marketed Through Groups,
Census Reveals
1909 RURAL TELEPHONES
More Farm Cars Than Farms
Reported; S750,000 Spent
for Machinery

Cooperative marketing of farm
products has become a S2,OO0,0OO IN
dustry in Redwood county according
to statistics released this week by the
bureau of census at Washington, d
C.
In 1929, the year for which the
statistics are compiled, Redwood coun.
ty farmers marketed products valued
at $1,947,S57 through cooperative
companies. A total of 1,493 farms
reported sales through such organiza-
tions while 271 farms reported pur-
chases worth $48,151 through similar
groups. Products on farms reporting
cooperative sales were valued at
$5,119,586 that year.
Renville county farmers sold double
the amount of products through CO.
operative groups while Brown coun-
tvs total exceeds Redwood's by a
shade and Yellow Medicines total OF
products sold was slightly higher.
A wide range of items is covered in
the report. In 1929 total of 1868
farmers lived on graveled roads while
298 reported residences on improved
dirt roads and COL resided on unim-
proved dirt roads. Since that time
pavement has been built past the
doors of many and some of the other
roads have been improved.
LOCI Tractors Reported
The total of 2,513 farms reported
2,919 automobiles and 354 motor
trucks. Tractor farming in the coun-
ty has progressed to such an extent
that 1,O61 tractors were reported.
Two hundred twenty-three electric
motors and 1908 gas engines also are
recorded.
Telephones had been installed in
1909 homes two years ago while 284
reported electric lights and 224 run
ming water in the home. One hundred
thirty-eight farms on power lines
paid $685. for light and power &C
cording to census reports.
Almost a quarter of million dol
lars was expended for farm machin-
cry and automobiles that year while
$625, 295 in cash was paid for farm
labor exclusive of homework and an
other 1921, 208 was spent for hay,
grain and mill feed. Fertilizer cost
farmers $3.50.
The movement of the farm pOpula-
tion during this period was decidedly
toward the farm, according to the re-
port. Ninety-two persons left the
farm to live in cities or villages while
1859 moved to the farms from cities
and towns.
Increase in Tenancy
Meanwhile an increase in tenancy
of farms is reported. Forty-eight
per cent of the farms were tenant
operated in 1880 compared with 44.5
per cent in 1925 and 40.8 per cent in
1920.
A total of 1852 farms were operat-
ed by the owner in the county in 1929,
according to the report and of these,
4S8 were free from mortgages. Eight
hundred and nine reported mortgages
and 55 made no report making the
percentage of mortgaged farms at al
most 60 per cent.
The bulletin shows only the taxes
paid on farms operated by the full
owners. Such farm lands were valued
at $15,65O,113 and paid taxes totalling
1924 $50, exclusive of drainage assess
ments. Taxes on land and buildings
only amounted to $212, 146 or $1.33
per acre on the average. This was
1876 per cent of the value at that
time.
Cereal Crop Large
Field, garden and orchard crops
produced in the county during 1929
were valued at $s,O67,745 of which
$6,4O5,4 93 was for grains, $969, 284
for hay and forage and $108, 423 for
potatoes and other vegetables.
Domestic animals, including poul-
try and bees, in the county were
valued at $5,7s2,46 Despite the big
increase in the number of tractors,
horses owned in the county were
valued at 81, 263, 689, and mules added
$685. 04 to the beast Of burden total.
Cattle were valued at more than
the total of hogs, poultry and sheep.
The figures listed are $685. 23 for
cattle. $1,357 1862 for swine, $288, 062
for poultry and 63,625 for sheep and
lambs.
Dairy Products Valuable
Dairy products marketed in the
county were valued at $1,309,883
while eggs brought $59S,926 and
poultry, $530,884. Wool sold for
$11, O19 and honey for $4,308.
Miss Grace Ward came here from
Minneapolis Saturday and was the
guest of her mother, Mrs. Mary Ward