The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-09-04
The
of the F. u. T. A.
He Wants to Know
Damaged Durum
Calling Washington
Nail That One
Can't Be One Sided

You have doubtless heard-as this
columnist has-an otherwise right.
thinking farmer say, when he was
asked to join the Farmers Union: "Il
don't get me anythingi" He wants
to know why he should pay $3.50 a
year for dues when there is nothing
in it for him. He knows, of course
that members of Labor unions pay
that amount or more month in dues
and they seem to find it to their adj
vantage. Actually the Farmers I'm
ion has done as much-if not more
for the farmer and for its members
than any Labor union has done for its
members, and at fraction of the
cost. Right now there are two cases
in point to sustain this fact
Durum producers of the Northwest
were being plagued with new fungus
disease and by adverse wet weather
which caused the grain to sprout. Be
cause of this condition much of the
durum could not be accepted for
government loan. Under the require
ments of the CCC., to be acceptable,
durum had to have not more than
79o of these kernels damaged by fun
gus and by sprouting So the big
boys took advantage of the situation
and were buying up this durum that
was not protected by government loan
at a price far below it's value Thus
the market price of No. hard amber
durum at Minneapolis, containing 1919
damaged kernels, is "a to IS cents.
But the loan value of that same No.
durum when it has but 7%o damaged
kernels is 78 cents. How come? The
buyers take and mix the cheap grain
with better grade and make nice pick
ings.
First to hear of this state of affairs
was the Farmers Union Grain Ter
minal Association. Immediately our
Mr.. Thatcher called the Department of
Washington, D. c., and
asked for modification in the loan
value requirements. Then-so that
no farmer would sell at such a heavy
Ioss-he sent out to five radio stations
in North Dakota - Bismarck, Fargo
Grand Forks, Minot and Devils Lake
this message to durum producers:
1--WE believe that, within a day or
.wo, the department is likely to mod |
fly the loan program on No. durum
wheat to include as much as 1919 |
damaged kernels, where moisture con-
ent does not exceed 141a%o. We be-
ieve it would be wise for farmers
Who qualify in the AAA program NOT |
70 SELL such disqualified durum I'M
il the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ure has made re-determination of
he loan program ON durum wheat"
That was fair warning to farmers
his change. 1t will injure no durum
wner to wait day or two, to see if
he change is made, which when it
ONES will mean Ice more bushel
Or No. 4 having damaged kernels
Oh, yeah-the Farmers Union isn't ,
ding anything for the farmers? Next .
me you hear that one-nail it with -,
ne goods In fact, the Farmers I'm i,
IN was the ONLY organization that !
I'D appeal to the Department of Agri- :
ulture! The grain trade remained :,
eathly still. 1T had found some "easy
in durum and it was going !
the dish.
Another instance, of a similar kind, !
as the effort made by the F. u. G. T. :
to protect the farmer who wanted :
store his wheat and could find no !,
evator storage. Immediately a rush 9
grain flooded the terminals = the !,
rmers were warned. They were ad- r
sed that the terminals were becom- :
G congested, that serious condi- .
on had come with possibly a railroad \
nbargo on wheat shipments, and ;,
ey were told to hold their wheat
the farm and store it in any avail
lie building or shelter until the rush II
wheat to Minneapolis and Duluth u
ID died down. If the farmer "
tipped now and could not get storage =
he would be forced by demurrage y
argos to sell at price Is cents -
low the loan value. That advice, =
followed, would save every wheat y
oducer plenty of money. 1t was for pi
st that purpose that the Farmers u
lion was organized. That is the III
al meaning of cooperation and all lie
at is needed to make it effective -
d efficient is the cooperation of 81
3 farmer with the marketing or ~
nizations he owns and operates. "a
operation is like reciprocity-it Sd
at be one sided. sc
A