The people's voice., 1954-10-01

these F(As-Iocai co-operatIves to
make and collect production loans
have limited funds and usually
do not reach beginning farmers
or provide intermediate credit for
longer-run farm development
The Farmers Home Administration
although it also has had quite linn
tied funds-has had considerable ex-
perience in making direct long-term,
amortized loans for farm develop
ment and enlargement accompanied
by some supervision and educational
assistance to the borrower. In addi-
ton, Buck points out, since 1947 this
agency has tapped private funds in
insurance companies and banks with
an insured mortgage program -
though in relatively small amounts.
The committee suggests an increase
in Farmers Home Administrator
funds as an additional means for pro-
viding more intermediate credit for
beginning farmers.
The recommended program for in
creased credit from private and pub
lie agencies would need to go hand
finland with one providing more ade-
quate educational and advisory as
sistance. Although the public is al
ready making substantial invest
ment in education for farmers, ac-
cording to the report the present pro-
grams do not encourage wide par
ticipation of young farmers and
homemakers and do not meet their
central need for direct teaching in
farm organization and management.
MANY young operators have had no
training at all in even such elementary
phases of management as planning
landuse program, laying out a crop
rotation system for a few years ahead,
setting up a fertilizer program, plan
ming combination of livestock en-
terprises best adapted to the farm,
keeping and analyzing simple farm
accounts, or even scheduling daily,
weekly, or seasonal work." Mr.. Buck
reports. Instead of providing such
training, much of the current public
investment is for technical educa-
ton on new or improved farm prac-
tices and methods, and there is a
tendency, he notes, to work with the
better established operators on larg-
er farms who have higher level of
knowledge and more capital than
the beginners.
To fill serious gap between ad- |
visory services for experienced farm
ers and youngsters in the All pro-
gram, the committee recommends that
the Land-Grant Colleges, collaborat-
ing with the Soil Conservation Dis
tricts, local Agricultural Conservation
Programs Service staffs, local bank |
ers, Farmers Home Administration
personnel, and others, develop as soon
as possible a new program to provide
assistance during the
farmers first years as operators. Ex
oerience with a few private and pub
ic programs of direct teaching to
improve the organization and man
agement of farms, according to the
'eport, would provide useful guides
% techniques to be followed in a more
extensive program. The committee
'ays that such program, tried out
in a few counties in each
state, not only should emphasize self
lelp but also should provide for turn
'ver-a provision lacking in a num-
'er of present activities that
'ver period of years all beginning
armers have a chance to participated.
t also recommends that private banks
make greater efforts to establish
arm advisory services in conjunction
With loans to farm families-a con-
tructive step already being taken by
ONE banks.
NPA Agriculture Committee mem !
ers signing the policy statement on
eginning farmers included: Donald
J. Murphy, chairman of NPA, editor
VILLAGES FARMER and IOWA
homestead; John A. Baker, leg
slative secretary, National Farmers
Tnion, Washington, D. c.; C. Clyde
chairman, Department of