Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1959-01-07

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Herein lies our challenge for
1853. True we must continue to
be masters Of production techni-
que. But more important we
must sharpen our management
tools for use as indicators point
ing the way to proper utilization
OF land, labor and capital.
We must use these tools to cut
cost, thereby maintaining or in,
creasing profit margins.
Unless we are willing to lett
other business interest integratel
our farming activities, we must
learn to use financial and organ-I
national techniques demanded
by changing times, and adapt
them to our own needs and
wishes.
There is no obstacle which,
makes il impossible for farmersI
to integrate their own operationsI
through united effort and org
anization. Sound planning an6|
financing can place farmers inI
the drivers seat of the space age|
agricultural machie.
Someone has said that farm
ing is no longer, "just a way of
life-inStead it has become al
way Of making a living" Look
how we, as farmers have come
to rely on off-farm sources for
our machines, chemicals, ferti-
lizers, cars, clothes, movies and
list of goods and services IN
heard of on farms fifty years
ago, but that staggers the mind
and pocketbook now.
We are not willing to revert to-
the good old days." so we must
adjust to the new day. We may
find that our isrtadnc oiiopnt
find that our indicators point
up some unpleasant facts, but
that does not mean that these
facts can be swept under the
carpet il we are to prosper
Consider our slowness here in
North Carolina to consolidate
land into what is considered
more economically operated size
units, or to transform present
units into more profitable land
and labor utilizers. Look at our
low ratio of capital investment
to labor. We all know that land
equipment represent tremendous
investments for farmers. It is
clear that unless these resources
are used to the best advantage
by our existing labor, they will
not return the dividends necess-
airy to support investment
In many cases we must inten-
'sify our farming methods to use
the available acres. We have too
much land idle that could be
used to produce commodities in
demand. The labor that we have
available must be used on this
land profitably if we are to in
crease our farm incomes.
Calculate for yourself the a.
mount of labor often wasted on
farms with small acreages of
basic crops and little else in
cluded in the operation to abb
serb excess seasonal labor
Then line these factors I'D a.
long side the low per capita in
come for farm labor-yes even
for low per capital incomes for
all citizens of the state-and you
come up with what / feel is part
of the answer to North Caro-
lina's agricultural future.
We must in an organized FASH
ion make the decisions that will
spell expansion, nor retraction
of our agriculture. We must
bravely make decisions that will
result in increased incomes for
the farmers who are equipped to
make the adjustments necessary
in the face Of changing economic
conditions.
We must make decisions that
will mean the retention of con-
troll of agriculture in the hands
OF the farmer, not those of out
side firms, government, nor any
other agency that will not rapid
ly and accurately reflect needs
and wishes of farm people.
These are decisions that we
will be making in 1859 and other
years that will affect our agri-
cultural future for years to
come. 1 hope that we collectively
Will make wise decisions.