Tabor City tribune., 1962-03-07
Agriculture
in
Action
Dy WALLACE PARKER
n. c. Parm Bureau Federation
TO INCREASE FARM
INCOME

INCOME
A subject dear to the hearl
of all farm people, increasing
farm income, is discussed in q
booklet recently prepared by
the North Carolina Board OF
Farm Organizations and Agri-
cultural Agencies entitled "Ex-
panding and Developing Agri-
cultural Opportunities in
! North Carolina"
#, According to the booklet,
much of North Cardinals pres
ent low farm income can b.
blamed on poor use of agri =
cultural resources. underem-
ployment in agriculture. und-
ercapitalized farms, production
not geared to best markets, and
low level of management.
AS is pointed out in the
booklet, increased production
has made possible a large in
crease III farm income i'll this
State during the past ten
years. During the past decade
we have increased our major
crop yields 80 percent, our
livestock numbers by 80 per-
cent, and our broilcr produc-
ton by 500 percent. In 1850
we ranked 30th in the ration
IN income received from live
stock and livestock products.
By 1860 we had moved up TO
10Th.
During this period of in
creasing production, farm in
come went up from S842 mill
lion in 1850 to little more
than 81 billion in 1860. On a
per farm basis, farm income
Increased from $3.50 TO S5.2s0
between 1850 ana 1860. And on
{. per capita basis. farm incom"
went from S6l2 To Sl.l5O.
These gains, according to the
farm leaders, were made while
prices were on the decline and
fam income in most states was
gong down. ThiT. they say.
proves our ability TO meet COM
petition and moe ahead
AS the farm leaders stated
II the booklet. n. G. stands az
the threshold of an agricultural,
era limited 10 a large extent
Only by our Imagination and
Willingness 10 work because we
have the land. climate. and To-
cation Tor feeding much of tie
eastern United States.
With the population growth
now taking place along the
eastern ScabOard. the oppor-
tunity tu expand our markets
ior fruits, vegetables. poultry.
eggs and livestock products is
greater than ever. By 1878. for
example. our nations antici-
pa'cd 23O million people will,
need 80 percent more red
neat. 36 percent more fruits
and vegetables. and y percent
more eggs.
Besides taking advantage ol
the opportunity 10 supply the
nearby markets ~.iih agricul;-
Lr"l products. the farm lead
erS writing III" booklet susscs.
that farm income can be i'm
proved by increasing our ag~-
Icultural marketing efficiency
and by getting more people I,
lake advantage Of the cduca-
ti"naI opportunities available.
In the area of marketing il is
suggested that markets for
presently produced cOmmodit-
les be expanded. markets for
new agricultural commodities
be created and Off-farm en-
pIoymCnt for or people be
provided as a means of pro-
Violng more opportunities for
the folks on our farms to make
d better living.
As for education. II is point
ed out that the lower cduca-
tional level home emakcrs have
lower net incomes than those
of higher levels. The relation
ship between educational at
tainment and level of living is
well established. Only 81 per-
cent Of the people who begin
schooling in n. &. receive a
high school diploma: 40 per-
cent drop out along the wa.
As the farm leaders put il. we
are in a chronological age in
which the demand for unskill-
cd labor is declining and we
can no longer afford this wast, I,
E.E L.