The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-02-08

lite.
New knowledge and new ma
chimes have multiplied our pro-
ductivity many fold.
Knowledge begets knowledge.
Therefore the end of this revolu-
tionary advance is rot in sight
Opportunities for further prog
ress have never been greater.
1t is a fact that of all the
scientists in the recorded his
tory of man 80 per cent of them
are living today
This vast knowledge reser-
voir is supplying our country
and the field of agriculture with
chronological advances never
thought possible ten years ago.
And yet. there are too many
of our farm families who lack
the vision to see the future in
agriculture for their sons and
daughters.
| There are some who feel that
an agricultural education is
waste of both time and money.
! am here today to help bury
these false impressions.
J AS your Commissioner of Ag-
riculture, 1 deal each day with
the different phases of the in
dustry. I know of the oppor-
tunities offered to the young
man today.
1t is true that because of
science and machinery fewer
persons are needed to operate
the farms. But those who sur
vive on the farm Of the future
will have to be of the highest
caliber. They must know how to
apply the science and they must
know how to operate the new
est machines.
The allied businesses of the
industry of agriculture are like
a blctter which are waiting TO
absorbc persons with agricul-
tural backgrounds. These in
clude the seed and feed industry.
the farm equipment industry and
many others.
l am proud to stand before
any group and say that my par
ents were farmers. And that
was reared and worked on my
family S farm And l thank
God that my studies at VPI
We're in the field of agriculture.
Yes, agriculture is a noble
profession. 1t is to me. and to
almost every person involved in
it. And it is involving more
people each day.
Our industry of agriculture to-
day embraces not only our
farms. but businesses which fur
msh farm production supplies
ard services. and the businesses
which assemble. process, dis
tribute and retail farm products.
We are challenged to become
better informed about our new
concept of agriculture. We are
challenged to recognize that to-
days agriculture is modern
and complex industry and no
segment of Virginia s economy
goes untouched by its impact.
We must accept these chal-
lenges. We must tell our story.
We need good public relations.
My view of public relations may
differ from Madison Avenue. but
it is this: Good public relations
must be built on a firm founda-
ton of being informed ourselves, |
and then informing others.
The job of public relations is
not to make a bad thing good.
but to take a basically good
thing and give it proper ex-
posture SO others are m ade
aware of its advantages.
In agriculture we have a sue
cess story, but too few people
know it. We must make others
aware of its advantages.
First of all we must realize
that we are minority group
OF about eight per cent of tine
population. AS a minority group
the farm sector does not have
a united voice strong enough to
combat public which is con
fused about the real farm story.
Therefore, 1t is up to lis as III |
dlNdualS to tell our story in a
positive manner. We should get
the straight facts across TO our
neighbors and business a.ssoci- |
ateS.
Since the best language most
of us can understand is the dol
lar sign. let's start with the con-
sumner S pocketbook.
Let us examine the dollar the
consumer spends for his food
budget.
On the average, the farmers
share of that dollar today is 81
cents-the lowest in history.
In this day of raising income,
the farmers cash net income has
decreased by something like
IS per cent from what it was
ten years ago.
During this same period I'll,
farmers total farm production
casts are Up about 80 PER cent
Ihase are facts established bv
government Statlslic1anS
/ At the chfckout co,lnter of any
o1pelrnarkct. it is impossible to
MISS the groanS and raised eve
broWS as the housewife reads