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

Chimney, Virginia Commission
er of Agriculture, before the Vir-
ginia State Dairymen' AssOcia-
ton Convention, at Hotel John
Marshall, in Richmond. Jan. "a.
1868. We received this COPY
through the courtesy of O. B..
Blair, manager of Farmers Co.
operative, in FarmvilIe, who at
tended the meeting. and highly
recommends that this speech be
read by every citizen in the ma
tom
am delighted to have this
opportunity to meet with you at
your seth annual convention. Al
though this is the first time
have spoken to you as a group
since l became Commissioner
see very few unfamiliar faces.
1t is my pleasure today to talk
to you about a subject which is
very close to my heart-and one
OF vital concern to all of us in
volved in the expanding industry
of agriculture.
In error, my topic is listed on
your program as The Nobel
Profession. It should read 1.-THE
Noble Profession" To you and
l, who have been associated with
agriculture all or most of our
lives, it has always been a noble
profession.
There have been times when
agriculture has no. enjoyed its
f1ghtful image. And in som e
quarters this is still true today.
Something is wrong when
American agriculture is one of
the biggest success stories in the
history of man, and yet tn e
favorite American urban sport
IS kicking the farmer in the
pants.
Something is wrong when the
average American spends about
20 per cent of his income for
food, compared to 81 per cent
100 years ago. and there is a
cry from the uniformed about
the high food prices.
Incidentally, the Russian fami-
ly spends about 60 per cent of
his income for food.
something is wrong when each
American farmer produces
enough to feed % Americans and
tour persons in other nations.
and yet the mere mention of ag-
l1cluture today is Immediately
translated into farm problem. )"
Yes, something is wrong.
I do not believe that the farm
story has been told positively.
Too often the voice of agricul
ture has been negative and de-
fenSive.
Today there is an intensified
effort, though beIated, to do
something about the image of
modern-day agriculture. This
positive approach is being adj
Vanced at all levels of govern
ment. national, state and local.
1t is now our responsibility
yours and mlne-to set the rec
ords straight with facts.
Good sense and a Willingness
to face the facts with positive
promotion action reflected the
positive approach by the dairy
industry last year.
Dalrylng received what seem
ed like more than its share of
a verse criticism throughout
1862. Mix was the target in
terms of fats in the diet. atomic
fallout, pestlcides and a variety
VI otllef ways.
There was much written and
said on these subjects. Some
were true and some were mac
curate. It is credit to tn
dairy industry that it displayed
the courage TO meet charge aft
er charge with facts and not
Wild counter charges.
BY calm investigation and re-
search and precautionary meas
ures. where needed. the industry
retained the confidence of the
American buying public.
Two years ago l made an ad-
dress before the USDA State
Conference of ASCS Committee
men and County Office Man
ayers. My topic was The
Choice is Ours"
In this speech l pointed OH.
the problems which faced agrj
culture in Virginia. and the chal-
lenge and opportunity it offered
men involved in the industry of
agriculture. &
Many of these problems are
still with us. There is no high
road, no short cut to salvation
for agriculture. 1t viii be a
straight and narrow path, and
we must travel it one step at a
time.
But ! do say this. The chal
lenges and opportunities offered
by agriculture are increasing.
In spite of the fact that there
has been an increased exodus
from the farm during the last
ten years, there is an increased
demand for skilled and cducat-
ed men on the farm.
The man involved IL agrclIl
tlre today must be an agluno
mist, a veterinarian, 4, chemist.
and entOmnlog1St. 4 nutrition OK
mort ,p cncipnor aud .,hot-, M