Milford chronicle., 1963-11-29
FENCE / TALK

IHE + FAHMEH In A BUSINESS
SUIT was the title of a book
issued a few years ago. AS I
write this, I'm facing 100 young
farmers in business suits on a
stage. The occasion is the an
nual meeting Of Southern States
Cooperative at Richmond, Va.
j. Donald Isaacs of Middle
town, as the National Jay Gee
Young Farmer Of the Year,
stands before them. He is ad-
dressing 1900 directors and
board members Of the Coopera-
tive on the future Of agriculture
for young farmers.
He reminds us that this is an
age Of revolution for farmers.
The U. S. farm plant invest
ment is $216 billion the largest
of any industry. Farm produc-
tivity has doubled since 1910.
Young farmers need better
formal training than ever before.
Cooperatives can play part in
easing the transitions. Every
thing is reaching toward a larger
scale, so much so that the farm
er needs a full program of fl
nancing with his banker to man.
age his interests.
Many of our farmers remem-
ber "Billy" Steele, general man.
ager for Southern States, who
formerly worked extensively on
Del-Mar-Va. He reminded the
delegates that the cooperative is
much concerned with the human
side Of their business, typified
most recently by the feed pro-
gram in drouth disaster areas.
Too, the cooperative is aware
of encroaching interurbia, which
gobbles up farm land. Urban
growth poses problems that call
for changes in services.
Truly, farm cooperatives have
been the pace settlers for agri-
culture. One leaves a meeting
such as this feeling that they
will continue to do so as long as
farmers wholeheartedly support
them.
THE UNSUNG HEROES of the
state and national economy are
our farmers, Gov. Ebert C.
Carvel told $50 guests at the
Delaware Farm Bureau Annual
Meeting. He was citing the tre-
mendous gains in food produc-
tion over the last few years.
Only 10 of our U. S. population
is needed for this job, whereas
40% of the people in Russia are
required.
Mr.. Carvel told OF his visits
to japan recently, where the
average farm is only two acres
in size on Honshu island. The
temperature is much like that Of
Delaware, but the fields are a
quarter of an acre In size i
about like a city building lot.
Cultivation is very Intensive.
Rice and barley are grown in
rotation; using very little ma
chinery. Despite the fact that
$50 of their people are farmers,
Japan still imports $50 Of its
food.
The Governor told the story of
one farmer suggesting to another
that he talk to his county agent
about soil testing and fertilizing
his crops so he could make more
money. "Shucks," said the num-
ber two man, "I don't farm half
as we'll now as l know how to-"
BALING CORNSTALKS left In
the field after harvesting corn
has increased this fall. There
Is a need for bedding and forage
because Of theprolonged drought.
Bailing the cornsta1ks is done
by using a mower, rake and
oaler. A fail chopper can be
used to do the moving, and a
side delivery rake will windrow
he stalks. Three or four trips |
around the cornfield will be re-
4uired, depending on whether the
oales are dropped on the ground
or loaded directly onto a wagon
from the baler.
A farm equipment manufact-
nrer recently introduced a fall
type cutter head that attaches
to a baler. This unit, which sells
for $3.50 to $500, fails the corn
stalks directly into the baler,
thus eliminating a lot of time.
- = 4 n y