Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1917 — STUDIES OF MARKETING [ARTICLE]

STUDIES OF MARKETING

Office of Markpts and Rural Organ! zation Reports on Results of Year's Work. c The advantages of cooperation in the marketing of farm products are emphasized in the annual report of the Office of Markets and Rural Organization of the Agricultural Department. "The .conclusion seems warranted says the report, “that in communities where cooperation is practically applied to the farmer’s business, the results obtained are far more satisfactory than those secured by individualmethods.” It is estimated that farmers’ cooperative marketing and purchasing organizations will transact this year a total business amounting to more than >1,400,000,000. Agricultural cooperation in the United States is, therefore, far more prevalent than it generally believed, but it is not yet upon a sufficiently strong business basis. For this reason the Office of Markets has studied the various methods employed by these associations and has worked to devlse means by which these methods can be perfected. The studies also have included the prevailing methods of marketing perishable products—cotton, grain, cotton seed, live stock, and animal products. Studies have also been made of city markets In order to secure in this way information which may open up outlets for farm products. In this connection the report calls attention to the experimental work in distributing timely market information concerning perishable products. An effort has been made to keep producers informed of arrivals and conditions in the large markets and, on the other han-1, tp keep dealers informed of shipments from the important producing sections. Strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, and cantaloupes were the crops covered in this way during the past season. There is evidence, says the report, that as a result of this service, distribution has been improved, glut ted markets have been prevented to some extent, total shipments from several districts have been greater than they would have been otherwise, and that large bodies of growers have received accurate and disinterested information concerning prevailing conditions in competing producing areas and in distant markets. Several Important newspapers have cooperated in this work by publishing these reports, and there is reason to believe that others will publish them when the service is extended to cover products that are of particular interest to their readers. The work of encouraging the propex preparation of products for market has been continued. The ultimate aim of this campaign"of education Is the national standardization of market grades and also packages or containers.

Investigation into the problems <>f transportation and storage has been continued with a view to determining the causes of the great loss of-food-stuffs between the producer and the consumer. Experimental shipments jyy parcel post and express were maae during the year with many kinds of fruits and berries, lettuce, milk, but ter, eggs, sirup and vegetables.