Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1917 — FOR PROFITABLE CROP PRODUCTION [ARTICLE]

FOR PROFITABLE CROP PRODUCTION

Expert Tells How Government In Its Department of Agriculture is Helping the® Farmer. r ~ A review of the most significant steps that have been taken in the last few years to benefit the economic condition of the farmer is contained in an article by Carl Vrooman, assistant secretary of agriculture, published in the'forthcoming yearpook of the department. In this article Mr. Vrooman points out that for 50 years the U. S. department of agriculture has been studying how to increase’production on the farms, but it is only very recently that stress ihas been laid on a study of the problem of making that production profitable. Prominent in legislation was the creation, in 1913, of the Office of Markets and Rural Organization. The creation of this office, says Mr. Vroo 1 - man, “was an innovation of epochmaking significance.” This office representsthe first attempt on the part of the governfnent to remedy through scientific investigation the waste and extravagance in our present methods of distribution and disposing of farm products. - . • In addition to the creation of this office, a number of laws have been passed which are characterized as being of importance to the farmer. Perhaps the most important one of these is “that financial magna charta of the farmer,” the farm loan act. This, declares the assistant secretary, “is the first great financial measure ever passed by congress primarily in the interest- of the farmer It will furinsh the farmer with those fundamental necessities that he has been asking for, voting for, and praying for, during the past half century.” These fundamental necessities are defined as: • . hirst. ©Available capital m sufficient qualities for the farmer’s legitimate needs. Second. Loans on longer time and easier terms of payment. Third. Lower rate of interest Another measure cited in this connection is the bonded warehouse act. This legislation was passed in response 'to a demand of the farmers for a mechanism that would enable them to borrow money more easily and at a lower rate of interest on stored crops. It permits a farmer to place produce in a bonded warehouse and secure a receiyt for it. On this receipt he can easily borrow money, for it represents gilt-edged security. The risk which in the old days the banker took in lending money, even to farmers with good credit, is eliminated by this method and the rates of interest therefore lowered. In addition, the farmer now has a much larger field in which to negotiate,his loans than in the days when he was practically limited to those bankers who knew him personally. The grain standard act is a step »n the direction of national efficiency and national economic preparedness. Its effect will be markedly beneficial on our foreign commerce in grain. In summing up the effect of these other laws, Mr. Vrooman says, “It is clear, I think, that as a result of this splendid program of constructive legislation, a new agricultural epoch has begun.”