UNPROFITABLE FARMING.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1211, 28 February 1922, Page 4

UNPROFITABLE FARMING.

THE New Zealand farmer has his tribulations to-day, but he is not alone in them. Recent cable messages have announced that whereas in January, 1&21, the food exports of the United States, totalled 82,000,000 dollars, in January, 1922, they were down to 33,000,000 dollars. The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, according to American newspapers, states that of the 6,000,000 farmers of the United States 1,500,000 would be insolvent if compelled to meet their Obligations to-day. Kansas farmers have been receiving 80 to 90 cents for wheat that cost 1 dollar 37 cents to produce, and corn that cost 60 cents to grow sells for 20 to 25 cents. No such agricultural depression has been previously known in American history; that, at least, is the verdict of Mr Wallace, United States Secretary of Agriculture. The result of these conditions is the development of a farmers' bloc in Congress. Among other things, this new group in politics wants the American meat packers controlled, cold storage regulated, reductions made in freight rates, and " more flexible personal credit accommodations " from the 'banks; and it wishes the restrictions of the antitrust law removed from farmers' cooperative associations so that they can form a national marketing organisation. This latter would appear to ibe New Zealand's meat pool writ large.