4— Lancaster Farming. Saturday, January 10, 1959
Editorial - -
We had almost —not quite—manag
ed to forget the season for new farm pro
gram ideas is upon us, when the first
"new" suggestion was brought to our
attend on. This one being proposed by a
Universty of Chicago economist, D Gale
Johnson.
We haven’t obtained a lull outline of
this proposal, but here are some parts
and our comments.
It contains six basic points for cur
ing U. S. agricultural ills. Excuse our
cynicism, but we have an automatic dis
trust for any and all programs for an in
credibly complex farm problem, which
would erase the problem with six basic
points. Maybe the problem ’s simple to
cm economist but it still involves all
plant, animal and phys'cal sciences, hu
unan relations, politics, social and econo
mic factors and even f ncludes implica
tions dealing w'th international politicsj
Postwar agricultural programs are at
iault, Johnson claims. They have increas
ed farm output and governmental costs
whTe reducing net farm income. (This
thesis ignores such factors as World War
31 and Korean War programs, when h gh
■farm production was a major military
weapon. It also ignores non-governmem
improvements in farm research, commu
nications, equipment and philosophy. It
ignores private industry demands for in
creased farm production to furnish need
ed industrial raw materials. It ignores
natonal and international inflation; the
domestic unemployment problem; auto
mation, and a number of other influenc
ing factfcrs.)
We should step ALL programs which
increase farm output and wh'ch cannot
be justified on a basis of providing bene
iits worth what they cost. (All right pro
lessor, where de we start. Shall we scrap
the extendon service's work? It costs
money and increases produchon. The
conservation programs? After all we do
not need surplus" land and water re
sources tins year, so let's quit trying to
hold on to them. Supervt sed farm loans
of the Farmers Home Administration
might be said to cost money and it they
are succeed ng in them purpose, they in
crease production. Why try to hold in
telligent, respons ble young families on
the land where they can lead productive
and valuable lives? The REA? After all
it costs money and only opens entire new
markets for countless manufacturers, mer
chants and labor But then, there is 11-
tle question that electrfied farms are
more productive Of course, one problem
with both FHA and REA programs is that
they pay ther own way and return a
tidy profit to the govemmen I —a very rare
happening for federal programs.)
Facing this point real sbcally. It oi
lers very little F ist, there are too many
poltical "pork barrels" nvolved Second,
these programs, winch result m greater
production are pnmarly designed lor far
more important results Thrrd, -without
any one ol these "costly” programs, the
'J S would have a different larm prob
lem food shortage. Four'h, new fed
eral services can prove value compara
ble to tnat of the USDA research, service,
education and guidance and admin stra
tive bureaus Fifth, ■‘hese "surplus-creat
ing programs" cost relatively little in
No Friday Meetings Slated
More than 120 meetings, sales, judging events, contests
and banquets are included in the 1959 Farm Show schedule
A schedule of educational meetings of farm organiza^
tions shows that ior the first time in many years, no groups
liave planned meetings for Friday, final day of Farm Show
Week
The Farm Show program includes a warning that Har-
nsburg has instituted a new traffic system in the down-town
area Many streets are one-way and special pedestrian
lights have been installed at cross-walks,
themselves and as we have said, several
pay their own way and then some.
Johnson soys C€C surplus stocks
should be withdrawn from the U. S. mar
ket and disposed of through foreign aid. nibio Material: Mark 10 17-31
(This is by far the best suggestion of his national Kcadm S : Matthew s 10-23,
program. Especially, if the cost is tabula
ted in national defense for foreign ad
expenses, rather then being loaded on
the farmer's bdek. Food, technical tran
ing and guidance and sensible aid pro
grams are more valuable in the "cold
war" than any other weapon)
T AST WEEK’S study was about
Johnson cdso colls for a five-year f that happened; tins
J , , . . week-the story is about a muacle
' transition period of lowering price sup- that dldn>t happen This miracle —.
ports, rather than suddenly doing away had happened — would have
with them, allowing fanners time to ad- been more astonishing than the
just to lower prices. Along wife this successful-one. It would have been
would bo a pro*™. sp s ed tbo £ £££2*
fer of labor from farm to non-tarm iobs. taJkmg a b o ut it. '
(There are currently 3Vz milhon jobless The big news ,W
Americans Flooding the labor market would have been ',|j m lE|
with unskilled form workers won’t help that a ri S h man ‘ §
them. Continuing programs’ des.gned ; rf. J
ulumately curtail farmer spending wont Josing his
money ||g
open new industrial jobs. The only way or getting it -4 ,Hi
to move a "dyed-m-the-wooT' farmer stolen, but just jPaj
from the land is to prove to him over a b l’ giving it
period of years to he can't survive. The “f news . be hind-the
end result means decreasing farm spena- news W o U id have been rea i
mg, requiring fewer farm supplies with a miracle. It would have meant the
host of bankrupt farmers )o nmg the absolute changing of a man’s mind.
ranks of the unemployed. What would have to ha PP en to the
rich man’s mind would be far more
Logically, if farmers receive reason- °£ a wonder than what happened
able incomes from their products, they too™^ 3-11(1 more im P°r
will buy manufactured goods, offering
new investment and labor outlets. Pro- Leave AH
giams to produce a prosperous national But those are all only if’s, Might
economy—where be'ter farmers may buy " Would-have-beens
. n i , , , ~ The fact is, the rich man did not
out their neighbors and permit them to change his mmd> he held on to
move off ihe form smoothly, without what he had. He wasn’t happy
hardship and glutting the labor market—about it at all; “he went away in
would seem sounder than efforts to great distress’’ as one modem
"push" farmers out of business. translation puts it. And Jesus who
watched him go, must have felt an
There's another point. Price supports even deeper regret, for Jesus loved
wouldn't be used to influence the level of noteasytoseesome
, . , T .,,, ~ , one you love choose the road to
form prices. (With this one we re writing darkness rather than light.
for his complete program How you can The yoU ng man—for he was
establish a pr.ce support level without it young and influential as well as
influencing prices is beyond us. We re-rich —had asked Jesus What he
reived our information on his program ° ught . do “ mherlt ete ™al
~ j , , , ~ , life.” That was his way of asking
second-hand and just hope the go-be- the questlon that comes m many
tween made a mistake. If he didn t, Dr f orms ; How shall I get ught with
Johnson did.) God? How shall I be saved? How
Johnson emphasizes his program can I find life’s meaning-and live
would take ot least five to ten years, by it? Where is the road to Light?
, How can I fulfill my highest des
(Fxve to ten years seems a reasonable
period for wrecking the SCS, ASC, FHA,
REA, extension service and USDA—and.
ocmkrupting many of the nation's farmers. T
From here, this would appear to be the
goal of the Johnson Plan.
Which brings us to one last point.
The Johnson Plan's appearance
■nerely serves to illustrate once agan
that there is only one person who can
solve the farm problem. That person is,
—the American Farmer.
Economists, sociologists, politicians,
ustorians and editors can't do it. When
the American farmer gets sick and tired—
enough - - of losng up to 80 per cent
of the market value of his products, be
cause of a one or two per cent "surplus" TO PLANT CERTIFIED SEEDS —ln the production <■■■
m produchon, A workable program will any crop it is best to start with the best seed availali
come forth. With other kinds of seeds a mixture of varieties may ’ |
secured and result in lower yields of lower quality croi
Until then, we will see suggestions Order seeds early so that the variety may be secured T
for price supports designed to "not" in- 1959 Agronomy Guide available from our office is strong r.
fluence prices. recommended as a help in all farm crops ’
Lancaster Farming mam in a pile and leach away is to be discouraged. If I 1 y
Lancaster county’s own Farm is to be done, then a manure pit is suggested so that 11
We *k |y liquids may be retained and much 'of the fertilizer va 1
Penna saved. In spite of increased use of commercial fertihzt i
Duke st the value 01 barnyard manure is to be recognized as a d(1
Lancaster, Penna mte farm asset. ;
Phone - IjT.iuw.ster :
Express 4-3047
Dan MtG-rtw, Editor.
K Dnector aTTusintss d Man-i’pe? ri by keeping a good set of farm records, many succc’ 1
Dfata’-iisiied* November 4, ins s ful faimers have found this quite essential These fat’J
Published every Saturday by account books are available through our Extension Oft ]
Lancaster Farming, T/incu et< r Pi , , , , ~ , , „
Dntored as 2nd class matter at 3t a normal cost and we recommend this record keeping
Lanc.isti r, Pa under Act of Mar one of the most important farm management pracho
addltlona! cn ' ly - Vlount With production costs mounting in most agricultural ent
Subscription Rates S 2 per vear prises it is very helpful to have farm records to reveal t
shlcentsears5 hI cents ears 55 Sinffle copy Prlce leaks in your business and to learn of the phase in the p'
AlSthe Way
Lesson for January 11, 1959
The Time . . .
TO LEARN VALUE OF FORAGE GROK;
A new Forage Testing Service is bei i
started at Penn Stale University; this w \
be conducted similar to the complete s(J
testing program The farmer is to secuS
a forage tost carton at our Extension Off: I
and a special drill with which to colli
the sample. The forage is then sent A
Penn State for the test Information on In
actual nutritive value of the hay, silaij
pasture, or some grains will be returned 3
the farmer Additional del ails may be
.ured at the County Extension Office. 1
Max Smith
TO CONSERVE FERTILIZER VALUE- IN MANURE
The practice of allowing any kind of farm manure to i
TO KEEP FARM ACCOUNTS Start the new year
gram making the greatest return.
The young man’s friend, t
have thought that question]
less; for he was an extraorJ
good young man. He told J Cs !
Jesus did not doubt him, gS
had been keeping the Ten]
mandments ever since he cJ
member. But Jesus said, “yJ
one thing." Only one—bul v ''
terrific one thing! Get rid of j*
own, Jesus said, give it to th* i
then come follow me. -
Follow Me
Perhaps the young man fa
hear that last sentence ia
could hear was "leave alii
made a mistake that is nj
this very day by people wja
away from being Christians ji
is a Christian now an old ma t a
for more than the first sixtyg
of his life refused to be a fl
tian. He resisted all that
- of his family could say to hifl
reason was af least an honci
He knew that the way he m s ||
money—or to be more precS
knew that the way he tried tol
money—namely by gambling!
not a Christian way of IrvirJ
was not going to pretend tc|
Christian and a gambler to;.
tiouble was that m his mind I
a Christian was chiefly notJ
something he very much et|
doing, at the racetrack or oiJ
green tables m a club
long as you think of the ChrJ
life as a giving-up, a cuttu!|
of some habit or possessor!
you cherish, you never do jJ
right slant. The heart of the(J
tian life, what makes it -3
while, is in that "Follow mt 1
Major Operation
Would Jesus say to even',
“Sell all you have and give*,;
poor” ? Is it out of the questri
a man or woman with mo”|
“inherit eternal life” ? Is a
something evil in itself ? This|
hardly be true, otherwise g
would not have said to gm?
the poor, but to throw it
lake Jesus counted smos i
friends many persons with Jg
eity, and this was the on!i *
he ever advised to get rid o: J
bit of it It is very likely
money was a kind of babjs|
for this young man —hauij
enough at fiist but destined I j
into a roai mg killer Two iney
have the same disease, a J
operation may be the only cul
one of them The maw point i;
i.d of whatever keeps joife
going all the way with Clma
<B''sed on outlines copjil’-lii
I 101 l ( { (‘ill's * u I< tB
•'I Council cn ll«o Cin J
in lie U. f>. A. liJo|
ur rj Press Service ) *
eo,-
BY MAX SMITH