Corporate Farms Termed
Threat To American Way
Br CHARLES BOND
(Reprinted from
The Northampton County New*)
The trend toward corporate
farm* is the biggest threat today to
agriculture. Commissioner of Ag
riculture L. Y. (Stag) Ballentine
tuXd a farmers night group at
Ahoskie Rotary Ciub recently.
He ventured further that the
trend to consolidate and merge
and create monopolies is the worst
threat to our way of life.
said }here are live million
farms in the Untied States, it
which three million are subsist
ence farm* producing only about
10 per cent of the total produc
tion, About 100.000 are corporate
farms and produce 26 per cent of
the toti^ production. The other
1.B million farms are the more sub
stantial family type farms and pro
duce the other 64 per cent of the
total production.
He said there is going to be
more curtailment and it behooves,
landlords, and tenants to/do a bet
ter job of living at home He cited
these figures:
Of North Carolina farm families
16 per cent raise no vegetables, 40
per rent have no cowa, 17 per 'cent
have no laying hens, 62 per cent
have no beef cattle, and 48 per
cent have no swine.
Agriculture, he said, needs to
consider a program of distribution
and build the soil to produce more
economically. And he added Amer
ican agriculture is entitled to the
kind of support that will support
farmers' prlees at 90 per cent of
parity.
"If you bring the agricultural
Income up to the level of the mini
,mum industrial wage, you will see
the biggest upsurge in business in
Ahoskie, Murfreesboro and other
towns that you will have seen in
many moons."
Mr. Ballentine, a member of the
agricultural policy committee of i
the U. S Chamber of Commerce,
has recently had opportunity to i
visit and confer with agricultural I
people all over the United States
and he says candidly "Agriculture
Is in a bad way."
He thinks part of it is due to <
lack of understanding and that
getting together of town and farm
folk such 'as at the Rotary farmers
night might enhance the under
standilg of the other's problems.
"Of course." he said, "12-cent
hogs are a serious problem for
those who grow hogs All farm
prices are serious when they don't
represent the cost plus a fair profit
The 22 million farmers make up
13 per cent of the population of
the United States down from 25
per cent of the population in 1929.
The farmers In 1929 were doing as
much business as in 1954.
Mr. Ballentine said there are
some who say farmer* must be do
ing all right because farm land
is so high, and if they aren't, why
don't they get up and leave?
Non-agricultural dollars, he said,
control the price of land. a%d a
farmer Just doesn't get up and
leave the land because be Is in an
economic squeeze.
He also referred lo a published
statement that since agriculture
represent* only 4 per cent of the
total production, this country
could get along without agricul
ture. But Ballentine said the
American farmers produce 65 per
cent of the domestic raw mate
rials In industry, and are making
some of the finest citizens as they
Have in years gone by.
But Ballentine said he can't
see why all the people are not
concerned that the agricultural
economy stays in line as the
stress that agriculture gels in
economically is a forerunner of
serious problems in other seg
ments of the economy. Agricul
ture can build or sustain the over
all buying power. The problem is
enabling the American farmer to
produce and market efficiently and
effectively agricultural commodi
ties sufficient to satisfy the trade,
domestic and foreign, and enable
the farmer to share commensurate
ly with other economic segments.
He said tile seven billion dollar
value of agriculture surpluses ac
tually is only a 90-day supply and
that the surplus is being handled
in such a confused way and with
so much of it In such few com
modities that they are being al
lowed to tear down the whole price
and economic structure of agri
culture. If everyone was on the
12.000 Income level, there would
be needed $800,000,000 more in
Ihe food basket.
Ballentine cited the 11 per cent "
production Increase asked of a
Farmers in 1942 and a 10 per cent t
overall increase (14 per cent on a
field crops) In 1948 "You just can't t
cut that off like water," he said.
"You will recall that the steel
and automobile industries closed
down and took all production away
when there was an over-produc
tion in manpower. That cost more
than the agricultural surpluses will
cost in several generation*:"
"It's hard to make the molasses
.. ....... . ...? " . ? ? i .. ?j
What are the earmark* of a
aucceaaful seed producer?
A fairly large percentage of
farmers who attempt to grow
certified field seed or high qual
ity uncertified seed, are rela
tively unsuccessful because of
the high standard* and extra
care tiiat are necessary.
In the first place, he must be
a good farmer. His crop rota
tions' and cultural practices
must be designed to discourage
weed growth and provide rela
tively weed-free soil for the
production of high quality seed.
Weeds which do appear should,
be controlled with cultivator,
hoe or chemicals. The war on
weeds must be waged in fence
rows. pastures, and wasteland,
as well as in cultivated fields.
Hand rogueing of certified grain
fields may be necessary.
Every precaution should be
taken to keep down the per
centage of weed seed in the
harvested crop. Some weed
seeds can be easily cleaned
from crop seed, but the most
efficient method to produce
clean seed is the prevention of
weed growth.
Primary noxious weeds at Held
Inspection and either primary
or secondary noxious weed seed
in the seed inspection mean
trouble for the producer. Dis
qualification of a seed lot can
well be the difference between
profit and losa in some years.
Quality must t>o assured Seed
production It ? business when
many things can go wrong for
reasons beyond the control of
the producer. In this case, the
grower must be t lady to make
u satisfactory adjustment. Pro
ducer responsibility does not end
witli delivery of the seed to the
dealer, who must be fully sat
isfied if he is to buy from the
same grower another year.
The production of seed may be
a farmer's major enterprise or
it may be incidental to other
production and a source of
added income. In cither case,
such production is a service to
agriculture and to mankind. It
is an important part of man'
struggle to better himself and I
the world in which he lives.
Probably each year Sees few
er seed producers, whether of
certified or uncertified seed,
selling their product to the
larmer-uscr. They sre finding
out as many have before them,
that producing seed of high
genetic purity and freedom
from noxious weed seeds is a
specialized job for which they
are qualified .and equipped. But
the final processing, packaging
and selling are other special
ized jobs lor which the grower
ordinarily docs not have the
facilities, equipment or know
how to do profitably, and which
the commercial seed processor
or wholesale dealer can do
much better.
To Grow Quality Seed
Takes Top Grade Farming |
Careful Held laapertiona made frequently during growing aeaaon
enable growera to take needed stepa to Inaure profitable need crop.
nd the bread run out even but
hat's what the farmer faces?
ibundant production or pro()uc
ion in line with consumption."
Sir Edmund Hillary, conqueror of
Ht Everest, regards a much lower
-Ilmalayan peak?22,310-foot Ama
)ablam?as "the most fantastically
iifficult peak any of us have seen.
It seems unclimbable."
Dual Whistle
SOUTH "CHARLESTON, W Va
'API?It had to happen. A fire
was reported exactly at 10 p.m.,
just when the fire whistle is sup
posed to sound the curfew.
Firemen explained that they
just blew it louder and longer ?
then quickly put out a fire in the
living room of the Ed Weinster
I home. 1
NEW YORK
bt mil rmmw
Guthrie McOllntic, the theatric
al producer and husband of actress
Kathe'rine Cornell, in his first 14
months in this city worked a total
of 11 weeks, he told us at a Book
and Author luncheon. Back In
those days, free lunches were
served at the old Knickerbocker
Hotel, and Guthrie many times
took advantyge of these. One day,,
he was sitting discouraged and
tired in ,Bryant Park, with his
shoes off resting his aching feet,
when an actor-friend suggested he
go see the well-known producer
Winthrop Ames. Guthrie did, but
inside the office, he was so nerv
ous in asking Ames for a job. that
he knocked over the big ink-well
on the latter's desk, messing up
the whole office. Practically
bounced out, Guthrie sat down a
few hours later and wrote Ames
a hot letter. To his surprise, he
received an answer ? and a job
as stage marafer. He married
Miss Cornell in 1921. The first
play he produced was "The Dover
Road," fondly remembered by
many of us who played in it later
as amateurs.
There seems to he a mania for
male quarters with simple names.
For instance, currently popular
are "The Four Coins," "The
Freshmen." and "The Crew Cuts."
Joe Smith doesn't like the way
some of them sing. He suggests
that some of them sound as if they
should be named ? in alphabetical
order ? "The Four Dopes," "The
Five Nuts" and "The Six Saps."
A Wall Street man who has a
million reason$ for being pretty
sure, Joe Docter, gives me the fol
lowing prediction for 1956 about
the stock market: some stocks
will continue to sell higher but
stocks that have had unusual ad
vances should be sold. Everything
indicates continued prosperity.
The public now is not inclined to
sell their stocks. Natural resources
which supply products for new in
dustries appear to be the safest
buys, with securities of good min
ing companies leading the list.
Either some fish or those who
name them are "all wet." For ex
ample, what is known is sea trout
in Boston arc called wcakfish in
Baltimore, while the Boston scup
is the Baltimore Porgie. On the
other hand. Boston scrod are said
to be actually baby haddock, but
I r?re in New York they are called
codfish. In Boston, pollock Is call
ed just that but elsewhere It is
known as bluefish. One way to be
sure of getting what you order,
therefor-, in te order ftsh chowder.
Her Hoyal Majesty's Brittanlc
Government must be fuming. A
local television company is run
ning a series of screwball ads on
the radio, poking fun at the Eng
lish?.while, of course, trying to
sell TV sets. The last zany episode
went something like this: "Well,
Chumley, we're almost to the top
of Mt. Everest. Don't give up. old
chap! Think of the honor of the
Empire! Think of how much you
can save on thingabob television
sets. And besides, the company
will show you the set free, right
here on Everest."
Gotham Gatherings: thanks for
the large mail response to our re
cent column on the late O. O. Mc
Intyre . . folks here who love in
spiring music helping to celebrate
the 90th birthday of Jean Sibelius,
corpposer of the magnificent "Fin
landia" . . . somebody cracked that
the only thing wrong with the dol
lar that used to buy twice as much
was ? we didn't have it . . . sign
on NYU bulletin board: "Anything
worth doing is worth doing for
money'' . . . Maurice Chevalier
made a hit here at the Waldorf,
being billed nostalgically, to a lot
of- us at least, as "The King is
Back" ... a traveller returned
from France reports that a Texas
oil liuui looked at I lie Eiffel Towel
and commented. "Man, how many
barrel* a day do you reckon they
get out of that rig?" . . Sammy
Kaye. the bandleader, says he gets
an average of six musical manu
scripts a day from prison Inmates.
Wonder if some of .hem came
from Sing Sing?
*
Cortisone, tne cnemical widely
used for treatment of arthritis, has
been found in rare Mexican yams
by fteld workers of the United
States Department of Agriculture.
' ' "
Police Want Ad
ANN ARBOR. Mich <AP>?Ann
Arbor's police department, caught
IS officers short, has advertised
under the "male help wanted"
section of the Ann Arbor News for
patrolipen. ?
Chief Casner Enkemann says It
was the first time in his memory
that the department has ever had
?to advertise for this purpose.
The department difficulties were
increased when 11 men quit be
cause of low pay. It usually em
ploys 66 men.
A/2c G. W. WILEY, husband of
the former Louise Parton, Route
1. Waynesville, has returned to
duty in Warrington, England
with the Air Force's 53rd Weath
er Reconnaissance Squadron.
The couple was married Decem
ber 29 and spent most of Airman
Wiley's leave visiting his parents
in foceoa, Ga.
A Ahead. How's your Oil?
A Time for a mid-winter check on your oil
A supply. Don't run low with the coldest
A weather still ahead. Call us for quick
A delivery of top quality fuel oil.
j JUST
GL 6-3421
FOR IMMEDIATE |A
DELIVERY
ENJOY COMFORT WITH SINCLAIR ?
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DISTRIBUTOR
Pine Street Hazelwood
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AT YOUR
FARMERS
FEDERATION
I JANUARY 19tfc - 28th
I HOE HANDLE
Beat QiulUr With Ferrule
' Reg. 85c ? 49c
FORK HANDLE
Beat Quality With Ferrule
Reg. $1.10 ? 99c
Beat Quality Hardwood
MATTOCK
HANDLES
3 lb. Reg. 85c ? 64c
5 lb. Reg. 95c ? 79c
. i
Best Quality Lour Socket
SHOVEL
HANDLE
Reg. $1.50 ?$1.19
Genuine "Lrwchburj *
I PLANT
I SETTERS
1 a $3.99 1
But Grade
AXE HANDLES
D.B. Reg. 90c 69c ?
S.B. Reg. 90c 69c
Boy's Reg. 85c 66c
Beat Quality Hardwood
Oft at on Nail
HAMMER
HANDLE
Reg. 30c ? 24c
Genuine "Bridcewater"
"Hi" Wheel Garden
PLOW
w'o $5.24
Standard She ? No. 1
Quality
BROOD FRAMES
Reg. $1.80 ? $1.69
SUPER FRAMES
Reg. $1.70 ? $1.59
SO PA Processed
POULTRY LITTER
Ideal For Lawns A Flowers
Reg. $1.50 ?$1.30
SO PA Granular
MILORGANITE
Reg. $3.50 ? $3.30
100 Lb. Juta
cs'r HULLS
" $1.20
Do It Yourself ? Urie Slse
KALSOMINE BRUSH
Reg. $1.25 ? 99c
COMBINETT
Best Grade White Enamel
Reg. $1.40 ?$1.19
Genuine "Boberton" 10" Cut
POWER MOWER
Reg. $87.50 ? $69.00
U.S. No. 1 Seed ? Korean
LESPEDEZA
Hifh Percent Germination
Reg. 14c ? 10c lb.
EGG MASH I
25 PA 50 PA 100 PA
Rene. $1.17 Keg. $2.26 Keg. $4.31
$1.10 $2.16 $4.10 I
Contractor
WHEEL BARROW
Heavy Duty Seamless Tray
Reg. $27.95 ? $19.95
Old Reliable "Victor"
MOLE TRAPS
Reg. $1.95 ?$1.59
"MORTITE"
Keeps Out Cold Wind
Reg. $1.25 ? 89c
CARBORUNDUM
STONE E57
Whet Stone With Wood Handle
Reg. $1.40 ?$1.19
IS Ft. Soaker
GARDEN HOSE
Irritates 500 So. Feet
Reg. $3.25 ? $2.69
1 Gallon
THERMOS JUGS
! Reg. $2.21 ? $1.49
Old Reliable "Cyclone"
SEED SOWERS
Reg. $3.95,? $3.29
Standard Grade
FILES
6" Reg. 35c ? 29c
8" Reg. 45c ? 39c
10" Reg. 65c ? 49c
5" Handsaw
FILE Reg. 40c ? 29c
1/4" Chain Saw
FILE Reg. 75c ? 64c
Full Slae Good Leather
E57 BLIND BRIDLE
Reg. $6.50 ? $4.99
Heavy Galvanized
SPRINKLING POTS
( Quart
Reg. $2.90 ? $2.19
t Quart
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50 PA, Natural Plant Food
For Lawns. Tree*, Shrubs ?
SHEEP MANURE
Reg. $1.95 ? $1.70
100 Lb. Jute
FITTING FEED
Peg. $4.61 ? $4.25
25 Lb. Self-Rising
K. Cream
FLOUR
s $1.99
Bulky, 109 Lb. Jute Sugar
Sweet
CITRUS PULP
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/
Good, Bright
SHUCKS
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HEN SCRATCH
25 Lb. PA. Made From
Highest Quality Wheat
and Corn ?
Reg. $1.15 ?$1.00
100 PA. Pelleted, Free
Plowing 14-14-14
FERTILIZER -
14% N. 14* Arid. 14% Potash
Requires Less Than Vt Amount
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Softens and Preserres
All Leather Goods
V> Pint Reg. 40c?29c
1 Pint Reg. 50c ? 39c
1 Quart Reg. 70c?59c
Postmaster
FUMIGANT
Controls Weed Seeds, Soil
Borne Diseases ? Fast,
Easy To Apply ?
r 63c
High Flex
PLASTIC COVER
Fumigate and Eliminate
Weed Picking
Reg. $15.95 ? $14.95
RAT POISON
Contains Warfarin
Reg. $1.00 ? 72c '
Light Weight "Laurel"
FIELD HOE
Reg. $1.35 ? $1.19
Regular Weight. Good
Quality No. 64Mi
FIELD HOE
Reg. $1.95 ? $1.69
20 Ft. Soaker
GARDEN HOSE
Irrigates 400 So. Ft.
Reg. $1.75 ?$1.39
Best Grade, Black
FRICTION TAPE
Reg. 25c ? 19c
PLANT BED
COVERS
28 x 24 Thread Count
Metal Grommets ?
High Quality Cotton
"? $0.50
wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
11 BROOD CHAMBER COMPLETE I
Loac LuUk Aluminum Carer ?
saurrisFSff - ?M5
SUPER COMPLETE
I Stand. It Frame Star ? Treated Par Lena Serrtoa
?J Regular $3^2 ?Sale $2.99 f
FARMERS FEDERATIOM
Kojjer A nun on s. Manager
250 Dapot Streat Dial GL 6-5.161 Wayncsvillc
220B HUDSON SPRAYER I
JV? Gal. Capacity Rep. C7
Heary Duty Sprayer M.S7 f
291B HUDSON SPRAYER
ivy Gal. Capacity Rep. (7 AO
Heary Duty Tank 11.11 ?f* ?W