Show LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Farmers Cant Can't Feed Everyone for Free Dear Editor iThe 1 i- i I The reduction in the percentage of disposable income that Is now spent on food as compared with a period 20 years ago represents a part of the reason that the modern modem farmer has a rather discouraging discouraging discouraging dis dis- role to play in the total economic economic economic econ econ- picture of today Many of the crops produced sell for nearly the same price on the farm that they brought 20 years ago the fact that most expenses have increased many times in production production production tion costs to the average farmer The principles that have made it possible possible pos pos- sible for food to be produced at nearly the same price despite rising costs stem in part to the fact that farmers are less willing to organize themselves for their mutual benefit and compete against themselves through larger units that have bigger volumes and smaller unit profits and more time part-time farmers that can survive without making any profit from their farming operation Current developments and conditions are to some extent taking the choice away from the farmers concerning what he can charge charie for his products through the use of expensive machinery fixed labor costs and borrowed money to operate operate oper oper- ate with and purchase both land and machinery These fixed costs force farmers farmers far far- mers to either obtain a fixed margin of profit or withdraw from the game to the extent that few farmers produce food for more consumers each year As fewer farmers remain in business necessity and convenience increases the possibility of strong organizations being set up to preserve a dying industry Also if Congress closes some of the tax loopholes that now allow investors invest invest- ors to lose money on the farm in order to be forced to realize reaUze a net gain through reduced taxes then the farming industry will be forced to realize a profit to sur sur- vive The main point of all this is that under existing conditions and trends ItIs it itis itis is very likely that consumers will either be forced to raise more food themselves or else pay higher prices as the farmers cannot and will not feed everyone for free forever as many are now doing In the event some tome of the preservations are taken off the market because of health hazards less food can can or will be shipped into areas where little local produce is raised as all food is highly perishable in its natural condition MERRILL H H. H GLENN JR |