Show WHAT GOES UP n d P ih ar r released by Is speculative ownership of land becoming the no 1 enemy of future farm prosperity are land prices due to tumble as they did after world war I 1 will the cost of land go so high that the farmer cannot make dake a profit these are questions that are being asked from california to maine land prices have already soared 71 per cent above the 1035 39 aver ages they are approaching the boom levels that followed world war 1 I many bankers are frankly worried lest the crash and deflation oi of the early be repeated 0 government figures show farm land prices during world war 11 II more than aban doubled in indiana north and south carolina Xen kentucky tucky Zenn tennessee essee colorado and wyoming increases of more than 00 per cent have been bech recorded in ohio michigan georgia mississippi arkansas and montana for the ate country as a whole farm real 1 estate values have jumped 13 per c cent e nt in tha th past year from the beginning of world war ito I 1 to tile the inflation peak in 1920 land prices jumped 70 per cent prices at the start ol of world war 11 II were lower than in 1814 1914 but the in crease this time tiffie Is already 71 per cent although the actual prices are riot yet at the 1020 1920 peak higher lando land less front farm sales are continuing at the high h I 1 g h level they attained during 1945 1045 the number of farms resold after a limited period of ownership has increased indicating speculation farmers who have a yent yen to acquire additional acreage says cays a it statement instatement by the middle west soil improvement commit tee should bear in mind that the higher the cost of land goes the harder it Is to show a profit even at present prices received for crops with sons home from the war and with more and better farm ma WORLD WAR I 1 1 1918 1919 11 IS 1420 IS 20 1121 1421 10 60 80 70 ba 0 SO 40 20 30 7 I 1 10 tu ni WORLD WAR VAR n U 1943 1114 1947 10 90 SO 80 nr I 1 70 r bo so 50 30 40 i I 1 20 7 10 i KU III ruris LAND LANDA PRICES went up during and after world war gariand Wa A and then came tumbling down prices have not gone as high in world war 11 II as before but they are soaring these charts show same trend as in 1911 1914 to 1920 chinery in immediate prospect many farmers figure it would be a profitable move to work much more land than heretofore the statement points out if they will remember the bitter aftermath of world war Is land boom when food prices were even higher than they are today they will see the hazards of such a move sooner or later the present world food emergency will be solved and the mammoth demand for american food products will end then american farmers will have to compete in world markets the only way they can do this successfully is to produce crops at a lower cost per unit in such a program the steady use of fertilizer containing nitrogen phosphorus and potash will be a major factor more bushels per acre can and will mean more food from less land increase yields not acres The therise Thew wise lse farmer will be the one who does not buy more land but who increases the crop croll yielding capacity ot of his present acreage by soil boll improvement measures he will study the most practical tica I 1 uses of plant food he will consult agnono r mists n I 1 s t s at t state d a t e c college U e g e a and n d a agricultural g kicul ta lio ro t u r a 1 s stations t n s f for 0 th the e m most 0 s t e effective ff e c t I 1 v e methods of fertilizer application the analyses best suited to his particular I 1 soil boll and crop conditions and the quantities to use this advice to farmers to improve their present holdings rather than to lac acquire quire greater acreage was corroborated by the committee on farm land prices of the amerlean american bankers association which urged member banks to admonish would be farm buyers go slow to discourage borrowing to speculate in farm lands and to tell veterans of the hazards inherent in excessive land prices country bankers a committee spokesman said are fully cognizant of the dangers iche inherent rent in the present farm land price situation Th eyare urging farm owners now to reduce their debt and to plan savings for farm improvement during these years of high income because when conditions return to normal and american agriculture Is in competition with other countries for I 1 world markets itis it Is probable t that hat farm earnings not sup support art P pric r ices esat at current levels 1 V CHECK LADDER to prevent farm accidents the national safety council i warns barns those who use ladders to io set the lase base infirm firmly about one fourth of the ladders a height from the wall ivall or tree and grasp the sides not the rungs as they climb up |