Show GRASSROOTS Farmers Are Enjoying More Prosperity Than Ever By Wright A. A Patterson HE FACTS AND FIGURES used T THE in this column were provided by a national life insurance com com- pany As compared with the conditions of the twenties mid and early thirties thirties thirties thir thir- ties those operating the farms of to-day to are following the sunny side of the farm prosperity road thanks to a beneficent gov gov- Farm mortgages are not now being foreclosed by the thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands each day or week as was true of that time time mortgages mortgages representing representing representing rep rep- resenting farm purchases made at prices for tor land By last year 1950 mortgage foreclosures ures were practically over The farm had grown from an average acres in 1900 to an average size of acres in 1950 and the mortgage flail dropped to an average average average aver aver- age of only per farm a mere 8 4 per cent of the value of the farm and its equipment That reduction redaction of the farm mortgage represents but one evidence of farm prosperity That average American farmer farm farm- er of 1950 was 49 years old His IDs acres of land and his farm buildings were worth Ills IDs farm machinery and motor vehicles with live stock and poultry to a value of 2100 represent represent represent rep rep- resent a total plant value for each of the farms of For each farm there was produced produced produced pro pro- In 1950 crops representing represent represent- ing lag a cash value of 1350 plus worth of the products of each farm used by the farm family In the aggregate AmerIcan American Amerlean Amer Amer- ican lean agriculture is a big busness business business busi bus ness and again prosperous with Its more than six million producing producing producing pro pro- units sharing in the total total total to to- tal of more than 30 billion dollars dollars dollars dol dol- dol- dol lars of production an average for each farm of 1700 with an average holding of about for each farm exclusive exclusive exclusive sive of home furnishings and home equipment Through the past half halt century the farm has increased its production despite the fact that the farm population population population pop pop- has decreased by some 12 per cent With better methods better better better bet bet- ter seed better equipment better livestock and more fertilizer theman theman the theman man hour production has increased increased increased in in- creased in the past 10 years by more than 35 per cent Thanks to the American farmer the American American American Amer Amer- ican farm has more than kept pace with other American production It has done its full part in all of our war efforts It has provided food for our armed forces and for those of our our allies Halt Hall a century ago in 1900 the average net income on American farms amounted to only per year Twenty five years later it was and in 1950 the average annual annual annual an an- nual net income amounted to 2225 That increase was not all due to the government policies of guaranteeing guaranteeing guaranteeing guar guar- a parity price for tor farm arm products Much of it was due to the habits of thrift and industry that Is Isso isso isso so much an attribute of the farm Those things more than the parity prices maintained at the expense expenses of the taxpayers were responsible for the restoration of the farm to its place In the national economy The people of the cities and towns should realize that it is not congress nor any anyone one at Washington who Is responsible for present farm conditions but that such conditions have largely large large- ly been produced by the characteristic char char- industry and thrift of those on the farms The figures are of course general averages There are exceptions There are farms on which thrift and industry are not found but in nr th n r rather than the rule As a whole the farm is enjoying an unusual degree of prosperity due to the efforts efferts of the farmers and the farm arm families Farming Is again an acceptable way of living Today To day it enjoys not only its share of cash income but the conveniences of living that were so long considered considered considered con con- the of the urban urban urban ur ur- ur- ur ban population where electricity was available The electric power Is provided by the farm arm owned operatives co-operatives of which the average farm has bas invested invested invested in in- vested That Investment provIdes provides pro pro- vides him with a telephone with electricity for light and power It provides for him and his family the same conveniences that are enjoyed by those living in the cities Yes the American farmer is again living on the sunny side of easy street His balance at his local bank is as large as is that of the tho average city dwellers |