Show WHAT GOES UP L ia n d w F 1 cub swo 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 II 11 will the cost of land go so high that the farmer cannot make a profit these are questions that are being asked from california to maine land prices have already soared 71 per cent above the 1935 1933 39 averages they are approaching the it boom 0 om levels that followed world W war ar I 1 many bankers are frankly worried lest the crash and deflation of the early be repeated government figures show farm land pric prices as during world war 11 II more than doubled in indiana north and ana south carolina kentucky tennessee colorado and wyoming in increases creases of more than 80 90 per cent have been recorded in ohio michigan georgia mississippi arkansas and montana for the country as a whole farm real estate values have jumped 13 per cent in the past year from the beginning of world war I 1 to the inflation peak to in 1920 land prices jumped 70 per cent prices a at t the start of world war 11 II were lower than to in 1914 but the increase this time Is already 71 per cent although the actual prices are tot not yet at the 1920 peak higher land less profit farm sales are continuing at the high level they attained during 1945 the number of farms resold after a limited period of ownership has ha increased indicating speculation camers who have a yen to acquire additional acreage says a statement by the middle west soil improvement committee 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 jor for or crops op 3 with sons eon home from the war and with more and better farm ma WORLD WAR I 1 WORLD WAR VAR n H 1417 W AM 1118 1111 1914 1120 1920 1421 1142 1912 1143 1144 1145 1945 almb 1147 1947 10 10 90 80 80 J 70 70 fco f so 50 5 50 30 10 40 F 7 30 40 i 20 20 7 I 1 I 1 10 ID 10 Z too 10 KV annii HU ft LAND PRICES went up during and after world war I 1 and then came tumbling down prices have hare not gone as high in world war II 11 as before but they are soaring these charts show same trend as in 1914 to 1820 1920 chinery in immediate prospect many farmers figure it would be a profitable move to work much more more land than heretofore the statement points out dut 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 rid 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 fields not acres the wise farmer will be the one who does not buy more land but who increases the crop yielding capacity ot of his present acreage by soil improvement measures he will study the most practical uses of plant food he will consult agnono mists at state college and agricultural stations for the most effective methods of fertilizer application the analyses best suited to his particular soil and crop conditions and the quantities to use this advice to farmers to improve their present holdings rather than to acquire greater acreage was corroborated by the committee on farm land prices of the 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 erans of the hazards inherent in excessive land prices country bankers a committee spokesman said are fully cognizant of the dangers inherent in the present farm land price situation they are urging farm owners now to reduce their debt and to plan savings for farm improvement during these years of high income because w when hen conditions return to normal and american agriculture is in competition with other countries tor for world markets it is probable that farm earnings will not support prices at current levels |