Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
that smaller, less effi cient farms were the cause of low commodity prices
in California. In an essay titled “Common Sense,” he rails against the lack
of common sense in California agriculture: “It isn't common sense to
believe that an acre of mediocre land will support a family of modern
American standards” (November 1927, 3). On the other hand, he also
expresses heartache for these growers' plight, emphasizing the connection
between family farming and the land-grant mission:
Some people believe that the family farm is doomed; that agriculture is destined
to become a business of big corporate units where people are all hired men on
the farms of big corporations. We hope that day will never come. The Agricultural
Extension Service was founded, not so the world may have more food, but so that
the farmers of America may live and prosper. If corporate farming becomes the
prevalent type in America it will mean that we have failed in our task. (October
1930, 1)
Crocheron's proposed solution was for growers to take advantage of the
latest and best knowledge available to them, thereby raising productivity
and profi tability through effi ciency. This push for effi ciency was often
accompanied by moralistic admonitions, where Crocheron emphasized
that growers would have to show their own initiative to follow this advice.
The following excerpts are just two samples of many such warnings:
To decrease costs, through better methods, is required only knowledge and ability.
It lies within the individual power of good farmers. You don't have to wait for
somebody else to do it, nor stall for collective action. It's a hard old doctrine; not
everyone can apply it. But for those who have the opportunity and ability, better
farming methods present the quickest and surest remedy [for decreasing costs].
(April 1928, 3)
If it is to succeed, the family farm must respond to the needs of the times; it must
have some “get up and git” about it. The little farms must apply intelligence to their
business, must promote the use and sale of their products, must be willing to spend
money to make money just as does the big business man. It pays us nothing to
weep and wail about hard times. Something must be done; and it must be done by
the farmers. No one else will or can do it for them. (October 1930, 2)
Further, Crocheron argued, growers
could
make a living in times of low
commodity prices—if only they would let their local farm advisor instruct
them:
Not everyone is suffering. Some farmers...are making money. They are the men
on the best land who are getting high yields by means of their land and good
methods. Furthermore, they have enough land so that if the profi t per acre is smaller
