320 iSTATE BOARD OF AGRIOULTllRE 



I, (b) New Membership Campaigns of Michigan State Farm Bureau. 



Assistance to the Fann Bureau in its mennbership drive consisted in 

 numerous talks to fanners, explaining the organization plans of the 

 Bureau and its economic functions and general services. 



II. (a) Traffic. 



Four major undertakings of the Farm Bureau in transportation 

 and traffic matters had the assistance of this Departmen't. First, 

 the abandonment of certain spur Railroads in Michigan was under- 

 taken by the Pere-Marquette Railway Company and opposed by 

 the Traffic Department of the Farm Bureau. This case was won 

 before the Interstate Commerce Commission. Second, a strong 

 effort was initiated during the year to abolish the Zone System 

 in Railroad rates in Michigan. This case is now in progress. 

 Third, The Farm Bureau, in co-operation with the Michigan Potato 

 Growers Exchange, has compelled a readjustment of rates on potatoes 

 so that Wisconsin, Minnesota and other north-western shippers are com- 

 pelled to pay rates in accordance with the distance hauled. Fourth, The 

 Fairm Bureau, in co-operation with the Michigan Potato Growers Ex- 

 change, is preparing a case against the Central Traffic Association in an 

 attemi)t to secure permanent relief from the severe car shortage w^hich 

 has prevailed in Michigan for several years during the potato shipping 

 period. 



II. (b) Purchasing. 



Members of the staff of the Markets Department have participated 

 in numerous conferences in the re-organizing of the Farm Bureau 

 Purchasing Department with the College in formulating Dairy Rations, 

 etc. Tlie total volume of business of the purchasing department is as 

 follows : 



Total number of Cars 1021 1277 



Total Number of Cars 1922 1745 



Total Volume of Business — February 1st, 



1921, to February 1st, 1922 |7G0,708.96 



Total Volume of Business — February Isti, 



1922, to January 15th, 1923 |815,4G6.27 



(c) Wool and Minor Products. 



Assistance of the Department has been given to the the re-organizing 

 of the Wool Marketing Department of the State Farm Bureau. The 

 handling of the clip during the past season for the most part has been 

 on a strictly co-operative basis with fairly satisfactory results. The 

 volume of business of the Wool Department <luring the past three years 

 has been as follows : 



1920-1921-1922 



1920 3,522,050 pounds sold for |575,143.08 



1921 2,688,313 pounds sold for 598,905.03 



1922 320,079 pounds sold for 130,487.60 



Total 6,530,442 11,486,535.71 



