276 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETS. 



The miarket extension work in Michigan, cliiring the past year, has 

 closely followed its project, which has extended over a period of four 

 years. This work is not based on a patronizing attitude towards agricul- 

 ture, but entirely on the theory tJiat permanent assistance to agriculture 

 can only be effected through the establishment of organization on a firm 

 and self-supporting basis, carrying all responsibility. Special emphasis 

 is also given to the sociological factors incident to the development and 

 maintenance of local leadersliip, carrying full responsibility for marketing 

 undertakings. 



A cardinal feature of the organized agencies in Michigan among farm- 

 ers is that organizations are aimetl at the general efficiency of the indus- 

 try. The undertakings in marketing must be on a basis of efficiency 

 sufficienit to meet legitimate competition, but if the whole undertaking is 

 established on the basis of the savings between the co-operative system 

 and the old regime many co-operative undertakings Avould be very ques- 

 tionable. The marketing function is the basis of common interest around 

 which the co-operative institutions of farmers are merely built, but the 

 efficiency in production, as well as efficiency in marketing and the still 

 more difficult problems of coi-ordinating pro'duction with demand is the 

 larger aim of the organization work in Michigan. 



The work during the year has been concentrated on giving assistance 

 to Michigan fruit interests in the working out of a re-organization pro- 

 gram and to the Michigan State Fann Bureau in working out a plan to 

 co-ordinate the interests of the commodity exchanges in the State with 

 the State Farm Bureau and also, later in the year, in assisting the Farm 

 Bureau in the establishment of a Produce Marketing Depairtment and to 

 the undertaking of the Michigan Live-Stock Exchange in the establishment 

 of commission houses in the principal receiving markets for Michigan 

 live-stock. Assistance was also given to the American Fami Bureau Fed- 

 eration committee on fruit marketing. Work of a less important char- 

 acter was devoted to the assistance of the Michigan Potato Growers^ 

 Exchange and the Michigan Elevator Exchange. 



Michigmi Fruit Growers, Inc.: 



In an effort to improve the general character of the fruit organizations 

 a conference of rei^resentatives of all fruit organizations in the State was 

 called by the Michigan State Farm Bureau. The primary purpose was to 

 federate and unite the numerous local organizations that have grown up 

 in the fi*uit belt in order to concenti-ate their efforts and mobilize their 

 economic power. This meeting was followed by a series of meetings and 

 conferences which resulted in the formulation of the plan for a state- 

 wide-organization, known as "Michigan Fruit Growers, Inc." It was not 

 thought feasible to attempt to put the organization in operation tbe 

 present season on account of complications, due to contracts which some 

 of the units had with commercial selling agencies. Work will be resumed 



