Marketing Problem as a Whole 63 



that growers are not reaping the benefit of large-scale production. 

 The total acreage in these crops is composed of a large number of 

 small units, and is not as well centralized geographically as would be 

 desirable for concerted action. There are, of course, certain well 

 defined areas devoted to these crops, but in general we find small 

 individual acreages scattered over almost the entire \'allcy. The indi- 

 vidual grower finds that he does not produce enough to warrant car- 

 lot shipping and does not feel that returns from outside markets offer 

 him a sufficient margin of safety. As a result the local Valley mar- 

 kets are usually oversupplied for short periods, while excellent outside 

 markets are untouched because the individual cannot obtain the carlot 

 rate on his small output. 



Another factor which has greatly hindered efficient marketing is 

 the seasonal change in the acreage of each crop. It is nearly impossible 

 for growers to organize for marketing when the man who grows 20 

 acres of wheat this year will produce no wheat next year and his 

 neighbor, who may have grown no grain for 2 or 3 years, suddenly 

 enters the field for one year as a producer of, let us say, 40 acres. 

 Thus, it happens that one man is actively interested in a certain crop 

 this year and his interest next year in the same crop may be passive 

 because he has reduced or entirely eliminated his own acreage. This 

 condition of affairs may not at first appear to be productive of serious 

 results, but, as a matter of fact, it exemplifies one of the most difficult 

 problems in the Valley. 



If individual production were fairly stable or well standardized 

 it would be possible to assemble the producers of certain communities 

 for definite, concerted action. As conditions are at present, however, 

 the membership of any association organized for the purpose of car- 

 mg for specific crops, of necessity would change its membership to a 

 considerable degree each season. The acreage in certain crops, notably 

 alfalfa and fruit is a fairly constant quantity from year to year. The 

 individual acreage in almost all other crops, however, is dictated largely 

 by individual fancy or preference and up to the present time this indi- 

 vidual preference has borne no relation to prospective community action 

 for the purpose of marketing. In other words, it does not occur to 

 the farmer who contemplates planting 10 acres of potatoes next year 

 or who may contemplate reducing his potato acreage to that figure, that 

 this decision has any relation to beneficial co-operative effort on the 

 part of his neighbors. The following table compiled by the United 

 States Reclamation Service and applying to the Salt River Project, 



