TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 669 



RESOLUTIONS. 



Delegates to the sixteenth annual meeting of the Corn Belt Meat Pro- 

 ducers' Association congratulate the members upon the increased growth 

 and usefulness of their association. We note with satisfaction that re- 

 ceipts for the year 1919 were larger than in any previous year. 



Never before was there greater need for an association of this kind. 

 These are critical times for the live stock producer. In response to the 

 appeals of the government, live stock production was greatly increased, 

 notwithstanding the fact that prices for grains were higher relatively 

 than prices for live stock. During the past year, the demand for meat 

 products has not corresponded with the increased production, and as a 

 consequence live stock producers generally have suffered heavy losses. 

 These losses, together with the uncertain and most unsatisfactory railroad 

 service and the violent price fluctuations have been most discouraging 

 and are leading some to decrease their production or go out of the busi- 

 ness altogether. Any general trend in this direction should be a matter 

 of great concern to the consuming public, and for two reasons: (1) Greatly 

 decreased production will within a comparatively short time result in 

 prices much higher than they ought to be, and will make it diflicult for 

 the average family to purchase as much meat as is needed to maintain 

 the highest state of health. (2) A decrease in live stock production will 

 result in much more rapid exhaustion of the fertility of our soil, with 

 consequent reduction in our yield of grains. 



Iowa has lost less of the fertility of her soil than most other states, 

 because we have fed most of our grain to live stock. The maintenance of 

 our agriculture depends largely upon the continuation of this policy; but 

 we can not feed our grain to live stock unless we can sell the live stock at 

 prices which will pay as much for our grains as if we should sell the grains 

 as grain. The farmer and stockman must secure for both grains and live 

 stock prices high enough to return a fair interest upon the money in- 

 vested, plus a fair profit for the labor expended, plus enough additional 

 to maintain the fertility of our soil. Any less price will inevitably drive 

 the young men from the farms to the cities and industrial centers, which 

 offer greater rewards for their work, and will compel those who remain 

 to rob the soil, upon which the preservation of our national life depends. 



Therefore, the present unsatisfactory condition of the live stock indus- 

 try should be a matter of national concern. All classes of people should 

 lend their influence to the betterment of this condition. A freer con- 

 sumption of meats which are low in price compared with other foodstuffs 

 would encourage the stockman to remain in the business until the normal 

 balance is once more restored. 



In its work of securing satisfactory railroad rates and service, better 

 marketing conditions, and in educating the public to the danger of the 

 present situation, the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Association should have 

 the moral and financial support of all of the farmers and stockmen of the 

 state. 



Whereas, The railroad service during the period of federal control 

 v/as such as to cause tremendous losses to shippers by reason of delays 

 and mishandling; and. 



