618 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



tions as they exist from time to time; study home and foreign conditions 

 of supply and demand, and, in general, gather information concerning 

 everything that influences production, consumption and prices. Had such 

 a bureau of statistics and research been in working order during the 

 past two years, it could have rendered invaluable service to the farmers 

 and stockmen of the country. The farmer and stockman should no longer 

 depend upon unchecked statistics, nor should they any longer depend 

 upon the interpretation of such statistics by those whose interests are 

 not directly connected with agriculture. 



The importation of farm products from foreign countries where land 

 is far cheaper than in the United States, and where the standard of living 

 on the farm is very much below that maintained in the United States, 

 has had much to do with cheapening farm products. We demand of con- 

 gress the enactment of legislation which will give to the American farmer 

 adequate protection against such competition. The interests of the en- 

 tire nation demand such protection. If it is not given, our land will be 

 robbed of its fertility at a steadily increasing rate, to the great damage 

 of the nation. 



The very great advance in freight rates imposes a heavy additional 

 tax upon grain and live stock and their products. We urge upon the 

 American Farm Bureau Federation, which has established a strong trans- 

 portation department, that it at once begin a thoro study of rates on 

 grain and live stock in comparison with the rates on other commodities, 

 and if it finds such action justified, we urge it to institute proceedings 

 before the Interstate Commerce Commission with a view to securing 

 reduction in such rates. 



We commend the work of the Bureau of Markets and the Bureau of 

 Crop Estimates for the improvement in the statistical information that 

 they have made during the past year, and we urge our representatives 

 in congress to support increased appropriations for these departments. 



We demand of congress the enactment of such legislation as may be 

 necessary to assure to the farmers of the nation the full, free and un- 

 restricted right to bargain collectively for the marketing and sale of their 

 crops. 



We demand of congress and of the general assembly of Iowa rigid 

 economy in the administration of government and the greatest possible 

 reduction in public expenditures. 



We believe that the sooner the packing industry is placed under ef- 

 fective government supervision, the better it will be for both the packers 

 and the farmers and stockmen. We strongly favor the prompt enact- 

 ment by congress of the Kenyon bill, or some similar measure, which will 

 give adequate supervision without injury to the packing industry. 



