AGRICULTURAL SITUATION AND OPPORTUNITY 145 



bility to the whole nation. It is vitally important that he 

 support and cooperate with the public efforts to aid agri- 

 culture. Government cannot help the farmer unless he 

 tries to help himself. But in a partnership with farmers 

 much help can be given by public agencies. Such a system 

 of cooperation between farmers and the public is essential 

 to a permanent agriculture. 



Marketing and distribution are consumers 7 as well as 

 farmers' problems no one group can solve them alone and 

 without the support of the other. The public must come to 

 understand and appreciate the farmer's problems and to 

 work with him sympathetically toward their solution. 

 More real progress has been made in the effective organiza- 

 tion of farmers to achieve these mutually desirable ends 

 in the last decade than in the preceding half century. 



This has been made possible chiefly through the great 

 national system of agricultural extension in which the 

 county agent is a most important element. Through the 

 county agent the principles of successful farming and mar- 

 keting are being demonstrated. Farmers are coming phys- 

 ically together, are learning to know and work with one 

 another, and to think their problems through. Local unit 

 and commodity organizations are growing up to meet mar- 

 keting problems. Common experience and common prin- 

 ciples applied locally are leading to the uniformity which 

 is making possible state and national organization. The 

 county agent is contributing an educational, reasoning 

 viewpoint and attitude toward the problems. Gradually 

 farmers are acquiring this attitude themselves. 



In a larger way and to aid and promote the great end 

 of a sound and permanent agriculture in the interests of 

 all, a partnership has been formed between science and 

 practice. The colleges and experiment stations are the 

 sources of scientific facts. Farmers must be the ones to 



