FIELD AGENTS IN MARKETING 139 



Texas is a state which has made a very serious effort at solving 

 its marketing problems. In 1915 a State Warehouse and Market 

 Department at the State capital was created, and an appropriation 

 of $66,000 was made for its administration. The work began under 

 two managers and fifteen lecturers. The Department is in official 

 cooperation with the State Agricultural Department, the State 

 Agricultural College, the farmers' union organizations, and the 

 boards of trade. The law aims to help the producer, rather than 

 the consumer. The principal activities are the promotion of co- 

 operative warehousing and marketing in farm products. 



In addition to this Department the Agricultural and Mechan- 

 ical College maintains an Advisor in Rural Economics and four 

 assistants, who work on such problems as these : storing and mar- 

 keting sweet potatoes; farmers' clubs; organizing short time rural 

 credit unions; promoting the organization of egg circles, with 

 especial emphasis upon the need of infertile eggs for Texas. Other 

 cooperative activities are also fostered and promoted. 



Washington. A law was passed in this state in March, 1917, 

 creating the office of State Director of Farm Markets, the Director 

 to be appointed by the Director of the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station. The Director's duties include the following: 



(a) To investigate and promote efficient distribution. 



(6) A market news service (prices, supply, demand, freight rates, etc.). 



(c) Organize cooperative concerns of producers and consumers. 



(d) Examine under oath individuals, officers, and employers dealing in 

 farm products. 



(e) Investigate the parcel post. 



(/) Conduct employment bureau for farm laborers. 



(g) Investigate transportation (methods, delays, charges). 



(h) Recommend legislation. 



Enough has been said to show the various methods of attack 

 on the marketing problem used by different States. Some States 

 go so far as to do actual marketing. Others furnish state aid only 

 as a means of promoting self help among the farmers. The States 

 which are developing self help are obviously dealing more funda- 

 mentally with the problem, and consequently with better prospects 

 of ultimate success. 



Field Agents in Marketing. Supported in part by the state 

 and in part by the federal Government, there is now coming to be 

 in each State a marketing official known as the Field Agent in 

 Marketing. His work is done in official cooperation between the 

 Bureau of Markets and the State University or State Agricultural 

 College. The chief work of such an agent is to secure information. 



