4 P.D. 128 



ever before the value of education and the boys and girls from the rural sections 

 are among the foremost in achievements at our colleges and universities. 



Massachusetts Agricultural College is receiving its quota from our farm homes. 

 Profitable farming today is not alone a matter of brawn. Experience has clearly 

 shown that education and training in the basic principles of scientific agriculture 

 is a pre-requisite to successful farming. The production of agricultural products 

 is becoming increasingly complicated. More and dangerous plant pests and 

 diseases are attacking our farm crops. The ever necessary return each year to 

 the soil of plant food elements requires a technical knowledge of chemistry, agron- 

 omy, and soil bacteriology. Close contact with market conditions and careful 

 supervision of packing, grading and sale of farm products are most important 

 factors in the operation of a profitable agricultural project. 



Marketing Farm Products 



We are in the midst of a highly competitive marketing era. Farm products are 

 being shipped into our local markets from every agricultural state in the union. 

 Frequently the southern agricultural areas have supplied our markets with aspar- 

 agus, strawberries, lettuce and other important farm products for months before 

 the native products appear on the local markets. Our farmers must meet this 

 competition. Cost of production must be curtailed. Intensive farming must be 

 practised. Native-grown products must be so packed, graded and marketed as 

 to bring a premium price for freshness and quality. 



The Department of Agriculture has established many grades for Massachusetts 

 farm products in the hope that all of our producers would offer for sale upon our 

 own markets only quality products of outstanding merit. V\e believe that the 

 consumer will recognize the value of local grown quality farm products and will 

 endeavor to obtain such products whenever possible. 



Farming as a business must take from other industries fundamentally sound 

 economic principles of management and apply them to agricultural enterprises. 

 Consumer demand for native grown farm products should be secured. Our special- 

 ized farm products should be advertised and the attention of our tourist friends 

 should be focused upon the charm and beauty of Massachusetts rural life and 

 surroundings. 



Our Massachusetts farmers should awaken to the possibi^ties that exist for 

 marketing quality farm products in an industrial state where less than ten per cent 

 of the population lives upon the farm. Every section of the country today is 

 attempting to win favor on our exceptional markets. We can compete if we use 

 strict business principles in our production, transportation, advertising and mar- 

 keting operations. 



Recent Trend of J'arm Prices 



General business activity declined somewhat in the fall of lO^O and developed 

 during 1930 into a nation-wide depression. The purchasing power of the indi- 

 vidual consumer decreased to such an extent that a sharp downward trend was 

 evidenced in the quantity of farm products sold. Surpluses of farm products 

 resulted and a steady drop in prices of staple food prices followed. Milk, eggs, 

 butter, lamb, apples and other fruits and vegetables are examples of Massachusetts 

 food commodities that reached new low price levels during the year 1980. Profits 

 of certain farm projects were greatly reduced but the business of agriculture 

 suffered much less in comparison than many other industries. Our facilities for 

 another year of agricultural operations are intact, our markets should improve, — 

 the spirit and enthusiasm of the farmer has not waned and agriculture will tackle 

 the 1931 problems with renewed vigor. 



Recommendations for Legislation 



Early in the year 1930, this Department suggested to the fruit growers of the 

 state that a committee of representative men be selected to study the Massachu- 

 setts Apple Grading Law, investigate the marketing conditions of apples within 

 and without the Commonwealth and to make certain definite proposals relative 

 to necessary changes in the Apple Grading Law. A committee was selected, 

 composed of 11 prominent fruit growers, three marketing officials and three rep- 



