4 P.D. 123 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



Agriculture in Massachusetts is confronted at this time with numerous 

 problems of readjustment. For the past two years, there has been a down- 

 ward trend in prices, both for manufactured commodities and agricultural 

 commodities culminating in a world-wide general depression which has 

 apparently reached a most acute stage. 



Widespread unemployment, reduced purchasing power and the lessening 

 demand which generally accompanies such period has reflected itself in 

 very low prices for most agricultural products during the year 1931. 



In Massachusetts our problem is serious, but our farmers are in a better 

 position to withstand the shock of this great depression than many other 

 states. The values of our farm lands were never inflated to the extent of 

 other states. Our farming is specialized, but not as highly specialized as 

 certain states in the middle west and in the southwest. A large proportion 

 of our farmers are raising a variety of food products that give to them a 

 very substantial part of their food requirements for living. Others of our 

 farmers are engaged in two or more specialties and when one cash project 

 is greatly weakened by market conditions, there is a remaining cash project 

 that permits our Massachusetts farmer to carry on effectively. 



The nearness to populous markets presents a distinct advantage to our 

 local farmers. Our investigation and study indicates that our farmers 

 near these large consumer markets are receiving a better price for their 

 farm products than producers at greater distances. The cost of transpor- 

 tation, the extra expenses connected with packing and grading products 

 for distant shipments are factors that influence this price equation. Our 

 farmers will continue to enjoy the advantages of local markets so long as 

 they furnish the consumer with a quality farm product at a fair price. 



It is true our real estate taxes create a very heavy burden on the farmer. 

 Our rural communities, however, are most sincere at this time in their 

 efforts to reduce their budgets, and in this way lower taxes that now fall 

 heavily upon the land. 



We are in the midst of a period of driving competition and our farmers 

 are making honest effort to organize to meet this competition. They are 

 making every possible reduction in overhead in labor and in other costs 

 of production and in many instances are marketing their crops under co- 

 operative organizations. The Massachusetts farmer has organized his 

 farm and his work upon a basis of most economical production, and at the 

 present time he is probably in a position to successfully weather the remain- 

 ing period of the depression that now exists. He has practised denials in 

 the past and the matter of living frugally for a period of a few years does 

 not bring to him the same apprehension that might naturally come to 

 other workers who have prospered during the fat years of industrial activity 

 and have not learned tlie lesson of strict economy as a program for the lean 

 year. 



The continuing ability of our farmers to withstand and effectively combat 

 this period of depression will undoubtedly give courage to other less fortu- 

 nate workers to the end that the people of Massachusetts may emerge from 

 this period undaunted and ready to go forward toward the goal of greater 

 accomplishment. 



List of Farms for Sale and Summer Vacation Facilities 

 Among the most important services which the Department renders are 

 the issuance each year of two bulletins listing Massachusetts farms which 

 are for sale and farm homes which desire to take a few summer boarders. 

 This service has become increasingly popular. The demand for farms and 

 homes in Massachusetts is increasing. Farmers, particularly those living 

 in the West and South, are looking to New England for their future homes. 

 In general, land is lower in price here and the facilities for marketing their 

 products are much better. Our lists are in great demand. Thousands are sent 

 each year to every State in the Union. It is difficult to enumerate tangible 

 results but we are reasonably sure that hundreds of farm owners and new 

 buyers are brought together each year. 



