POSTWAR READJUSTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE 33 



The cranberry industry in this State has been marked by the adoption of pro- 

 gressive methods both in the growing and in the handling of its products. Among 

 the small growers there is a need for more extensive practice of weed and pest 

 control, which are of vital importance for stability in this line of production. 



Marketing Conditions for Agricultural Output in Massachusetts 



In the wartime period the production and marketing of agricultural products 

 have been confronted through the entire country with a set of conditions greatly 

 different from that experienced in normal times. The prevailing factor was the 

 necessity of providing the largest output possible with available resources, farm- 

 ing equipment, and manpower. The emphasis, moreover, was put on certain 

 types of products which were most needed, and at the same time employed the 

 least amount of the limited resources. Both production and prices have been 

 determined largely by governmental regulations, ceiling prices, and support 

 prices, coupled with payments and purchases by governmental agencies. All 

 major products in Massachusetts agriculture as represented by dairy, poultry, 

 vegetables, and fruits have been affected in one way or another by prevailing 

 policies. As a result of high demand for all products and of limited facilities in 

 labor and transportation, most of the previous efforts to bring the produce to 

 the consumer in the niost appealing way have been considerably relaxed. With 

 the return of normal conditions an increased amount of re-education and further 

 improvement in marketing methods will be needed. To be sure, in the war peri- 

 od some very desirable procedures in marketing and transportation have been 

 introduced by sheer force of necessity, especially those pertaining to the collec- 

 tion and movement of agricultural products. In the field of milk marketing, the 

 pooling of truck transportation by the producers and every-other-day delivery 

 are of special significance and should be retained in the interest of both producer 

 and consumer. 



The handling of agricultural products, especially packaging and grading in 

 which some progress had been made in the prewar period, will again have to be 

 emphasized and further developed in the light of modern facilities and discover- 

 ies. As in the past, Massachusetts producers will do well to market their product 

 as close to the final consumer as possible. This may take the form of roadside 

 stands, sales to individual consumers through delivery, and other similar methods. 

 Cooperative efforts returning a larger portion of the consumer dollar to the pro- 

 ducer also should be exploited to the fullest extent. Tne farm markets need to 

 be further organized and provided with better facilities. 



It is difficult to determine with any precision what will be the general market 

 opportunities for agricultural products in Massachusetts in the postwar period. 

 The uncertainty is bound up with many vital factors including the trend of busi- 

 ness and employment, changes in the comparative position of various regions 

 producing similar products, and the degree of public acceptance of food under 

 new processing methods, especially of frozen vegetables and of powdered milk 

 and eggs. Transportation facilities have progressed to the point where more 

 distant areas are brought closer to Massachusetts and will be able to offer effec- 

 tive competition. While nearness to the consuming market still remains an im- 

 portant advantage to local agriculture, everything points out that the only way 

 to keep Massachusetts agriculture in a healthy and stable condition is to increase 

 efficiency in both production and marketing. This will lead to the narrowing of 

 the cost differential in production between this and other areas and place local 

 markets in a better position. 



