6. If a bargaining association continues to press for a' 



price beyond that which the conditions of the market war- 

 rant, the farmers will price themselves out of the market, 

 the industry suffers and the association soon falls apart, 



7» For obvious reasons, use of the strike weapon to increase 

 effectiveness of bargaining in agriculture has its limita- 

 tions o Under certain situations, however, it can be used 

 to gain bargaining advantages. The threat of strike is most 

 effectively used prior to planting. 



8, Price negotiations through committee action, arbitration, or 

 prices determined administratively by government agency, are 

 other alternatives to determination of price by collective 

 bargaining alone. 



There are certain advantages and benefits in addition to price that can 

 come to farmers through well organized and efficiently operated bargain- 

 ing associations.. Some of these major benefits may be listed briefly as 

 i oilows 8 



1. Collective bargaining enables farmers to provide themselves 

 with services essential to efficient production and market- 

 ing which are not otherwise available, 



2, Farmers as a group can make economical use of specialized 

 skill and equipment which they as individuals could not 

 acquire at all or only at high cost, 



3, The farmer can concentrate mainly on his production job and 

 feel that his market job is being handled effectively. 



4. Concentrating volume under one head reduces wastes of 

 competition resulting from excessive duplication of 

 services and facilities, thus benefiting society in 

 general, 



5. Processors can also reduce their overlapping services and 

 realize savings in field work in contract sign-up, 



6, Through collective bargaining farmers can become more 

 familiar with needs and preferences of the market and the 

 consumers as to the quantities, kinds and quality of pro- 

 ducts wanted. The association can serve as an educational 

 vehicle to keep the farmers thus informed. Adequate 

 information in the hands of farmers would facilitate 

 closer adjustment of production to the needs of the market 

 and would make for better integration of steps in the 

 production - marketing process , 



