The Border Vidette

Two major facts must be kept constantly in mind by the cotton farmer who debates whether he will cooperate with the Government in reducing his acreage this season. These two facts, reduced to their simplest terms, are these: (1) Present indications point a carryover on August 1, 1933, of at least 12 million bales of American cotton, and (2) prospects are that this year's crop will be at least average and yield, unless reduction control measures are carried out.

Officials charged with carrying out the responsibilities of the Agricultural Adjustment Act say there is no escaping the effects of those vital facts.

They say further that the present carryover is nearly equal to the amount of cotton consumed in a year at the present rate of consumption. This means that very little cotton would need to be produced this season to meet requirements. Yet more fertilizer has been used this season. Apparently more land has been planted to cotton. The crop is up to a good stand and is enjoying a favorable growing season to date.

Suppose the crop is about average, or around 14 million bales. It takes only the simplest kind of figuring to add 12 million and 14 million together and arrive at the figure of 26 million.

If there are 26 million bales of American cotton on hand this fall, the grower can arrive at his own conclusions as to how prosperous he will be when his crop is marketed. It would be impossible to consume the bulk of that supply within a year. The greatest yearly consumption of American cotton on record was slightly below 16 million bales in 1926-27. In the meantime, another crop will be planted and produced, and the surplus which is breaking the weary back of the southern cotton grower will not be relieved.

Surplus piled upon surplus cannot relieve the existing conditions. A reduction in the acreage will help to do this, and the Government plans to make it worth the while of the grower to cooperate in this. Heretofore, reduction in acreage has been done by the patriotic farmer in an effort to better conditions for himself and his neighbor. The usual result was that the man doing this suffered because the other fellow expanded production and thus cancelled any benefits that would have come from individual reduction.

Under the provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the person who reduces his crop will share in the profits.

For some years now farmers have asked that the Government do something to relieve the agricultural situation. The Agricultural Adjustment Act is the answer to this request. Yet it is not something that will be forced upon a people. Its successful operation will require a partnership in cooperation. On the one hand, the Government offers its powerful resources to aid the cotton grower in obtaining a fair price for his staple. On the other hand, the grower is asked to help remove the existing surplus of this staple by growing less cotton, and since he has already planted a large acreage, to remove some of his present acreage from production.

Those in charge of administering the Agricultural Adjustment Act believe that some three million bales should be removed from production this season.

This means that some 10,000,000 acres must be retired from cotton production. To accomplish this, every grower of cotton is expected to share in the reduction.