Friday, January 15, 2016

Cotton Co-operatives Help North Carolina Farmers, 1940

Editorial from the January, 1940, Carolina Co-operator

The saying that all too often we do not appreciate a person or a service until gone is just as true as it is old. He have come to accept as commonplace good roads, good schools, and many other advantages that were something to dream and yearn for back in grandpa’s day.

The same is true of co-operatives. Only in this last issue of the Progressive Farmer Dr. Clarence Poe points out that there are a great many farmers who do not realize their obligations to the cotton co-operative marketing associations. Says Dr. Poe:

“Many take for granted the revolutionary changes that have occurred in the handling of cotton during the last 15 years. Do you remember what it cost you to market a bale of cotton 20 years ago? It didn’t just happen that the trade is now handling cotton for a small fraction of what it formerly charged. It came about as a result of the competition of the cotton co-ops.

“Now that the ‘water’ has been squeezed out of cotton handling charges, cotton co-ops are no longer able to announce the large cash savings to their patrons as in old days. It is perhaps accurate to say the present value of co-operatives to farmers is not so much what they themselves are able to do, but rather what they are keeping the other fellow from doing.”

True, Dr. Poe, true! And we have actual proof of this right here in North Carolina. Farmers in some counties of the state where the Cotton Association has not been active this year have written for shipping instructions for delivering their cotton. Their complaint is that the market there is not near as high as in other counties where the Association is more active. Yes, it is good business for farmers to support their own co-operatives and keep them active. The way to do that is to be strong, active members.

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