The Agricultural Outlook for 1924

Excerpts from the report: The following statement of the agricultural outlook for 1924 based upon current information and upon reports from 43,000 farmers, representing every agricultural county in the country, stating their intentions regarding the planting of spring crops, has been prepared by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the United States Department of Agriculture to provide a basis upon which producers may make readjustments to meet economic changes. The general agricultural outlook for 1924 indicates that farmers are undertaking a normal production program. It is apparent, however, that agricultural production this year will still be attended by the difficulties arising from high wages and other costs, loss of farm workers, and the general disparity between prices of farm and urban products. Domestic demand for agricultural products is at a high level. Urban prosperity is reflected in a heavy current consumption of fibers and high quality foods, and this may be expected to continue into the summer. Foreign markets, on the whole, seem likely to maintain about the present level of demand for our cotton, pork, wheat, and tobacco. The situation this season with respect to labor, machinery, fertilizer, credit, and other cost items is not such as to favor any expansion in production.