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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 22 1944 PC MinutesALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING WITH FARMER GUESTS ON NOVEMBER 22ND, 1944 The members of the Planning Commission with the exception of Mrs. Smith, met with Mr. Harry T. Bowles, Mr. George T. Gentry, Mr. George Carr, and Mr. E. N. Haight. Mrs. Randolph, Mrs. Forsyth, Mrs. Catlin and Mr. Dodson were also present. Mr. Randolph requested Mir. Haden to take charge of the meeting, and Mr. Haden asked this group of farmers if they had their lives to live over again, would they tackle farming. Mr. Gentry said he would. Mr..Carr said he did not Choose farming, but was forced to take over when he was sixteen years of age, so he could not state whether he would be a dairyman or not. Mr. Haight was late to the meeting, but was asked the same question, and he stated he would certainly choose farming again. Mr. Bowles said he did not think he 1tould go in the poultry business again although it had its acompenses. He stated that poultry is a specialty, and although there is a living in it, a great deal of the burden falls on the woman. He felt he would rather live on a farm even though he had to work hard, than live in the city and not have to work so hard. There is an independence in farming which is very satisfactory to some, but one has to give up the social life of the city, as farming is a seven day a week job. The future of the poultry business is questionable right now, as big business has seen the money in it, and is gradually taking it over from the smaller hatcheries. However, there is money in the broiler business, and some men do make money as poultrymen. When questioned about the dairy business, Mr. Carr stated when one has to milk so many cows everyday, there is not much freedom about it, but there is more profit in dairy farming than genaral farming, so he had continued with the dairy farming. Mr. Haden questioned Mr. Carr, "George, do you believe that a man coming out of the service could take an average farm in Albemarle county, marry, raise a family, and make a good living on it." Mr. Carr's answer was, "It could not be done without a good substantial payment on the place. He could not buy the place and equip it also." Mr. Gentry, when questioned, said,"If a fellow wants to start on a farm and his wife is willing, it can be done." He stated that it is not an easy way to make a living, b-dt that he started with only $5.00 and he had made a living and raised a family and paid off the mortgage on his place some fifteen years ago. He has ninety acres of cleared land. He did not look for so much money, but he worked his land as well as pedled his produce from house to house. This brought out tht .fact that a farmer should be a good salesman as well as a good farmer in order to make a success of farming. It also suggested the point that farmers are usually so busy producing that they do not have time to sell their produce profitably, and that it would seem to be a good idea for the farmer to form some sort of a group in order to have their produce sold for them by one organization. In this way, the farmer should get a better price for his produce. As conditions exist now, there are three or four middle men to get their cut between the farmer and the retailer or consumer. Mr. Rae Warrick stated that the orchard men were practically broke before they formed an organization to stabilize prices so they could continue in business. This group -2- has been their salvation. He stated that some similar type or organization would be beneficial to the farmer. Mr. Gentry went on to say that he had worked hard, sometimes -as much as fifteen hours a day, and that he had made many mistakes, so he would suggest that the prospective farmer get some farmer that has made a success to advise him and that he take his suggestions, and he believes, that a man could make a go of it. Mr. Haden stated in view of the above that it resolves itself down to whether a man really wants to farm and if his wife is willing to 4,ive, , on that . f arm. Then the following questions and answers developed; Would you advise a man to start .farming here? Yes, as it is good general farming country. Isn't the price in this county high for general farm land? It is not as high as land in Augusta County. ghat is price of land in -Albemarle County now? Around '50.00 per acre. Wouldn't a man be better off to buy good land to start with? He would have to invest more in good land. There is some land in this county that is definitely poor and some that is ddcidedly good. It is the man that is on the farm that will make the land. Do you think farm prices will go down after the war? Yes. The point was brought out that there were many people who would like to live on a farm but knew nothing about farming, so when these people tried to farm, they usually made a failure of it, just as a farmer might make a failure of being a banker if he tried it without any knowledge of banking. It was again brought out that the dairymen and poultrymen were the only farmers making a living. What could be done for the general farmer or the man raising beef cattle. Could something be done to help them? The dairymen are organized, and the farmer should be. Albemarle county is developing a real cattle industry, so something should be done to improve this and help these producers. The conclusion was that better cattle should be raised in order to compete with the cattle of the west, and that the Beef Producers Assn. of Virginia should be contacted in older to find out what they were doing toward helping the farmer. As the discussion was so interesting,.we were all sorry when Mr. Haden brought our attention to the fact that it was getting too late for hard working farmers to be up, so the meeting was adjourned. Secret Tr - NOTE: A letter of thanks was written to the four farmers attending above meeting.