PALMER. ALASKA
Edited bv general Office
Published every week for the Matanuska Valley Farmers' Cooperating Association for
the purpose of giving news of the Valley end'Association.
SUBSCRIPTION $1.75 per year BOX $1.00 SINGLE COPY 10^
Distributed free to Co-op Members through the Settler Boxes.
WHY OPERATE A CJOPERATTVE ?
As you havo heard many times before
we are endeavoring to operate here
a farmers' cooperative. Many ex
planations have been given as to
what the principal purpose of a
cooperative covers. Most impor
tant to all members is the fact
that it tries to market the pro
duce and related products of its
members to the best uossible ad
vantage. This is only possible to
the extent that the growers cooper
ate.
Not much consideration is given to
the member's responsibi1'ty to
their association. Much of our
difficulty in the past and even in
the comi-ng year Is e result of In
correct application of the old law
of "supply and demand". Unless ad
vance planning ss to the extent of
the com'ng market is done, we can
not hope to have a year in 1946
that is not exactly the same as all
preceding years. As in the past we
will have potatoes that are not
saleable and a shortage of all
other produce. Storage plays a
large part in our success, but eron
more important, is "Planned Produc
tion".
During the year ending November 30,
1945, we found that the price paid
to the individual producers was not
excessive. In many cases it was 'j
not even enough to allow growing
at a reasonable profit. The big un
answered question is "what 's- the
reason for this condition?" The
answer 1s over production and the
high cost of handling products for
which there is no market.
By cohesive plann'ng, in which no
farmer grows more than his normal
share of saleable products and on
accurate analysis of the. market "
available, the Handling cost per
unit grown can be so reduced that
all units'could operate with a rea
sonable profit, This can only be
done by members cooperating with
the association and governing their
planting accordingly.
Always remember that you hove
a
EDITOR
ILL
Mrs. Dorothy M. Bell, Ed'tor of the
VALLEY SETTLER had an operation on
Monday morning at the Matanuska
Valley Hospital. Latest report is
that she is doing very well.
Due to her illness no paper was
issued last week. This week's
issue, such as it is, is endeavor
ing to br'ng you some of the news.
Any news items, ads, etc. will be
gratefully received at the Co-op
iGeneral Off'ce.
|’Ve are wishing Dorothy a very speedy
recovery and hoDe that she will be
Iback soon. ’ very soon to. edit the
[paper._ . . ; ..
TNVITATT ON TO BTD
Sealed Mds will be received by the
Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperating
Association uo to 2:00 P.M. Saturday
April 6th, 1946 for the following:
1 only Scott Pea Viner with
Hercules Motor, as is.
1. All offers must be accompanied by
10% of the bid which will be apolied
on the purchase price of the success
ful bidder or returned to the un
successful bidder.
4?Terms are cash or one-third down
With balance In not more than six
equal payments with Interest.
3. The Matanuska Volley Farmers
Cooperating Association reserves the
right to reject any or all bids.
MATANUSKA VALLEY FARMERS
CJOPERATtNG ASSOCT'TtON
By Order of Board of
Directors March 2, 1946
large share in the success of the
Association and a larger sh°re in
its losses. Let’s all pull to
gather Instead of-, apart, and make
the year 1946 a banner one for the
Co-op and incidentally, to all the
contributing farmers in the Matan
usk3 Valley.