themselves and their communities. And so, we have produced in
Maryland tobacco, poultry, livestock, dairy products, corn, wheat,
oats, barley, soybeans, hay — an almost endless variety of agricultural
products.

All of us are aware of the great revolution that has taken place
in farming and farming techniques during the past several years.
Only a few years ago it was possible for a person with sufficient deter-
mination and sufficient muscle power — but without much capital,
much equipment and much scientific training — to wrest from the
soil a good living for himself and his family. That, as we know, is
not true today. The agricultural scientists here at College Park advise
me that of the total "in-put" in farm production today more than
75 per cent is capital in nature, with only 25 per cent representing
land and labor. Fifty years ago, they say, it was 85 per cent land and
labor and only 15 per cent capital. Scientific and technological ad-
vancements of the past few years have made agriculture increasingly
more competitive, and the result is that it is essential than every
farmer increase his yield per acre to meet with this fierce competition.
And so, a farmer nowadays is not only a cultivator of the soil; he
also must be a businessman. He must have the scientific and tech-
nological knowledge to grow crops and produce livestock. Otherwise,
he will not be able to survive in the competitive agricultural world.

You young men who expect to become farmers know that you will
be making large business investments and that you must become top-
flight businessmen to be successful in your undertaking. In this con-
nection, I am very much interested in the new Institute of Applied
Agriculture which was initiated at the College of Agriculture here
last year to give technical training in such areas as farm operations,
ornamental horticulture, turf grass management and allied business
areas in the agriculture industry.

In agriculture, as in industry and commerce, it is a function of
government in this highly complex society which we built to create a
social and economic climate that will permit people to prosper in
their endeavors. This is true at all levels of government — federal,
state and local. Understandably, farmers, being individualists, have
resented some of government's activities as meddling. At one time
or another, I suspect, all of us have shared that feeling. But most
assuredly the farmers of today would not advocate the elimination
of all the programs of agricultural assistance and advice that are
offered by government. In your State government, we have tried to
help the farmer — not to interfere with his farming. Our role in

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