Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1920 — COUNTY AGENT’S NEWS [ARTICLE]

COUNTY AGENT’S NEWS

The county agricultural agent attended the monthly district meeting of the county agents held in the county agent’s office at Lafayette April 19. All the agents of the district were in attendance. P. R. Bausman, county agent for White county, led the discussion on the effective publicity for county agent work. L. E. McKenzie, county agent for Fountain county, described "meth, ods of securing results in boys’ and

girls’ club work." The discussions were very instructive, and many o, the Ideas developed will be used In our program of agricultural betterment in Jasper county. Club Work Even though my appointment as county agricultural agent for Jasper county came a little lane in the season we are planning with the utmost speed possible to carry on the different boys and girls clubs. I earnestly urge on the parents to help encourage the boys and girls to take active interest In club work. The boys and girls are to be our future farmers and we owe our best Interest in them. Boys and girls wishing to join the pig, potato and corn clubs must send in their names to the county agent at once. Literature and rules wih be sent you soon after the application of your names. Egg Show The Purdue egg show will be held ip Lafayette May 3,4, 5, and 6. There are to be seven classes: 1. experimental and university; 2, student; 3, governors; 4, mayors; 5, commercial; 6, fancy; 7, boys and girls. It is' urged that the citizens of Jasper county take advantage of this opportunity and show Purdue that we are at the front with highclass poultry. R. T. Kelsey of West Lafqyette will be glad to give you all tlie necessary Information. Corn Testing This bad weather wilt give you a chance to test your seed corn. Last winter’s weather conditions have injured some of the seed corn to some extent. Ears that'look good in some cases have either been low in vitality or dead. With The present high prices of corn it Is essential that the farmers be content with no less than 95% stand. Purdue has just put out a new bulletin, No. 236, on the testing of seed corn. Numbers may be obtained at the county agent’s office. New Publications The following publications were issued by the United States department of agriculture during the week ended Meh. 20, 1920: Selection and care of clothing, farmers’ bulletin 1089, a pink yeast causing spoilage in oysters, professional paper department bulletin 819, collecting nowering plants and ferns, department circular 64. Copies of these publications may be obtained on application to the Division of Publication, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Wheat Fields You may be surprised at your wheat field. With just the right turn of the weather and other conditions it may turn out better than you expected. A damp, rainy spring is favorable to growth of wheat and young clover, and holds in check the spring brood of the fly. Farm Records Farmers wishing farm record books and literature on the cost of production of corn, apply for same through county agent’s office. FaVm Situation A conference of the members of the agricultural staff of Purdue university was held to consider phases of the present agricultural situation. Many reports received from the various counties in the state are alarming and show an unsettled condition. A report from northern Indiana states that In two adjoining townships there are 13 farms without tenants. In one of the central Indiana counties a survey of the labor situation shows 40 % of the farms needing the sen Ices of hired men are without help at this time. Many reports are being received showing that within the last few days hundreds of- men who were engaged for farm work have failed to report for duty, or are leaving their jobs and are going to the cities. The present strike has Intensified the situation and is leaving the farms with a very largely reduced amount of labor. The season Is cold and backward, which means that a much shorter time will be allowed for the breaking of the ground and planting of the crops, if tlmy are to be planted in sufficient time to insure development and maturity. • The question, “What is the matter?” was received this morning. This is answered by the fact that the labor shortage of the farms is due directly to the extremely hign wages paid to labor in the cities. The people of the United States are demonstrating that they demand automobiles, musical Instruments, jewelry, fine clothes and other manufactured articles more than they wish food. These people are willing to pay high prices for all such articles In order that laboring men engaged In the manufacture of these materials may be paid wages two, three and five times as great as the farmer can afford to pay. The result is that the farms of the country will be operated with a minimum of labor and the production of crops and foodstuffs will be m|atbrially reduced. It would seem that not until the people of the country are face to face with an actual food shortage will they realize that the farm should be supported and not drained entirely of the necessary labor. While these conditions exist and the whole situation is serious Indiana farmers are urged to look the facts fairly in the face and note what is actually happening. The Purdue dairy department, after a study of the conditions of the dairy Industry of Indiana, states that the fanners are continuing to milk the regular number of dairy cows and that the production of dairy products is not tailing off to any extent. Farmers have two, four, eight or 10 cows which can be milked and cared for by the family and so will be continued. In cases where farmers have large herds and must hire help they are encountering serious trouble and in many instances are forced to dispose of the cows. The animal husbandry department finds that because of unsatisfactory market conditions, cattle feeders in the state have lost much of their enthusiasm for the cattle feeding business and that the number of cattle to be fed will be many less than heretofore. The number of brood sows on the farms Is far be-

low that of a year ago and the number of pigs to be fed on Indiana farms will naturally be less than usual. High priced corn and little assurance as to the condition of the market is causing many feeders t«. curtail operations, with the- result that production of meat will be reduced. The feeding of livestock demands that the best possible methods in feeding and management should be employed. Farmers cannot afford to follow ordinary methods. Every ton of feed should be so handled that it will produce the largest possible returns. It is time for feeders to study and apply the beet practices. The soils and crops department finds that farmers are returning many fields which have been in grain crops to meadows and pasture. Shortage of labor Is bringing this about lu a large number of cases. During the war large areas of pasture lands and meadows were planted to corn and wheat. It is only natural that a large share of these should be returned to grass. The result is, however, that the area devoted to grass will be much less than during the past two years. With the use of two-row cultivators, tractors and other machinery, the crops can be handled by a lesser amount of labor. While It is felt that few fields wih be uncropped, It will be Impossible to give them the necessary good cultivation* that would bring anout maximum results. A survey shows that of land cropped, only one acre out of 20 Is planted to legumes. Every good farmer realizes that if the soil fertility and crop production are to be maintained or Increased, a systematic production including legumes should be followed. On the present basis, however, thousands of Indiana farmers are tailing to follow the practice that they know Is absolutely necessary to give them profitable results. Every farmer can afford to plant clover, cowpeas and soybeans this year. The prices for these seeds are high, but even so, Indiana lands demand these crops if they are to yield profitable returns in future years. In answer to the question of J. he Indiana farmer as to what he should do, it is urged that he go ahead and do the best possible under the conditions.

Food is absolutely necessary—more than 100,000,000 people In the United States' must be fed and In addition many millions in Europe must have food from American farms. People of the cities must realize that farmers must have fair prices for their products. Cheap land and cheap labor have gone, and so the last of cheap food has been seen. From now on consumers must pay a price that will give a fair return'for the farm-

sr’s labor and his investment. Under the conditions, if wheat wae worth $2.20 per bushel In 1917, the crop of 1920 should bring not less than |3. If corn was worth 80c in 1914, the 1920 crop should bring >1.76 to $2 per bushel. Prices for other crops, for livestock, dairy and poultry products should be Increased accordingly. Food production should be maintained, but this can only ba hoped for when the fanners are ensured of reasonable prices. The «Rtuation demands the serious and careful consideration of all the people.