The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-17

through proper rotation n image
methods, through the use of livestock,
that the farm as a whole can be made
more profitable, a few farms are being
used as demonstration farms. The
form of work is similar to that adopt
ed under the Minnesota demonstration
farm system. Here the field agent
takes charge of the operation of the
entire farm, the farmer carrying on
the detail work under the instruction
of the agent. Very few of these farms
are being operated.
Other farmers are being co-operated
with in accounting work. At the cen
trail office accounts are kept for a con
siderable number of farmers and show
the cost of carrying on a crop, a field,
OF an enterprise. Reports are made
to the farmers monthly and the profit
or loss from that enterprise shown at
the end of the year.
But the work in which the field man
is really most valuable, in which he is
most appreciated, is what may be con
sidered as general advisory work in
farm management. Under this head
ing, the various problems in which the
farmer is definitely interested are TAX
en- up and definite assistance given as
to how conditions nay be bettered,
The field men are called upon to assist
in nearly everything that affects the
farm, from assistance in drainage n
building construction, to the care of
livestock, fence construction, laying
out of forms for definite rotations n
cropping systems, the testing and Sc
lection OF seed, the securing of better
seed varieties, the planting Of wind
breaks and even to the various prob
lens connected with the farm home.
After the confidence Of the people is
once secured, we find that almost every
farmer has a number of things which
trouble him and which he is glad to
call upon the field agent for assistance
! n solving. In every instance, the
field man tries to show the farmer the
reason for the action that he takes and
to show him how the actual work is
done so that in the future the farmer
understands for himself the theory as
well as the practice.
Thus the lines Of work as laid out
and carried on the entire field of
agriculture in it's effect on the farm.
1t is. of course, impossible to work
with every farmer in the district, eth
err because of lack OF desire upon the
part of the man himself, or because Of
the physical imposibility of covering
the territory. Nevertheless in every
township, within the territory several
men cooperate along the various lines
and spread the work to their neighbours.
A great many instances may be cited
illustrating the fact that many sug-
gestions are passed from co-operator
to n~eighhoring farmers
Results.
Accomplishment has been limited by
the time that the field men have been
in the work. The entire force was
not placed in the field until the latter
part Of April. This was entirely too
late to get the best results for this
year. In spite of the fact that the
work was started SO late and that the
territory to be covered was so extern
siye, a large number of c~o-operators
have been secured this year-a co-op-
orator is a farmer who agrees to carry
on some definite form Of work with the
association. At the present time we
have $50 co-operators, practically all
of whom are cooperating on the plats
or demonstration fields. The farm land
thus worked under the direction Of the
field men comprises 1900 acres. There
are a large number of men, aggre-
eating close to 200, who for various
reasons have not been included as CO.
operators. The work carried on with
them, however, is under the same SUI
peryfsion rs the c~o-operators. The
acreage thus titled and supervised ex-
ceeds 5000. These men will ultimate
ly carry on more definite work with the
association.
Very little work up to the present
time las been taken UP with livestock,
principally because of the fact that ii
was desired to get all field work start
ed this spring. The campaign for
livestock will be carried on the latter
part Of the summer and the coming
winter.
A special campaign was made this
spring to interest the farmers in the
sowing of better seed. Statements
made by the various elevator COM
panies and seed houses would indicate
that this campaign has very marked
results and that a larger quantity Of
good seed was sown in the state thar
ever before. In developing this work
q large number of termination tests
grain which vas to be seeded by w.
700 individual farmers was tested ant
a report made to the owner In som,
counties arrangements were mad,
with the children OF the rural schools
to make termination tests of their owi
grain. BY these methods PRACTICAL.
every farmer had his attention callet
to the termination Of his seed grain
The results were in a great man,
cases, astounding. Many found tina
they had contemplated sowing grain
that was absolutely unfit for seed an
new seed was invariably purchased
Throughout their DISTRICTS the feel,
men spent as much time as possible
with the farmers while cleaning grain
and showed them how their fanninl
mills could be better adjusted and thu
secure a higher quality Of seed.
In one instance that was brought t,
my attention the direct results OF thi5
work saved ar individual farmer thI
seed and labor involved in sowing owe
400 acres Of land. In this one cas-
alone the field a saved the farmer
sum larger than his salary for thi
year. In another instance the cam