Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-12-12

Central Minnesota, has issued state
ment of the work done by these county
agents for the past season, and the
summaries show that the county agents
are exerting a great influence for bet
terment and have been of a great
deal of veEy practical benefit to the
farming interests of this section.
The report shows beyond all question
that the expense of the county work
is justified and that the work is a
pronounced success.
Mr. BaImer's report follows
When the leaders of agricultural pro
gress in West Central Minnesota
launched the movement to establish
a federated district of county agents
they scarcely realized what force
had been, set in action for rural COM
munity development. The movement
calls for a constantly charging pro
gram.
Today fifteen adjoining counties are
part of the federated district which
is the largest body of contiguous
counties in the United States en-
ploying county field agents.
That the men so employed assumed
a heavy responsibility is evidenced in
view of the agricultural statistics of
this region. In the Is counties there
are approximately 10000 farmers, an
average of 1000 per county. The av-
erage farm area is 246 acres with 211
acres of improved land. The value
of all farm property in this section
in 1910 was over $500, 100000 an av-
erage Of $4,000 per farm
With so great value involved it is
apparent that the county work in this
section called for big, hard working
men. That such men were selected
is we'll answered by some of the re-
suits accomplished.
The work of the county man is
quite variable, and the various names
demonstration, advisor, expert, agri-
culturist, agent, Or farmer may lead
to a confusion CT ideas as to his du-
ties. He is not merely a teacher, a
d-mOnstratOr, or advisor, but one
whose activities will secure, or rather
help to secure the application of mod
ern scientific methods to present day
farming and business dealing, and to
help create better living conditions,
and higher ideals for rural community
life
The county agent must be person
strong. in action, for the work is not
preaching, but performance. That the
efficiency Of performance of the men
of West Central Minnesota is great
ly increasing is evident from a recent
survey made of their work. The fol-
lowing outline summarizes the work
of July, August and September Of
the fifteen men employed in the ter
ritory of West Central Minnesota De-
velopment association.
Farmers visited at their farms, 1899
Farmers clubs attended and address
HSN W.
Rural schools visited relative to
Agricultural work =. E. e. 80
Newspaper articles prepared on
agricultural subjects E. E. Sc.
Farmers calling on agent IA.
Assistance to Boys and Girls
iClub work . :. :. ..119.
COOPERATIVE work with county super
intendant =. =. :. :. II.
Office work part of e. :. .267 days
Cooperative enterprises aided ..12
Visits to farmers on live stock i'm
portation =. :. E. :. :. :. .92
Visits to assist in cow testing II
Visits relative to sale or exchange
of live stock :. :. :. :. ..23.
Visits relative to hog cholera con
troll >. :. :. :. 1852
Other efforts relative to live stock
Improvement :. :. so
Farmers talked to personally urg-
ing seed corn selection 919
Farms visited in work Of seed corn
= LOG
ADVICE relative to alfalfa culture
selection :. :. :. :. :. ..2O9
Weed control :. ;. =. :. :. So
Soil tests for acidity ). sc
Drainage system planned !. "a
Crop rotation planned ;. :. &c
Buildings planned ;. :. :. Z
Aid in silo construction !. 4
Visits relative to apple blight con-
trol ). ..2O7
Business men called upon with ref
erence to work ;. !. !. :. sc
General agricultural problems dis.
cussed with :. ;. j. .8s
Aid given in county fair work 12G