Warren sheaf., 1914-12-23

1--we STOCK ON
MINNESOTA FARMS
Conditions Favor the Industry.
Prices Give Assurance Of
Fair Profits.
ny HOWARD R. SMITH,
Division Of Dairy and Animal huSblndry Minnesota Col
ieEe Of Agriculture.

sy HOWARD R. SMITH,
Division Of Dairy and Animal huSblndry Minnesota COL
IeHe Of Agriculture.
There is no section of the country
where farms need live stock more
than In Minnesota, and no place where
the conditions are more favorable for
the development of the live stock
industry.
Minnesota needs live stock because
the system of farming which has been
practiced here has reduced fertility
and lowered the productive capacity
Of the land. The history OF Minnesota
is the history of all new states. The
first settlers are those who have little
or no capital to invest In live stock
and who naturally devote their atten-
ton to the growing OF crops which can
be converted at once into cash This
method Of farming is likely to contin-
ue as long as the soil produces we'll.
Until few years ago Minnesota rank
ed first Of all the states in the Union
in the production of wheat. Large
areas have also been devoted to the
production of other grains, such rs
barley, rye and oats, much OF which
has been shipped out of the state.
Farmers generally are aware that
stock raising aids in retaining fertility
and are giving more and more atten-
tion to diversified farming.
Corn Makes Prosperity.
No one thing is contributing more
to the prosperity Of Minnesota than
the increase in the production of corn.
The total production OF this grain has
doubled in the last ten years and
qnadrupled in the last twenty years.
1t is the large revenue from corn
growing, much corn being marketed
in the form of live stock, that is caus-
ing land in Iowa and Illinois to sell
for more than 5000 per acre. The in.
creased production of corn is having
similar effect on Minnesota land,
but it will be more pronounced when
all Of it is fed to live stock.
Corn is cultivated crop and it
cleans the land of foul weeds. 1t is
more valuable to feed than to sell for
cash when properly used. The grow
ing of corn means the growing of
more clover and alfalfa which are ex-
tremely valuable as supplementary
feeds. These crops will do wonders
for the fertility Of the land. 1t costs
no more to prepare ground sufficiently
fertile to produce thirty bushels OF
wheat to the acre than it does land so
depleted that 1t will produce only fif-
seed. The extra yield is almost net
profit. More corn, clover, alfalfa and
more live stock to convert 1t into meat
and milk products, with the manure
put back on the land, is certain to in.
crease production and make every
farm more valuable to its owner.
5.H Other Favorable Crops.
That corn gives large yields in Min,
nesota, that barley succeeds in the
north where corn is less certain, that
clover makes spendid growth in
that alfalfa has more recently proved
its adaptability to the soil and climate
are important conditions favorable to
the development of the live stock in
dustry in Minnesota.
Climate Best for Live Stock.
The climate is particularly desir-
able for meat producing animals, be-
cause better gains can be made In
cold than in hot weather. It is
easier to protect such animals from
extremely cold weather than to keep
them comfortable in times of intense
heat. Cattle and sheep in the process
of fattening do not ordinarily suffer
from cold weather if they are shell.
tered from the winds and are kept
dry.
With the states numerous shipping
associations, with trunk lines Of rail.
roads furnishing excellent transpor-
tation facilities, and with good mar
kets conveniently near, the farmers
have unexcelled means OF getting
heir animal products to the consum-
ers.
Good Prices Great incentive.
But the one favorable condition
which should furnish the great incen-
tive to the development of the live
stock industry is the fact that prices
on all animal products 6re high and
there Is no reason to believe that
there will be any marked decline.
The worlds population has increased
much more rapidly than has the mum.
Der Of farm animals. The combined
population Of all the great live stock
countries Of the world has increased
approximately 20 per cent since 1900,
whereas the total number of cattle
in these countries has increased only
p per cent In the same period. The
market price Of live stock is a little
less now than three months ago, but
this might be attributed to financial