The Lamar register., 1914-12-02
GETTING BUSY TO FEED EUROPE
American Farmers Should Make Prep
ati0ns to Increase Farm Acreage

Never since our own civil war has
there been such strong incentive to
farmers to lay plans deep and wide
for farming on a larger scale. Never
since those dark days when four years
Of constant strife left the country
with scarcity of food stuffs have
there been SO many looking toward
the rural districts anxious to till the
soil and join the ranks of those who
have yearning desire to make things
grow.
Food stuffs went sky high after the
civil war because so many men had
gone off to the war, the farms fur
nishing their fair quota, and it was
not long until the non-producers be-
gan to crowd those who were left on
the farms and, the arbitrary law of
supply and demand becoming opera
tive, meat, flour, meal, vegetables, su-
gar fruits, produce and everything
went up until the cost reminds one
now of the balloon prices in new
western mining camp.
The great war in Europe will bring
about similar conditions. Already
wheat, corn and oats are moving
across the ocean and every week sees
an increased demand.
The millions of soldiers in the field
produce nothing; they are consumers;
they raise nothing from the soil and
they manufacture nothing; they must
be fed, however, and the horses must
be fed, and while the dreadful waste
Of war goes on the supply Of food
stuffs Of Europe grows less and less
and it is only matter Of a few
months more until everybody will see
plainly that the United States must
be called on to feed and supply the
needs Of the soldiers in the fields as
well as to furnish food for the half
starved non-combatants at home.
And 30 it behooves the farmers of
America to plan for an increase in
their crop output, to plant much larg-
er acreage and to farm in an intens-
i've manner in order that the agricul-
tural output for the season Of 1915
may be doubled if possible, for not
only will prices be good but it in real
fly becomes the duty Of the United
States to become the leading nation in
feeding the warning world.
It is not too early now to begin to
lay plans for next years work, for
without proper plans all efforts will
be handicapped. Plan for more acre
age, do fall blowing, get more horse
power, add to the supply of quick
work farm implements, do all winter
work before springs busy days come
on, and in various ways get ready for
the extraordinary season Of 1915.
The tide is already setting in.
Government reports show that the
exports for the month of October
Just passed were double what there
were in 1912 and 1913.
Some idea of the tremendous de-
mand made upon the American farm
er can be gained from the comparison
shown in these interesting figures:
Barley-Last month 2,S00,000 BUSH
els, bringing s1,75O,000 into this coun-
try. One year ago 250.000 bushels,
bringing in 100000.
Oats-Last month 10,750,000 bush
els, bringing s6,OOO,0OO. A year ago
100000 bushels, bringing s150,00O.
Rice-Last month 10,5O0,00O pounds,
bringing $475,O0O. One year ago,
100000 pounds, bringing s65,0O0.
Rye-Last month $4,000 bushels,
bringing ss3O,OO0. A year ago 146,-
900 bushels, bringing $4,000.
Wheat-Last month 26,000,0O0 bush
els, bringing $29, ,25O,OOO. A year
ago 10000, 900 bushels, bringing SILL
100000.
Canned beef jumped from 365,O0O
pounds at $4,000 in 1913 to 1855, 900
pounds at $500,000 this year, and
fresh beef from 635, 900 at $500 to
1000, 900 at s979,0oo.
The total value of goods exported
last month was $46,5O0, 900 as against
s1s,500, 900 a year ago. showing diff
ference to the credit of 1914 Of $685.
100000.