The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-12-31
WHAT A COUNTY AGRI-
CULTURAL AGENT Is
BY L. C. Aicner

The county agricultural agent,
sometimes called farm adviser, is a
man trained In agriculture, usually
a graduate of an agricultural college
who has had great deal of practi-
cal experience. This man is hired
jointly by the county, state university
and the U. s. Department of agricul-
ture. This is the movement resulting
from the Smith-Lever bill which was
passed a few years ago. The county
agriculture agent is primarily the
connecting link between the expert
ment station and the farm. He is
the means whereby the best kind of
farming information for his county
is taken to the farms needing help.
1t is his duty to visit all the farms
in his count-if the farmer desires
his assistance. The county agent is
not walking encyclopedia, nor is he
''butter-in," but he is in position
to either give the desired informa-
tion or secure it on very short notice.
He maintains an office at some CEN
trail point and has stated intervals
when he may be found there. How
ever, his work Is with the farmers
and he has little time for the office.
The county agricultural agent has
come and he is here to stay There
are over 100 of them in county work
in various counties of the United
States and what was once termed the
backward south" now has over 600
of this number helping along the
better farming movement in the old
cotton belt
This agent is money saver as
well as a money maker for the farm
ers in his county. They save money
by buying seed in carload quantity
for their farmers. They save money
by preventing hog cholera getting a
foothold in their counties. They car
ry out systematic campaigns such as
silo building, COW testing, seed pro-
duction or other big issues of county
Importance. The people who met Mr..
Sckhart, of DeKalb, Illinois, when he
was here a feew weeks ago became
acquainted with a county agent who
was sent out by the far mers in his
county to buy alfalfa and clover SEED
for them. On this trip he saved the
farmers enough money to pay his
salary for one year.
By this assistance of county agents
in this state, hog cholera has been
stamped out of two counties, making
saving of thousands of dollars to
the farmers in Franklin and Canyon
counties By successfully spraying
clover against damages from grass
hoppers the Canyon county agent
saved his county thousands of dollars
loss in the clover seed crop. In every
instance systematic work has been
done along certain definite lines lead
ing either to saving money through
losses or making money by suggesting
more recent and. improved methods.
Such a county agricultural agent
in Bingham county could do world
of good in standardizing the seed
business and getting the best prices
for same, in fighting noxious weeds,
in potato disease prevention, cow
testing associations and silo construc-
ton. This movement should come
from the farmers If they want such
help. The upper Snake river counties
will soon put in men for this work.
1t is a good thing for the county, it
is a good thing for the state and best
Of all it is a good thing for the
farmer, his wife and family.
H. w. Hochbaum, the state lead
or of county agent work is located
at Boise. He is at the peoples SER
vice in helping organize the county
agent work and If strong demand
Is made for his help 1t is almost !
certain that he will be glad to come
and explain the movement to the