American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-29
8 FACILITIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The Bureau of Plant Industry, through its Of
flee Of Farmers Cooperative Demonstrations.
Northern and Western States, in cooperation
with the State agricultural colleges is carrying on
two lines OF demonstration work: ~ With ad-
uIts through county agricultural agents and farm
management demonstrators; and az with young
people by means of boys and girls clubs.
Demonstration work with adults has been car
ried on in the Northern and Western states for the
past three years by means of agents located in an
agricultural area, usually the size of a county.
There are now 31S Of these agents located in as
many counties In the Northern and Western states,
and the number Is growing as rapidly as funds are
available and men competent for the work can be
found.
The very diversified nature OF the agriculture
Of the Northern and Western states necessitates
that the agent who may be located within a county
be thoroughly trained In agriculture. 1t is re-
quired that he be farm-bred, know the science Of
the subject as well as the field practice, and that
he have organizing ability, tact and common sense
In dealing with men.
The county agent brings to the individual farm
err the results of scientific Investigations In agri-
culture and the experience of successful farmers
and helps the farmer 10 put them into practice on
his own farm. The agents prime mission Is to in
crease efficiency In farming and to secure to the
farmer a greater net income at the end OF the year
and at the sam time maintain the productiveness
OF the soil, a proper standard of living, and a con-
sequent Improvement Of rural life.
The idea uppermost in this demonstration work
is to get an many farmers as possible to under
take some line of agricultural improvement on
their own farms and thus learn better agriculture
by actually doing II.
In taking up work IN a county the county agent
first finds out what the agriculture OF the county
really is and what the farmers need, based on an
examination OF agricultural conditions throughout
the county and conferences with the farmers them
selves.
The agents training in the science of agricul-
ture along with his local studies enables him to
advise with farmers ~helpfully at the outset or such
subjects as spraying, seed selection and treatment.
fertilizers, control of insect pests, cultural and
stock practices, and other miscellaneous matters,
and 1t is along these lines that he is usually first
called upon for assistance In the county. But his
greatest usefulness to the county comes from his
cooperation with groups Of farmers who study
their own local agricultural problems and carry
out lines of demonstration work that they devise
OF themselves or which the county agent suggests.
The county agent also acts as a connecting link
between the scientific or research work Of state
and nation, and the farmer, not only presenting
the results OF Investigations in such a way that
they may be used by the farmer, but calling the
attention OF research institutions to the local az
ricultural problems Of the county and soliciting
the assistance OF the scientists in helping to solve
them.
Through a memorandum Of understanding be-
tween the Secretary of Agriculture and the offic-
ials OF the State agricultural colleges, all Of the
county agents I'm the Northern and Western states
are comparatively employed with the State agri-
cultural colleges. The agent therefore, is "A Joint
representative Of the State and Nation and has
back OF him the support OF these two great insti-
tutions In his advisory and demonstration work
with the farmers. The county also, In which the
WORK is done shares In the expense and control OF
the work.
During the year 267 agents have been at work.
or this number only 1T were at work at the be-
ginning OF the year. Two hundred ard sixty-three
have reported on the results OF their work, as
follows: Each agent reporting has visited an av-
erage OF 200 farmers one or more times on their
own farms, has been visited In his office by 331
farmers: has been consulted over the telephone
on matters relating to agriculture GIT times and
by letter 1045 times. Added to this each agent has
held 10 general farmers meetings, organized Z
associations for the promotion of agriculture along
various lines, written 3S timely articles for the
agricultural press, conducted 4 observation par
ties consisting of 20 men each to study local agri-
cultural problems In different sections of the coun-
ty, carried on demonstrations on the farms of As
farmers, holding on the average 6 demonstration
inspection meetings with an average attendance of
81 farmers ut each meeting.