Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-12-28
SUMMARY REPORT
On FOOD SUPPLY
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
DISCUSSES NATIONS FOOD SUP
PLY-DIsTRlBUTIoN AND MARK.
LAMENTATIONS.

The food supply of the Nation Is
discussed by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture In his annual report for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1916. The Secre-
tary states II Is notable that, with the
exception of meat and dairy products.
the per capita production OF the lead
ing food commodities. notwithstanding
the increase in population, has re-
NAMED approximately the same or has
increased. II is gratifying to note, he
adds, that the alarming decline in beef
production reached its lowest point In
1918. and that since that time there
has been a material increase, while
there has been a marked advance in
the number OF swine since the census
year 1899. The number of sheep has
continued to decline, but only to a
slight extent. The number of animals
slaughtered and the quantity of meat
products prepared under Government
inspection during the past fiscal year
are the largest In the history OF the
service. This heavier Strengthening has
been accompanied by an increase in
the remaining stock OF animals. He
points out that with all the agencies
now available for improving agricul.
ture there is ground for optimism as
to the ability of the Nation not only to
supply Itself with food but increasing
ly to meet the needs of the world.
The Meat Supply.
The Secretary says that the activl.
ties of the department toward increas.
Ing the meat supply have taken two
principal directions-Q) combating
diseases, and (2) the development of
stock raising. He indicates the pro-
gress which has been made in the
campaign for the eradication of the
southern cattle tick and in combating
hog cholera. sheep and cattle scabies
and contagious abortion. He recon.
mends the inauguration of campaign
against tuberculosis in cattle and
hogs, stating that this disease Is the
most common. destructive, and widely
disseminated of the infectious diseases
OF domestic animals and causes losses
estimated at s25.OOO.OOO a year In the
United States.
The Secretary shows that the graz
ing capacity of the national forest
ranges has been increased through svs
tematic regulation by from Is to 80
per cent. and states that the adoption
or similar system of regulation on
the 25O million acres OF public grazing
land outside the forests would permi,
a considerable addition to the coun.
trys meat supply. He says the inves.
legations of the department have
SHOWN conclusively that the South IS
wen adapted to economical beef and
pork production and that the eradica.
ton OF the cattle tick Is opening up n
large territory for this purpose. Pro.
sress also has been made in the de-
struction of rodents which lessen the
grazing value of western stock ranges
ana In killing predatory animals which
cause losses to the livestock industry
estimated at s12.C0O,OOO annually.
The Secretary recommends that
sheep be raised more extensively ne q
source OF meat and wool and also as q
means of using much OF the waste
iand on farms. lie points out that In
the United States only one in sevcr
farms OF over 90 acres now support,
sheep, with an average OF one sheer
OK shearing age to acres of land. The
SUI million pounds of wool now i'm
ported annually, he says, could be SO
cured from so million sheep. and this
number could be added to our stock n
fourth OF the remaining farms sus
tanned one sheep for each 3 acres
The report afro discusses the devotion
ment which has taken place in the
dairy Industry and calls attention 10
the fact that cheese making. which
heretofore has been limited TO certain
sections, can be extended successfully
10 the mountain regions of the South
TO the valleys of the Rocky Noun.
tains. and TO many sections OF the Pa.
cific coast.