The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-18
FayoRs A COUNTY AGENT.
Decatur County Student ut Ames
Tells OF Need of a County Agent
in Decatur County.

l.. l.. RhOadeS, OF near LauoAl'
who is taking an agricultural course
at the State College at Ames, believes
that Decatur county should nave
county agent or advisor, and urges
the citizens of Decatur county to take
action on this very important matter
in the near future. he says:
81 believe every county IN the
state will have a county advisor by
January !, 1915" says Professor j.
w. Coverdale, state leader or the
county agent work.
Since l have become acquainted
with the work of the county agent,
I am eager to get one established in
Decatur county.
The county agent system has long
been known in the most progressive
countries of Europe. 1t was first
known in the United States in 1906,
starting in Bedford county, Penn. 1T
was at this time, chiefly an agricul-
tural trading bureau, to which the
people by mail or phone asked the
officer to find buyer for stock or
products and they in turn, II pre-
ferring, were cited to materials that
they wished to buy or cooperate. IN
short, the county acted as unit, all
centered around the so like agrlcul-
tural bureau. This system grew so
popular that in 1911 one man was
placed at the head to carry on the
work. Since that time the county
agent system has sprung up In al
most every state east OF the Mlssls-
sippi and Iowa is adopting it on the
west side of the Mississippi.
Iowa now has total OF thirteen
ip~1 wit
agents and will reacn the total of
fifty before six months. The reason
for this rapid increase, counties in
the northeastern part OF the state
suffered a seed corn famine this
spring The farmers of the counties
not having county agents, organized
with a head and committee to test
the good looking seed corn and by
this means farmers possessing good
seed, had their grain tested in five or
six days time and sold to other farm
ers of the county. County agents are
being called so extensively to those
counties that there is not enough
capable men to fill the positions.
The work of the agent will be to
buy seeds in lots for farmers, such as
high priced clover and alfalfa seeds
that can be purchased dollar or SO
cheaper per bushel in large quantl-
ties. Farm machinery in large guam
titles The buying of limestone for
alfalfa soils. This last factor is OF
chief Importance. Farmers hesitate
to buy limestone in small quantities
to spread over their fields. 1t costs
too much, and moreover is not the
proper kind. The average farmer
n
southern Iowa. Limestone purchas-
ed in large lots can be applied for
$1.O0 to $1.25 per ton and since i've
tons are applied per acre and lasting
for period of four to five years, 1t
makes an average of S1.25 per acre
per year, and increases yield at least
one ton per year, which will sell at
from $1,000 to $4,000 per ton. He
will further see that al cholera hogs
are quarantined and treated. lie Will
have charge of Boys and Girls Corn
Clubs, Beef Prize Clubs, Dairy Test
ing Associations, that have their
COWS tested twice month to discard
the poor ones. The records OF the
best COWS being sold with COW when
auctioned at public sale. IN snort,
he will be an advisor, head to take
charge of all of such work. He Will
not be factor to inform, he viii be
an agricultural county executive to
work with the farmers individually
and collectively.
I believe the farmers of Decatur
county will agree that we should
have a yearly county fair, and our
lack of such is due to the absence OF
a leader. The business men do not
have time to prepare for exhibits,
prizes and entertainment.
More could be said concerning the
work of the county agent. He cor
responds to the farmers as the coun-
ty engineer corresponds to the board
of supervisors in the building OF bet
ter roads and better bridges.
In Missouri, contemporary with
the county advisor for men farmers,
they have in a number of counties a
lady to cooperate with the ladies on
the farm.
The expense of the advisor will be
borne by the farmers and business
men of the towns, not by any assess
ment, unless they prefer the latter.
Miss Mabel Horner, county super
intendent, originator of this move
ment in Decatur county, has been Of
Tered near $l,40O by business men
and farmers to start the movement.
From $4,000 to $4,000 will be requir-
ed to get an experienced man, to pay
his salary and yearly expenses.
Prof. Coverdale will send man in
June to visit the leadlng towns and
centers of farmers to reveal the SEN
timent of the county. Think it over.
Do you want a county advisor?
NnrecvNnC hIr.1k.E15