Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-12-29
TELLS OF WORK FOR
NATIONS FARMERS
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
DISCUSSES NATIONS FOOD
.... SUPPLY.

SUPPLY.
The food supply Of the nation is
discussed by the secretary of agri-
culture in his annual report in which
he states it is notable that. with the
exception Of meat and dairy products.
the per capita production Of the lead
ing food commodities. notwithstand-
ing the increase in population, has
remained approximately the same or
has increased.
1t Is gratifying to note. he adds,
that the alarming decline in beef pro-
duction reached its lowest point in
1913, 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
slight extent.
The number of animals slaughtered
and the quantity of meat products
prepared under government inspec-
ton during the past fiscal year are
the largest in the history Of the serv-
ice. This heavier slaughtering has
been accompanied by an increase in
the remaining stock Of animals. The
secretary points out that with all the
, agencies now available for improving
agriculture there is ground for optim-
; ism as to the ability of the nation not
only to supply itself with food but
increasingly to meet the needs of the
world.
The Meat Supply.
The secretary says that the activi-
ties of the department toward in
creasing the meat supply have taken
two principal directions-(D COM
batting diseases. and ca the develop
ment of stock raising. He indicates
the progress which has been made in
the campaign for the eradication of
the southern cattle tick and in COM
batting hog cholera, sheep and cattle
scabies, and contagious abortion. He
recommends the Inauguration of a
campaign against tuberculosis in cat
tie 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 $25,000,-
900 a year in the United States.
The secretary shows that the graz
ing capacity Of the national forest
ranges has been increased through
systematic regulation by from Is to
u 80 per cent. and states that the adop-
ton OF similar system Of regulation
on the 25O.0OO,00O acres of public
grazing land outside the forests
would permit considerable addition
to the country's meat supply.
He says the Investigations Of the
department have shown conclusively
4 that the South is we'll adapted to eco
nomical beef and pork production and
that the eradication of the cattle tick
is opening up large territory for
this purpose. Progress also has been
made in the destruction Of rodents
which lessen the grazing value OF
western stock ranges. and in killing
predatory animals which cause losses
Ito the live stock industry estimated
lat $4,000. 900 annually,
Urges Sheep Raising.
The secretary recommends that
sheep be raised more extensively as a
source of meat and wool and also as
means of using much of the waste
land on farms. He points out that in
the United States only one in seven
farms Of over 20 acres now supports
sheep. with an average of one sheep
of shearing age to three acres Of land
The 800, 100000 pounds of wool now
imported annually. he says. could be
secured from 100000 sheep, and
this number could be added to our
stock If a fourth Of the remaining
farms sustained one sheep for each
three acres.
The report also discusses the de.
velopment which has taken place In
the dairy industry and calls atten
ton to the fact that cheese making
which heretofore has been limited te
certain sections. can be extended sue
cessfully to the mountain regions o.
: the South, to the valleys of the Rocky
Mountains. and to many sections o.
the Pacific coast.
Production Of Food Crops.
g In order to bring about the pro
}. duction Of food crops adequate II
Il meet the consuming needs OF tn
s country and the export demand. tn
" covo that Ono IF thQ great