Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-09-15

Washington. The task of maintain
ing during the war an ample supply
of food will be attacked on a still
larger scale by the United States de-
partment of agriculture through a
score or more of projects, under the
provisions of the food production bill
just enacted by congress.
While most of the projects will be
extensions OF present activities, some
of them will represent new undertake
ings. The task will be to find just
where the country stands in so far
as the adequacy Of the present food
supply Is concerned, to speed up the
production of food crops wherever this
possible of the leaks through which
hundreds OF millions Of dollars worth
of edible products annually Is wasted.
Eleven million three hundred and for
ty-six thousand four hundred dollars
are made available for the work in
the food production bill This money
IL for emergency use in addition to the
funds appropriated In the regular ag-
ricultural appropriation bin for the
usual activities of the department. The
bill also Is distinct from the food con-
troll bill, a measure having to do chief
ly with the regulation of the distribu-
ton of food.
To Increase County Agent Force.
One of the most important steps to
be taken In the emergency agricultural
work will be the extension of the ex-
field employees of the department and
the states, who come into most direct
contact with farmers. With the addi-
ton OF the new county agents an
agent win be situated In practically
every agricultural county In the Unit
ed States that will cooperate TO advise
and assist farmers in every way pos
sible o3matters of production, conser-
walton and marketing. The number
of woman county agents in rural coun-
ties will be considerably increased and
other woman agents Will be placed in
n number Of the larger towns and cit
les. These women will stimulate the
production of garden truck, poultry
and other products by women and chill
dren, and will advise and instruct in
regard to the most efficient methods
of food utilization and conservation.
Labor and Food Problems.
Under the food production bill the |
Office of farm management of the de- |
partment, in cooperation with the |
United States department of labor,
will extend the farm-help activities |
through which farm laborers and the
farmers who most need them have |
been brought together during the pres
ent season.
The third of the more important of |
the emergency projects TO be carried |
out by the department Of agriculture |
is quick survey of the food situation. |
This activity will be for the purpose |
of ascertaining as accurately as posi-
BILE the condition Of the country's food |
stores and the normal consumption in
order that such action ms may be nee
essary to insure sufficient supply |
may be taken intelllgently. Farm
stocks and supplies in retail stores and
In the hands of consumers will be es-
timated, and stocks held by wholesale
tobbing, storing, manufacturing and
other commercial establishments will
be enumerated. 1t is contemplated
that the survey will be followed by
reports on several of the more
important commodities, and II the
requires it, by another sur
vey after m interval of perhaps six
In addition to the activities under