La Junta tribune., 1917-04-19
FACING A FOOD SHORTAGE
Every Foot Of Land In Colorado
Should lSe Made 10 Produce
Food This summer

Make every available acre In Col
orado produce food.
This is the keynote OF wid'
spread campaign for increased foot
production which has been launched
In Colorado since ine entry OF tn,
United States into the world con
flict According to statistics report.
ed by the United States department
OF agriculture. and predictions made
by authorities upon this subject. this
country cannot avoid serious food
shortage next fall unless every far
mer, every gardener. indeed. every
private citizen who has access to q
vacant lot, makes every available
piece OF ground produce some kind
OF foodstuff.
Exports OF foodstufrs have been
very heavy during the past few years
and. since the United States has en-
tered the war. the people OF this
country are still more bound by duty
to send food across the Atlantic.
There have been crop failures In GER
tain localities and from present In
dications there will be a serious
shortage OF wheat next fall.
Thousands OF young men are being
called into the army and navy and
other thousands viii be demanded for
work in munition plants and in keep
ing the industrial machinery OF the
country in motion during the war.
This means that the number OF non
producing mouths to be fed In this
country will be greatly multiplied.
Comprehensive plans are now un-
der way to encourage an increased
production Of food, every agency av-
ailable In the state having been en-
listed In the work. Governor Gunter
has appointed n war council and this
the Denver Civic and Com
mercial Association, through its ag-
-icultural and livestock bureau and
of the Colorado Ag-
-icultural College have been In CON
ference. As the result OF this con
ference the State Board OF Agricul-
.ure has been requested to publish
bulletin which will
,erve TO arouse the farmers TO the
seriousness OF the situation and at
he same time convey to them sug-
sestlons regarding crop and seed sup
ply TO be considered in this emer-
sency.
This bulletin WAS placed In oircu-
Iation on Saturday, April iith. In It
the farmers are urged to plan, sub
stitutes for wheat. II being too late
to plant spring wheat In many sec
tions this year. The substitutes rec
ommended are corn. beans. barley.
oats. potatoes and the non saccharin
sorghums and sudan grass. The lat
ter are adapted TO the warmer sec
tions and TO the dry lands
The bulletin declares that there
Is no indication at present OF any
Of over-production and
the farmers are oounseled to have
no fear on that score. II Is stated
that there Is every Indication that
a very profitable price will prevail
when these products come into the
market, and farmers therefore will
not only be doing their duty toward
in complying with the sus-
gestions. but II will be good business
for them TO do so.
Assurances are given in the bulle-
tin that assistance viii be given the
farmers in marketing and storing
their crops in the fall.
These bulletins were sent to 20,-
600 farmers In Colorado.
Gardening for family use Il en-
couraged as strongly as Is possible.
Boys and girls garden clubs should
receive every encouragement, from
the older members OF the family tha,
none will drop out OF the same for
a better and more plentiful supply
OF food for the home
II the farmers OF Colorado are IA
meet the situation. they must act
quickly. for only few days OF plant
I,. Tina ,.n,.t,