The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-01-26
WEATHER BUREAU
IS AID TO FARMER
System for Giving Warnings
Has Reen Highly
Developed.
GIVES PROTECTION To CROPS
News That Merely Makes the City
Man Take an Umbrella May Re-
suit in Intense Activity in
Agricultural Districts.

agricultural OlStrfCtS.
Few city people reading Uncle
Sans weather forecasts In their morn
ing papers realize the importance
warning of rain, snow, frost, @. high
winds may have for the farmer, fruit
grower, or stock raiser in the country
The message which causes the city
man merely to debate whether he shah
carry an umbrella or take his oyer
coat, when telegraphed to country
points may be telephoned instantly
from farmer to farmer as news of tho
greatest agricultural Importance. Such
a message over the phone may cause
the entire countryside TO become
scene of intensive activity. There is
"A rush TO hay or grain fields TO get
in the crop or, in the spring, work like
beavers covering young seedlings in
the truck gardens with paper or other
protection from frost or preparing to
build fires or light smudges in or
chards. On ranches every available
worker may be dispatched to herd in
sheep or stock to protect them from
storms. TO them the message, which
in the city may have foretold only
slight personal discomfort, carries It'd
ings OF conditions which may mean
heavy monetary losses to the unpre-
pared farm or ranch.
On the other hand forecast predict
ing good or hot weather for three OF
four days to came may send thousands
of reapers into the fields to take adj
vantage of favorable weather, and, as
If by magic, change the landscape from
one of waving grain or grass into Il
scene of haycocks, or wheat sheayes.
Special Systems Perfected.
The United States weather bureau
has perfected special systems and
facilities for obtaining and disseminate
ing advance weather news adapted to
the protection of growers of many spe-
cial crops in different sections of tho
country. In connection with the wealth
er reports received from its 200 sta
tons and from 1900 other observation
points, the bureau has estal lished
large number of special stations for
observnting crop weather conditions in
Liz wi II, Nuthlt tOtttii, oiet.t AiNC lilO
catte-raising districts. The object OF
this service is to furnish the growers
of each of these crops throughout the
summer with Information that will en-
able them TO handle the crops TO best
advantage. The corn and wheat region
service covers, for example, the 15
principal grain states, in which IL
maintains one region center, ID dis
trct centers, and ia special stations
from which kilograms are received
daily and reports disseminated. Daily
bulletins showing the temperature
and rainfall at these stations are
published at IS different points and
distributed to approximately 2,775 dit
ferent people. Similar services deal
ing with cotton weather conditions
cover the II principal cotton states and
consist of data gathered in ID centers
! through 175 special stations.
The crop weather service is partIc
ularly important to alfalfa growers in
all the western states and special three
or four-day forecasts are issued
throughout the season to alfalfa har
vesters.
Special Fruit-Regon Service.
The special fruit-region weather
warning service, which forecasts par
j tcularly the coming of spring frosts,
is of particular value in the intensive
orcharding districts where fruit grow
ers have made preparations by means
: of smudging or heating or other means
to protect their orchards from frost
The orchard forecasts and warnings
are principally for the benefit of fruit
men OF Ohio. Colorado. Utah. Wash
; ington, Oregon and California. This
d service has been expanded by the es-
; Establishment of seven new stations In
y the grape and ach-growiug districts
= of northern Ohio and by the detailing
L Of trained men for special duty in the
fruit district of the Hood river valley,
, Oregon. and the Gunnison valley
4 Colorado. These men study the local
{ situation and give expert Information
to the fruit growers as to the tenn
5 peratures to be expected and as to
; the probable need to light fires in
y their orchards.
SpeCltl RAIN anu temperature lore-
Il casts for the sheepmen in Oregon
e Washington. and Idaho were made by
y the district forecastef mt Portland
u Ore, during the shearing and landing
u season of 1916. 1t is estimated that
g there are more than 100000 sheep in
these states As winter feeding II
j. expensive. sheep are usually shorn ant
put on the ranges as early as posi-
bic. Early lamhing is encouraged also
Before being shorn, If stormy ant
cold weather prevails the sheep ma,
# succurnb to fatigue and starvation
s and after they are shOrn il Is neces
e sary To keep them near natural q
= artificial protection for a short perioS
5 If unfavorable conditions prevail The
@ forecasts enable proper precautions t.
It be taken by anticipating these condi
# lions, and also give information as Il
n favorable weather conditions for sew
.1ax- In, OH hot ~h