The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-29
BANKERS AID FARMERS
Have Been Urging Increased Production
for Five Years.

Atlantic City, n. j., Sept. 2S.-How
the bankers of the United States have
operated with the farmer to obtain a
more profitable and increased production
of food and livestock was related to the
American Bankers association to-day by
Joseph Hirsch of Corpus Christi, Tex,
chairman of the agricultural commission
of the association.
This campaign for increased food,
feed and livestock production, which we
have been advocating for five years has
become vital factor in the successful
conduct of the great enterprise of war
upon which this nation is launched" said
Chairman Hirsch. Agricultural prepar-
edness is just as necessary as military
preparation. We are endeavoring to APP
ply efficiency methods to the business of
farming greatest business of this
country. The purpose of the bankers is
to increase our agricultural prosperity
and at the same time make the banking
business more profitable and infinitely
safer by lending direction and financial
assistance to the sound farming projects
advocated by those efficiency experts, the
field forces of the United States depart
ment of agriculture and the state colleges
of agriculture.
During the past IL months we have
redoubled our efforts toward the employ
ment of additional county agents and no
better proof of the wisdom of this policy
can be offered than the fact that our gov
eminent, in its campaign for increased
food production, will endeavor to place |
county agent in every agricultural coun
ty in the United States
1--WE have continued to advocate the |
development of the livestock industry
and hundreds of calf, dairy, baby beef,
sheep, swine and poultry clubs have been
organized by bankers all over the coun
try. Thousands of pure bred cattle,
swine and sheep have been purchased by
bankers and have been sold to farmers
and to children, members of livestock
clubs, at actual cost. These movements I
are playing an important part in the
of the government to increase
our meat supply Illinois bankers have
more than so calf clubs and as
a result of their interest, more than 5000
head of animals have been brought into
that state.
Wisconsin bankers, in conjunction
with the state agricultural college have
distributed a variety of seed which it is
believed will increase the states wheat !
Weld from an average of 20 bushels an
acre to $50 bushels an acre. Michigan
bankers hope TO save the farmers of the
state some Sl5,OO0,0O0, which is lost an {
lually because of poor seed {
"The entire South has engaged upon 1
campaigns conducted large. I
Y under bankers auspices, which have
aved millions of dollars for southern I
armers and brought about an agricultur- I
Il revolution in the land of cotton.
"All over the country better under '
tanding has been created between bank ?
rs and farmers. The Wisconsin and '
Bankers associations con
ucted banker-farm excursions to their :
tate colleges of agriculture. The Cali
ornia Bankers association visited the Y
tate university farm in a body. As a :
esult California bankers are now turn
ng their attention to the development
( the livestock industry in their com
1unities.
This is the kind Of agricultural work
v bankers which will bring agricul-
ural prospefity-the bankers are acting
: the connecting link between the sci
ntifc forces Of the colleges and the prac-
csl forces u the field
4 appesl for support in this work
-hich Is bringing about a closer relation
hip and a better understanding between
he bankers and their farmer customers
a work which has always been eco
oniczlly sound but which to-day has
scome 80 important = factor in the PRO
AN for our national defensa-