Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-01-30
THE COUNTY AGENT
MOVEMENT IN IOWA
What it has Done for a Number Of
Progressive Communities Util-
izing its Advantages.

The farmers of Hamilton county,
and some business men, are becom-
ing interested in the movement in
favor Of a county agent here since
VIM. Oakland, one Of the progressive
farmers south of harrisburg, has an
nounced that a meeting will soon be
held for the purpose OF effecting an
Organization to take advantage OF
the opportunities offered by the state
land federal governments. A number
of counties have profited greatly by
erploying such an agent and there
is no reason why Hamilton county
should not. In reviewing some Of
the experiences of other counties,
Extension Bulletin No. 46 Of the
State college says:
Henry county organized a Pure
Erred Live Stock Breeders association
lin 1915. Similar organizations have
lsince been organized in a number OF
iglIC StiLNi 'oubtiVS. <Aii nv SS9C b-
the number of breeders of pure bred
live stock has resulted. In Henry
Icounty stock has been sold TO other
Estates in carload lots and the, county
is becoming known as a live stock
breeding center. A prominent feat
IRE OF the county fair in 1916 was
Eight new exhibitors Of pure bred
live stock.
When county agent work began in
Scott county, September l., 1912,
there were only two fields of alfalfa
Lbeing successfully grown in the
county. A careful census of 1915
shows 800 fields, or a total of 27O0
acres, in the county making an aver
age yield of five aid o%ne-fourth tons
per acre. In the vicinity of Burling-
ton a successful alfalfa demonstra-
ton is being conducted on the farm
of Alex Moir.. Mr.. Moir has over 200
acres of alfalfa growing successfully
on blow sand and some Of it is now
three years old. The yield last year
was a little over four tons per acre.
His success is due to the application
of limestone at the rate of eight
tons, and twenty-five tons of manure
per acre, good seed and incubation.
Clay county in 1914 conducted a
systematic campaign for the control
of hog cholera. The result shows
that 566 herds were immunized and
only six cases were unsuccessful.
During the year Clay county saved
twenty per cent more hogs than the
average of the surrounding counties,
which amounted to about $150,000
saved to the farmers of the county.
Cow test associations have been
organized in many of the organized
counties. In Clinton county one of
these associations not only helped
weed out the poor COW, but it PROV
ed to an owner of ten COWS that he
was feeding too much grain and not
enough concentrates. By making a
change in the rations, the profit of
the herd was increased twenty times.
A cooperative egg marketing as
ISOLATION organized in Blackhawk
county a year ago with twelve mem
bers has increased it's membership to
twenty-five During the year $4,000
dozen eggs were marketed through
the business interests of Waterloo at
a premium of four cent per dozen
above market price. This brought
an increase of S1,4O0 to the ~associa-
ton. However, the increased price
was not the only value gained. In
every case. increased egg production
was brought about by selection. feed
ing and housing.
Linn county perhaps has given the
best demonstration of what commun-
ity clubs will do for a county. These.
clubs now number twenty-three, and
meet once. a month at the homes of
the different members. The entire
family is included and the program
is usually made up mostly of local
talent. Two clubs have held farm
er-merchant banquets the past year.
The subjects for discussion pertain
to the community needs and often
lead to permanent local improve
ments.
At the Piano Shop.
Several Diapoc tokap in aychopoo