The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-06

by the President and became law on August 10. This act, the principal feat ures of which are explained in this is- sue, should not be confused with the food control act a separate measure, which became law on the same date.
 The food production act provides addi- tional funds for the extension of the activities of the United States depart ment of agriculture in many directions, as indicated below. It will be admin istered through the department of az riculture. The food control act contains a number of powers affecting the con trol and distribution of foods and also powers affecting a number of other com modities. The powers affecting the con trol and distribution of foods will be ex- erciSed through the food administrator. What agencies will deal with the powers in the food control act affecting other commodities than food has not yet been indicated.
 The task of maintaining during the war an ample supply of food will be attacked on still larger scale by the United States department of agriculture through score or more of projects, under the provisions of the food production b1I just enacted by Congress.
 While most of the projects will be ex- tensions of present activities, some of them will represent new undertakings. The task will be to find just where the country stands in so far as the ade- quacy of the present food supply is concerned, to speed up the production of food crops wherever this can be done, and to stop as many as possible of the leaks through which hundreds of mill lions of dollars worth of edible products annually is wasted Eleven million three hundred and forty-six thousand four hun dred dollars are made available for the work in the food production act. This money is for emergency use in addition to the funds appropriated in the regular agricultural appropriation act for the usual activities of the department. The act also is distinct from the food con- trol act, measure having to do chiefly with the regulation of the distribution of food
 One of the most important steps to be taken in the emergency agricultural work will be the extension of the existing force of county agents-the joint field employees of the department and the states who come into most direct contact with farm CTS. With the addition of the new county agents an agent will be situated in prac- tically every agricultural county in the United States that will cooperate to ad- wise and assist farmers in every way possible on matters of production, con- Seryarion and marketing. The number of women county agents in rural counties will be considerably increased, and other women agents will be placed in mum Der of the larger towns and cities These women will stimulate the production of garden truck, poultry and other prod ucts by women and children and will advise and instruct in regard to the most efficient methods of food utiliza- tion and conservation.
 Under the food production act the of flee of farm management of the depart ment, 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 present season.
 The third of the more important of the emergency projects to be carried out by the department of agriculture is a quick sury ey of the food situation This &C., tivity will be for the purpose of ascer- tai,ing as accurately as possible the con- ditioli of the country's food stores and the normal consumption, in order that such action as may be necessary to in sure a sufficient supply may be taken intelligently.
 In addition to the activities under the three- projects mentioned, special work will be undertaken by many of the bu- reaus and offices of the department of agriculture in the interest of increased production, and for the conservation, pro- tection and improved handling and mar keting of crops and live stock. The bu- reau of animal industry will seek to bring about increased production of hogs and poultry, the two live stock products capable of most rapid increase. The agents of this bureau also will locate yxxe~&< 4 l. 1~. f< 5..,r s