The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-04
Defense Council Committee
Takes Up Problem Today.
Uniform System Will Mean In
creased Meat Production.
STATE TO RAISE MUCH CORN
Farmers Probably Will Plant
Nine Million Acres.
StOckmen Urged to Market
Their Products Younger.

Plans for greatly increased produc-
lions of beef, pork and mutton were
discussed today at a special meeting
of the live stock committee of the
state defense council. Members of
the committee declared that adoption
of a uniform plan by stock producers
would mean a million pounds of extra
meat in the next year. Conditions in
every section of the state were discuss
ed and Dean j. S. Jardine, of the
state agricultural college, told the COM
mittee that less than million and a
half acres of Kansas land would be
idle this year.
and rough feed sufficient to warrant
the handling of a record number of
cattle next winter, according to re-
ports produced at the meeting. Meth
DDS for handling cattle, hogs and
sheep were discussed in detail and a
definite program for the Kansas pro-
duction of an increased meat supply
will be announced when the state
council meets in Topeka next week.
Market Younger Cattle.
Committee members today took a
slap at the established policy of Kan
sas feeders to handle four and five
year old cattle. They advocated in
stead that feeders and breeders feed
their stock to early fattening for mar
ket. w. J. Tod, of Maple Hill, one
of the biggest producers in the state,
endorsed the plan, as did Walter Ros-
coe Stubs, of Lawrence, former gov
ernor and chairman of the committee.
Stubs related personal experiences in
beef production on his ranches where
he is handling more than 5000 head
of cattle.
Farmers in western Kansas coun-
int. flTNefi ion,
game as never before, according to
statements of members of the COM
mittee. Tremendously increased acre
ages of sorghums and kafirs in west
ern counties will enable farmers in
these counties to winter u maximum
number of cattle.
THE problem before the defense
council is to get the feed and the cat
tie together" said Dean Jardine.
Many of these western men are farm
ing 160 to 800 acres of land. They
will need money for cattle and the
right cattle must be sent into their
communities"
Work Out Plans.
Plans for community organization
for the feeding of cattle were then
worked out by the committee. Under
the plan as suggested by committee
members, Kansas bankers may next
fall be asked to advance large sums
even trainloads of young cattle may
then be brought to Kansas from Texas
and other southern points. The cat
tie will be fed rough crops planted
by western farmers on land which this
year failed to produce a wheat crop.
Every farmer will be urged to handle
as many cattle as possible and funds
will be made available where credit
is needed in buying cattle.
In a statement before the committee
Dean Jardine stated that more than
1000 letters had been received in re-
Spouse OF 5000 inquiries as to condi-
lions in all counties of the state. State
institutions have sent men into every
section of the state to study conditions
and detailed information is now avail
able as to every locality.
Big Corn Acreage.
I'VE know conditions in every county
in the state" said Dean Jardine.
BIAS ed on this information there is
no doubt about a tremendous acreage
of corn kafir and sorghums. Kansas
will probably plant nine million acres
to corn this spring. 1 believe there
will be a three million acreage of kafir
and sorghnms. Less than million
and a half acres will be idle, in spite
which has been abandoned in western
counties Feed from the new crops
will fatten hundreds and thousands of
cattle and aid in relieving the meat
shortage, besides making good profit
for the farmer and stock grower"
The meeting of the live stock COM
mittee was held in the office of Joe
Mercer, state live stock sanitary COM
missioner.