Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-20
u. S. to Spend 81 100000 to Encourage
Conservation of the Nations Food Supply

OF maintaining during the war an
ample supply OF food will be attacked
on still larger scale by the United
States department Of agriculture thru
score or moro Of projects, under
the provisions OF the food production
bill just enacted by congress.
While most Of the projects will be
extensions OF present activities. some
of them will represent new under
takings. The task will be to find just
where the country stands In so far as
the adequacy of the present food sup
ply is concerned. to speed up the pro-
duction Of food crops wherever this
can be done and to stop as many as
possible of the leaks thru which hun
dreds of millions of dollars worth
OF edible products annually is wasted.
Eleven million, three hundred and
forty-six thousand, four hundred dol
lars are made available for the work
in the food production bill. This
money is for emergency use in addi
ton to the funds appropriated in the
regular agricultural appropriation
bill for the usual activities of the
department. The bill also is distinct
from the food control bill. n measure
having to do chiefly with the regula-
tion of the distribution of food.
More County Agents.
One Of the most important steps to
be taken In the emergency agricul
tural work will be the extension Of
the existing force OF county agents
the joint field employees Of the de-
partment and the states who come
into most direct contact with farmers.
With the addition Of the new county
p,fn eft cd In,
practically every agricultural county
in the United States that will CO.
operate to advise and assist farmers
in every way possible on matters of
production. conservation and market
ing. The number of women county
agents in rural counties will be con-
sderably increased and other women
agents will be placed in a number of
the larger towns and cities. These
women will stimulate the production
of garden truck, poultry and other
products by women and children, and
will advise and instruct in regard to
the most efficient methods Of food
utilization and conservation.
Attack Labor Problem.
Under the food production bill the
office of farm management of the
department, in cooperation with the
United States department of labor,
will extend the farm help activities
thru 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
will be for the purpose of ascertain
ing as accurately as possible the con-
dition of the countrys food stores and
the normal consumption, in order
the such action as may be necessary
| to insure a sufficient supply may be
taken intelligently. Farm stocks and
supplies in retail stores and in the
hands of consumers will be estimated
and stocks held by wholesale jobbing
storing, manufacturing and other
commercial establishments will be
enumerated. 1t Is contemplated that
the survey will be followed by month
ly reports on several of the more i'm
portant commodities and, il the emer-
gency requires it, by another survey
after an interval Of perhaps six
months.
Stimulate Production.
In addition to the activities under
the three projects mentioned, specia
work will be undertaken by many oi
the bureaus and offices of the depart
ment of agriculture in the interest ol
increased production, and for the con
servation, protection and improved
handling and marketing of crops ant
live stock. The bureau of animal in
dustry will seek to bring about in
creased production of hogs and poul
try, the two live stock products capa
BILE of most rapid increase. The agent!
of this bureau also will locate sur
pluses of hogs in heavy producini
areas and farmers In other sections
of the country with good facilities TO
hog-raising, in the effort to brins
about more economical distribution o
hogs. Efforts also will be made indi
rectly to increase animal production
by combating animal diseases ant
pests, especially hog cholera, tubercu
losis and the cattle tick, which caus
losses aggregating millions of dollar
annually. The bureau also will en-
deavor to stimulate the increased pro
: duction and utilization Of dairy food
and will carry on campaign for tn
more general production Of infertil
eggs.
The bureau of entomology will ex
tend its activities in the field to pro
. tect crops and live stock. 1t will as
sist in organizing communities 70