Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-09-25
Uncle Sans Experts Give Advice
to AgricuIturists for Com.
ing Year.
FOOD PROBLEM IS STUDIED
Growing Of Wheat to Neglect Of Other
Crops Needed for Sustenance OF
Nation Discouraged by
Specialists.

Experts Of Uncle Sans department
of agriculture have mapped out an
agricultural program for the coming
year. In suggesting such program
on food crop production and conserva-
ton, 1t is not necessary, the officials
point out, to discuss at length the need
for increased food in time Of war. In
fact, the war intensifies shortage of
food products which has been apparent
for several years, though this country
until recently has not felt the short
age.
Many who are not directly interest
ed in agriculture think chiefly Of the
Importance Of having an abundant food
supply at the lowest prices. Producers
of food, however, must consider the
question from an economic standpoint,
If they are to continue In their bust
ness, though they consider it also from
q patriotic standpoint.
Advice on Production.
Since state of war was declared by
congress the department Of agriculture
has been called upon from all parts of
the country and by all classes of peo-
pie for advice and assistance in con-
nection with the production, conserva-
ton and marketing Of farm products.
In so far as production is concerned its
advice as heretofore given may be
summarized very briefly in four state
ments: (1) Each community should
produce it's own food and feed SO far
as practicable; (2) production Of nom
perishable staples should be In
creased beyond local needs in each To-
cality in which they can be produced
most profitably. These staples include
wheat, rye and beans. CD Sugar-beet
and sugar-cane production should he
increased in districts where factories
are accessible and production condi-
tons are favorable, and (4) CONNER
cial production Of perishables should
be increased above normal only as the
facilities for transportation and mar
keting are assured. The home yege-
table garden should be encouraged to
the extent of supplying as fully as pos
sible the needs Of the family growing
it.
Experts of the department who are
looking into these conditions point out
that this advice is as sound for next
year as it has been for this year.
A committee of department officers
and experts has studied the food prob
lem in consultation with specialists In
tile several states with view to rec
ommending to the producers of the ma
ton what they should now prepare to
produce another year, in order to care
for the home and foreign demands for
winter grain that this country should
supply and desires to supply.
Industry Finely Adjusted.
The agricultural industry Of the
United States is more complicated and
more finely adjusted than is generally
known. Definite crop rotations have
been established in large areas of the
country. Special crops and markets
for them have been developed through
the expenditure of long and patient ef-
fort, with the aid Of an ample fertilizer
supply and other favorable conditions.
The officials point out that to assure
the food supply of the immediate as
well as the remote future many OF the
well established agricultural practices
should be carefully safeguarded, for
marked disturbance Of them necesSar-
lily involves risk of dislocation of pro-
duction Of the total food supply.