Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-05
Big INCREASE
IN FOOD SUPPLY
IS DEMANDED
Agricultural Departments Pro-
gram for 1918 Points Out
Needs of Nation and Allies.
GROW MORE SPRING WHEAT
Necessity of Producing Large Supply
of Foods and Feedstuffs Is Empha-
sized-More Hogs Demanded
South Is Urged to Feed
Itself

NdSHlHSIOU, ~. - lie pldhIihS Va
an increased acreage to spring wheat
and the production Of an increased sup
ply of other food products and of live
stock. especially hogs. is recommend
ed in a supplementary food production
program issued by the United States
department of agriculture.
This program re-emphaSizes and am
plifes the fOod-production program
for 1918 issued by the department in
August, 1917 and other suggestions
made In the fall and the first of this
year regarding increased pork produce
ton and increased production of food
Stuffs ia the South. Taken in cOnnec-
ton with the recommendations previ-
ouslv made, IL suggests in full the pro-
poSals which the department thinks it
desirable to offer with a view TO Sc
cure enough meat and dairy prod
ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple
and perishlble foods, wool and cotton
for the nation, It's armies. and the al
lies. It gives suggestions for the APP
preaching spring operations, based
upon the latest available information
as to the condition of the falI-planted
crops of winter wheat and rye and as
+" the number of meat and dairy ami
mails reported for 1917. They repre-
sent the best thought Of the special
lists of the department who have had
the benefit of advice from agricultu
raj leaders throughout the country.
Our Best Efforts Required.
Notwithstanding an increased pro-
ductiOn of staple crops in the United
States in 1917, there Is need for more
food the program states. Taking
Into account our own needs. the needs
of the nations associated with us in
this war. and the needs of friendly
neutral nations. our best efforts will
he required to provide enough food in
1913. Whether the war continues or
+ not the demands on this country. be-
cause of the increasing population and
the needs of Europe will be great. An
especially strong demand will be made
on this country for meats and live
stock. In 1917 Notwithstanding the
farmers planted the largest acreageS
I'm the history of the nation. harvested
record crops of most things except
wheat, and succeeded in greatly in
Crrasing the number of live stock"
The situation is such that chief en-
phasis should be given to the produc-
tim Of the great staple food products,
with special stress on wheat and hogs,
the leading war foods"
The South is urged to provide food
for its own people and feed for it's live
stock and then to plant as much cotton
rs can we'll be cultivated and harvest
ed. To raisers of hogs and beef ami
mails the world need for meats and
fats is made clear. Farmers are urged
to ioin with the men on the ranges in
providing sheep whose wool is needed
to equip soldiers.
The program discusses the farm Ia
Dor problem, points out the lines of eff
fort for relief. and outlines the activi-
flies of the federal and state agencies
to furnish assistance
Spring Whest.
In dealing with the question of
spring wheat, the program states:
The acreage of spring wheat should
be increased in order to make certain
that we shall have an adequate supply
OF wheat for our own uses and to meet
the needs of the allies.
While the area of winter wheat
Sown in 1917 was the largest on record,
the condition of the crop, as reported
on December l, was the lowest ever
recorded, indicating probable produc-
tion of only 540,000,0O0 bushels.
Whether the actual production will be
greater or less than the estimate will
depend upon conditions prevailing be-
tween now and the time of harvest. If
there were planted to spring wheat In
the United States this year an acreage
equal to the sum of the record planting
last ten years, there would be Sown ap-
proximately 23.300,000 acres. II there
should be planted an acreage equal to
the sum of the record planting for each
state within the last five years there
would be sown approximately 21,O0O,.
600 acres. The record planting for any
year was 20.3S1 900, in 1911. The acre
age for 1917 was 1S,511.00O
The department of agriculture has
carefully studied all these records anC
other eata in connection with the pres
cnt war conditions and needs, and be
lieves that it will be possible this veal
To secure an acreage in excess of tn,
record acreage which was planted il
1911. 1t is believed that increased
acreages can be secured in states ant
sections where spring-wheat production
is known To be reasonably promising
AID that such increases can be mad
without upsetting farm plans.
The total acreage will be greatly in
fluenced by what is done in Minnesota
North Dakota, Montana aud Idaho
where the conditions have not been tn