The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-12-12
HOW FARMERS
ANSWERED CALL
Secretary of Agriculture, in An
nuaI Report, Tells OF Hearty
Response to War Needs.
SUPPLIES INCREASED
Acreage and Yield Of the Country's
Main Crops Are Given-Produc-
ton of Live Stock Also
Much Larger.

Washington, Dec. THE annual re-
port of the secretary of agriculture,
David F. Houston, just made public,
describes in detail how American farm
ers responded to the food needs of
the United States and the countries
with which 1t was associated in the
war.
For wheat and other leading cereals
and for potatoes, tobacco and cotton,
farmers in 1918 planted 2S9, 600, 600
acres. an increase over the preceding
record year of $4,000 600. 1t is espe-
ciallyl noteworthy, the secretary points
out, that while the acreage planted
in wheat in 1917 was slightly less than
that for the record year 1910, it ex-
ceeded the five-year average 0910-
1910 by 100000 that the average
planted in 1910 exceeded the previous
record by $500. 600; and that the indi-
cations are that the acreage planted
during the current fall season will
considerably exceed that of any pre-
ceding fall planting.
Notwithstanding adverse climatic
conditions in 1917. especially for
wheat, and in 1918, especially for corn,
the secretary reports that only 1915
has exceeded either 1917 or 1918 in
the aggregate yield of Wheat and other
leading cereals.
Food Supply Grows.
THE estimated total for 1917" he
explains, was 5,796, 000, 900 bushels,
and for 1918, 1858, OOO, 900 bushels. a
decrease of approximately 160, 900 900
bushels. But the conclusion would be
unwarranted that the available sup
plies for human food or the aggregate
nutritive value will be less in 1918
than i'm 1917. Fortunately, the wheat
production for the current year-91S,-
800 900 bushels-is greatly in xcess OF
that for each of the preceding two
years, $50, S2S, 900 in 1917, and ~636,31S,-
900 in 1916, and is next to the record
wheat crop of the nation. The esti-
mated corn crop, 2,749,0 0 ,00Q bushels.
exceeds the five-year pre-war average
by 1900, 900 bushels, is "a per cent
above the average in quality, and is
greatly superior TO that of 1917"
Turning to live stock, the secretary
notes that the number of pounds of
beef for 1918 is given at $500, 000, 900
pounds, as against sos, 600, 900 in 1914,
the year preceding the European war;
and that the total for 1918 of beef,
pork and mutton is given at 19,459,-
000, 900 pounds, as against 1857 ,000,-
900 pounds for 1914.
On the basis OF prices that have re-
Gently prevailed the secretary says the
value of all crops produced in 1913
and of live stock on farms to January
J.. including horses, mules, cattle,
sheep, swine and poultry. is estimated
to be SPA. 700, 000, 900 compared with
s2i 1926, OOO. 900 for 1917, and Sill 100
000. 900, the annual average in the FIVE.
year period 1910 to 1914.
Farmers Praised for Their Work.
The part played in backing up the
war by the millions of men, women,
boys and. girls on the farms and Che
organized agricultural agencies assist.
ing them, including the federal depart.
ment OF agriculture, the state colleges
and departments of agriculture, farm
ers' organizations. and the agricultural
press, is striking, the secretary says,
but is altogether too little known and
appreciated.
Within the last year, however, he
sees a change. The attention of the
world has been directed to its food
supply. The towns and cities. he points
out. all are directly dependent upon
agriculture for their existence. and
most of them for their growth and
prosperity. They must of necessity
take an intelligent. constructive inter
est in rural problems and in the bet
terment of rural life. They can dc
this effectively, he says, only as they
inform themselves and lend their sup
port to the plans carefully conceived
by the federal and state organizations
and by the more thoughtful and sue
cessful farmers. Marked responses in
every part Of the Union are noted to
appeals that have been made by the
department to enlist more complete CO
operation by bankers and other bust
ness men, and of their associations in
the effort to make agriculture more
profitable and rural communities more
healthful and attractive.