Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-02-27
Government Calls on Farmer to
 Increase Food Supply.
SOUTH SHOULD FEED ITSELF
Agricultural Program for 1918 Urges Necessity for Producing Large Sup- ply of Foods and Feedstuff to
 Feed America and Its Allies.

| 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 supplementary food production program issued by the United States department of agriculture.
 This program re-emphasizes and am- plifies 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 produc- | ton and increased production of food stuffs in the South. Taken in connec- ton with the recommendations preyi- ously made, 1t suggests in full the pro- posals which the department thinks 1t desirable to offer with a view to se- cure enough meat and dairy prod ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple and perishable foods, wool and cotton for the nation, its armies, and the al- lies. It gives suggestions for the ap- | preaching spring operations, based | upon the latest available information as to the condition of the fall-planted crops of winter wheat and rye and as to the number of meat and dairy ani- mals reported for 1917. They repre- | sent the best thought of the special ists of the department who have had | the benefit of advice from agricultu- ral 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 l 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 l be required to provide enough food in | 1918. 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 many difficulties encountered, the | farmers planted the largest acreages in the history of the nation, harvested | record crops of most things except wheat, and succeeded in greatly in- creasing the number of live stock"
 "The situation is such that chief em- phasis should be given to the produc- ton 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 its live stock and then to plant as much cotton as can well be cultivated and harvest ed. To raisers of hogs and beef anil mals the world need for meats and fats is made clear. Farmers are urged to join with the men on the ranges in providing sheep whose wool is needed to equip soldiers.
 The program discusses the farm la- Dor problem, points out the lines of eff fort for relief, and outlines the activi- ties of the federal and state agencies to furnish assistance.
 Spring Wheat
 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 1, was the lowest ever recorded, indicating probable produc- ton of only 54OOO0,O0O 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 o7 the record planting in each spring wheat state within the last ten years, there would be sown ap- | proximately 23,3O0,O00 acres. If 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,- 900 acres. The record planting for any year was 20,391 ,000, In 1911. The acre. age for 1917 was 18,511,0
 "The department of agriculture has carefully studied all these records and other data in connection with the pres ant war conditions and needs, and be- lieves that 1t will be possible this year to secure an acreage in excess of the record acreage which was planted in 1911. It is believed that increased