The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-03-21
ASK BIG ACREAGE
Of SPRING WHEAT
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 FeedstuH to
Feed America and Its Allies.

Washington, Il. C.-The planting Of
ar 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 n supplementary food production
program issued by the United States
department OF agriculture.
This program re-emphaslzes and am
pllfes 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 previ.
ously made. II suggests In full the pro.
possls which the department thinks Il
desirable to offer with n view TO Sc
cure enough meat and dairy prod
ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple
and perishahle foods, wool and cotton
for the nation, It's armies, and the al.
lies. II gives suggestions for the APP
preaching spring operations. based
upon the latest available information
as to the condition OF the fall-planted
crops OF winter wheat and rye and ms
TO 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 a%gricultu-
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 u own needs, the needs
Of the nations associated with us In
this war, and the needs OF friendly
neutral nations, our best efforts Will
be required 10 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 he 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 IF most things except
wheat, and succeeded In greatly in.
creaslng the number Of live stock"
"The situation Is such that chief EN-
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 It's " people and feed for It's live
stock and then to plant as much cotton
as can well 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 join with the men on the ranges In
providing sheep whose wool Is needed
to equip soldiers.
The program discusses the farm la
Dol problem, POINTS out the lines Of ef.
fort for relief, and outlines the actlvl-
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 WI uses and TO meet
the needs Of the sIlies-
while the area OF winter wheat
sown in 1877 was the largest on record
the condition Of the crop, as reported
on December I, was the lowest ever
recorded, indicating a probable produc.
ton OF only $40, 100000 bushels
Whether the actual production will b.
greater or less than the estimate vii
depend upon conditions prevailing be
tween now and the time Of harvest. II
there were planted 10 spring wheat #
the UBted States this year an acreag,
equal 10 the sun Of the record plantln.
IN each spring wheat state within N,
last ten years, there would be sown ap
proximately 23,3OO,OOO acres. II Their,
should be planted an acreage equal L
the sum OF the record planting for eacl
state within the last Ave years Their,
would be sown approximately p 900,
900 acres. The record planting for an,
year was 20,3sl 900, In 1911. The acre
age for 1917 was ls.5ll.OOO.
'The department Of agriculture ha
carefully studied all these records an
other data In connection with the pres
ent war conditions and needs, and be
lleves that II will be possible this yea
to secure an acreage In excess Of tn
record acreage which was planted Il
1911. 1t IL believed that increase
Reached His Capacity.
The Arat foor NJ the hnme Wa