The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-13
THIS EARTH HAS BEEN MADE
TO PRODUCE MORE
Secretary Of Agriculture Hous.
ton Gives Statistics In
Annual Report
UNITED Press Dispatch.l

1CSu tAS OIL IL lAAS NV ~AN 49,
people at home, is given in the an
nual report of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Houston, made public today.
"On them rested the responsibility
for maintaining and increasing food
production and for assisting in Sc
curing fuller conservation of food
and feed stuffs. The part the mil
lions of men, women, boys and girls
on the farms played during the war
is striking, but altogether too little
known and appreciated" the secre-
tary says.
Despite shortage of labor, due in
large part to thousands of the youth
of the farms serving in the great
war, American farmers broke all rec
ords in acreage planted, he says.
Increase in Acreage
In 1917 there were 2S3,OOO,OOO
acres planted as compared with 261,-
100000 the previous year, and
yearly average of 24S,000,0O0 for the
FIVE years prior to 1914, the first year
of the war.
With a still further storage of la
ord, with $4,000 900 acres planted in
standard crops.
Climatic conditions for the two
great staple crops-corn and wheat
were bad in many sections of the
country during the war period, but,
Notwithstanding this, the aggregate
yield exceeded any previous year in
the nations history, with the single
exception of 1915, the report shows.
The Wheat Production
Wheat production for 1918 totaled
S18y920, 900 bushels, greatly in excess
of each of the two previous years
and the second highest record.
The estimated total yield of the
leading cereals for 1917 was $780,.
100000 bushels and for 1918 about
$685., OO0,O0 bushels.
Not only in the raising of wheat
and corn, did the farmers, of
America put other records in the
shade Wars demands greatly in
creased necessity for meat products
eggs and milk. Here again, the far
mer measured up to his response
bilities, Houston says.
More Beef Produced
In 1918, over 8,500,000.000 pounds
of beef were produced as compared
with 6,073, 100000 in 1917. 10,500,0O0-
600 pounds of pork, with but $780,
100000, in 1914 and 495,000,O00 pounds
of mutton, making total of 19,495,-
100000 pounds, while but 15,5S7,-
100000 were produced in 1914.
Production Of milk, poultry and
eggs showed the same gratifying in
crease in production, the report
shows.
Advocates Personal Credit Unions.
A system of personal credit un-
ions, especially for the benefit OF
farmers whose financial circum-
stances and scale of operations make
it difficult for them to secure accom-
modations through ordinary chan
nels, is recommended in the annual
report of the secretary Of agricul
ture.
"The men / have especially ir
mind" says the secretary, "arc
those whose operations are on {
small scale and who are not, in mos
cases. intimately in touch with bank
ing machinery, who know too little
ABOUT financial operation and whose
cases usually do not receive the affir
native attention and sympathy o
the banker. Such farmers would b.
much benefited by a membership il
cooperative credit associations o.
unions.
Must Raise Their Standard.
"Of course, there are still othel
farmers whose standards of Twin,
and productive ability are low, wht
no caticfact
DRY lands, who might not be received
for the present into such aSSOcia
tions. This class peculiarly excite
interest and sympathy, but it is DIFF
ficult to see how Immediately an.
concrete financial arrangement will
reach it. The great things that cal
be done for this element of our farm
ing population are the things tina
agricultural agencies are doing TO
all classes but must do for it wit
peculiar zeal. The approach to tn
solution of it's difficulty is an edu
cauonal ore, involving better farm
ing, marketing, schools, health ar
rangements and more sympatheti
aid from the merchant and tn
banker. If the business men of tn
towns and cities primarily depepden
p on the rural districts realize that tn
salvation of their communities de
ponds on the development of tn
back country and will give their or
ganizing ability to the solution of tn
problem in support of the plans {
the organized agricultural agencie
responsible for leadership niue
Roadway will be made.
Cooperative Associations
"The foundation for effective wor
in this direction is the successft
promotion of CO. operative associa
tions among farmers, not only fC
better finance but also for better pro
duction, distribution, and higher liv
ing conditions. These activities al
of primary Importance. At the sam
time, it is recognized that such co
operation cannot be forced upon
community, but must be grOwt
resulting from the volunteer, intelli
gent effort of the farmers them
4 Selves"
The conclusion up to the presen
says the secretary, seems to be thu
the field is ore primarily for tn
states to occupy through SCUM
legislation. Under laws adopted
FIVE states 1875 personal credit asso
cations have been organized, b,
the larger percentage of them hay