The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-12-07
Secretary of Agriculture, in An
nuaI Report, Tells of Hearty
Response to War Needs.
SUPPLIES INCREASED
AcreaGA sad Yield of the Country's
Main Crops Are Given-Produc-
ton of Live Stock Also
Much Larger.

Washington, Dec. How American
farmers responded to the food needs
of the United States and the countries
with which it was associated in the
war is described in detail in the an
nual report of the secretary of agri-
culture, David F. Houston, just made
public.
For wheat and other leading cereals
and for potatoes, tobacco and cotton,
farmers in 1918 planted 2S9,000,000
acres, an increase over the preceding
record year Of 5,600,OO0. 1t is espe-
cially 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 (1910-
1910 by 100000; that the average
planted in 1910 exceeded the previous
record by 3,500,000; 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 1918
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 5,796,000,0 900 bushels,
and for 1918, 5,36S, 100000 bushels. a
decrease of approximately 160,000,000
unwarranted that the available sup
plies for human food OF the aggregate
nutritive value will be less in 1918
than in 1917. Fortunately, the wheat
production for the current year-91S,-
920, 900 bushels-is greatly in excess of
that for each of the preceding two
years, 650,S28, 600 in 1917, and 636,318,-
900 in 1916, and is next to the record
wheat crop of the nation. The esti-
mated corn crop, 2,749, 100000 bushels,
exceeds the five-year pre-war average
by 100000 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 S,50O,000. 900
pounds, as against 6,079, 100000 in 1914,
the year preceding the European war;
and that the total for 1918 of beef,
pork and mutton is given at 19,459,-
100000 pounds, as against 1857 .000,-
600 pounds for 1914.
I'm tho hocic pf vlriooc that ha ua
Gently prevailed the secretary says the
value of all crops produced in 1918
and of live stock on farms to January
1, including horses, mules, cattle,
sheep, swine and poultry, is estimated
to be $24,700. 100000 compared with
$21 1926, 100000 for 1917, and $11,700,-
100000, the annual average in the Ave-
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 the
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 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 do
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 moro
profitable and rural communities more
healthful and attractive.
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