The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-16
GOVERNMENT is.
SEED TO.
SUPPLY FARMERS.
OF NORTH WEST.
Shepherd Details Plan of
County Aid and Federal
Assistance

the farmers of North Dakota, &C
cording to Dean J. H. Shepperd, o
the North Dakota experiment sta
ton, who placed before the Farm
Managers association, in annua
convention in Fargo today, a state
ment Of the seed stock situation.
Most Of the material that I an
able to give is what has been secur'
cd as a member Of the committee
on conservation OF seed grain stocks
for North Dakota. This committed
has been working since September
1917, and has rather systematically
canvassed the question Of seed sup
ply from its various angles. The
managers of the grain elevators have
proved to be the principal sources
OF information, although county
agents and the State Bankers asso-
citation reports have been compared
for a check and have reasonably
well agreed with the report of the
elevator men. A few counties, I be-
| lieVe four all told in the state have
not given adequately the data called
for. The survey conducted netted re-
suits as follows:
THE elevators Of the state stored
| 97,925 bushels of wheat under the
| United States seed reserve storage
law proposition prior to the date
Nov. %, 1917. These lots OF seed
wheat have been approved by the
| government officials for storage and
use as seed. The reports mentioned
above indicate that the states sup
ply of seed wheat is ample and of
good grade and that North Dakota.
needs approximately 1,0OO,0 900 bush
els Of oats, $4,000 bushels of bar
ley and $4,000 bushels Of flax. The
canvass Of the seed corn situation
has been much more definite and sat
isfactory. My opinion is that we will
lack about $4,000 bushels Of having
sufficient seed corn to supply the
state.
When the source of supply of seed
was taken under consideration it
soon developed that South Dakota,
southern Minnesota and Iowa are
the available sources of supply of
seed oats and barley. Montana. ia
in the market for large quantities
OF seed oats and barley and in con-
sequence 1t is OF no use to look to
them. Northern Minnesota is not in
position to supply us. Correspond
ence with the United Grain Growers
OF Winnipeg, the Cooperative Ele-
Vator company Of Regina and the
Canadian Council Of Agriculture.
Winnipeg, all bring out the fact
that 1t is doubtful whether thew
nave suhctent oats TO supply the
Dominion provinces Of the north
west. There is duty on seed inn
ported from Canada and while wheat
comes in free Of duty the following
charges are made against imported
oats, barley and flax:
pounds.
pounds.
Flax, 20 cents per bushel OF SO
pounds.
The attorney generals ONCE was
asked for an opinion on the county
seed bonding law for North Dakota
and the following opinion was pre-
scented:
Mr. Thos. Cooper, Chairman,
Seed Grain Stocks Committee
Bismarck, N. D.
Dear Sir:
In response to your request for an |
interpretation as to certain phases |
OF article "a OF the political code |
consisting Of sections 3471 to 1890. |
inclusive, of the compiled laws of |
1913, l submit the following:
This article provides for the is
suance Of county bonds, the proceeds
OF the sale Of which shall be invested
IN seed grains to be parceIed out 10
FARMERS residing on and farming land
Within the county, under the condi-
tions and in accordance with fba nro-
visions Of this article.
As conditions precedent To the is.
Suance Of these bonds the article pro-
Wdes that the board Of county com
missioners shall be petitioned I'm
writing by not less than 100 free
holders resident in the county. and
that the board Of county commits
sloners, at a meeting called for that
purpose, shall take favorable action
On the said petitions. 1t is provided
that such petitions shall be filed with
the county auditor or county clerk on
Or before the 18th day Of April, and
upon the filing Of said petitions, It is
the duty Of the officer with whom
they were filed to forthwith call a
meeting OF the board to consider the
petitions. 1t is likewise provided
that the total amount Of the bonds
issued by the county under the pro-
visions OF this article shall not. with
The then existing Indebtedness of the
county, exceed the limit fixed by the
The bonds shall be In
Of $500, and shall bear
interest not exceeding seven per cent
Der annum, payable semi-annually.
md that such bonds shall become
tue and payable in not less than two
nor more than five years from the
late thereof.
1t is the duty Of the board to re-
etve sealed proposals for the pur- |
.hase of the bonds after giving ten |
lays notice in the manner provided
or in section 3473.
All persons entitled to and wishing
o avail themselvts of the benefit of
MS article shall file with the county |
-uditor or county clerk Of his county |
m or before the LIST day Of March, an :
application for seed grain in the man
I47S.
The board Of county commission
FRS OF said county are constituted a
'oard OF examination and adjust |
nent TO pass upon the applications | I
or seed grain flied, at a meeting to I
70 held on the first Tuesday in !
larch, or as soon thereafter as pos /
lDle: and 1t Is provided that no dis
OF seed grain under the ]
PROVISIONS OF this article shall take {
place prior to the 10th day Of March. | !
L is also provided that the county ]
of every county pro-
losing to distribute seed grain, as
rovided for in this article shall adj
ertise and make known their inten-
ions so to do.
1t is my opinion that under the I
provisions of this article the county s
commissioners are authorized to pur-
hase and furnish aaa1 --.siy. - I'll