The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-11-13
BETTER ORGANIZATION OF
AGRICULT URAL FORCES
Secretary Of Agriculture Houston
Urges Better Organization of LO-
cal Agencies For 1919
Production.

Washington, ID. C.-David r. Hous-
ton, Secretary of Agriculture, in
statement, urged that steps be taken
to secure the better organization of
the agriculture forces of the country,
especially of the local farm bureaus,
in preparation for the execution of the
necessary production program for
1919. The fall planting program is
completed. Informal indications COM
ing to the department are that the
farmers planted this fall a consider
ably larger acreage in winter wheat
than that of year ago, which was A.
10000, the second largest planting in
the history of the Nation. A large
! acreage of rye also has been planted
! 1t is too early, the Secretary said, to
forecast how these crops will come
through the winter and what sugges-
ton should be made as to the spring
wheat planting. I$t is also too early
to formulate and announce the de-
tails of the general spring planting
program. Conditions are changing
very RAPIDLY and the requisite infor-
nation is not now at hand. After full
conference, suggestions will be made
sufficiently in advance of the planting
season
The Secretary, however, pointed out
especially the need for an increased
production of beef and fats. 1t seems
clear, he said, that for a considerable
: period the world will demand parti-
. cularly larger supply than normal
!, of live stock, and especially of beef
and fats American farmers should
: not fail to adopt every feasible means
!: of economically increasing live stock
!; products To do this farmers should
. give due thought to the securing of an
adequate supply of feedstuffs and to
the eradication and control of all
- forms of animal disease. The depart
:, has Just issued a circular which con-
e production.
e Further Cooperation Of Agencies
n Needed
G Further organization of all agricul-
e tural agencies to carry out a careful
It ly considered agricultural program
/ for 1919 is necessary the Secretary
n said Not only should there be the
n best possible organization and cooper
alton of the Federal Department OF
II Agriculture, the agricultural colleges
n the State departments of agriculture
10 and farmers associations, but the 10.
l. cal farm bureaus and other organiza.
If tons which support the extension
It forces should be strengthened. The
s. perfecting of this organization i!
l. highly desirable not only during thu
s. continuance of the present abnorma
IN conditions but also for the future.
8 Agricultural Commission Returns
lie An agricultural commission, headet
lie by DR.. w. o Thompson, President o
the Ohio State University, and com
prising trained agriculturists; from
a number of the State agriculture
colleges and the United States De
partment of Agriculture, has just re
turned from Europe where it made
thorough investigation of the agricul
ture conditions of the allied countries
The information it brings will be con
sidered in formulating the agricultur
al production program for 1919.
The Secretary's statement, address
ed to "the farmers and the agricul
tural forces of the United States" il
as follows:
1--WE may depend upon our Arm!
and Navy, in cooperation with tn,
armies and navies of the powers will
which we are cooperating, to do al
that force and strategy can do t.
make our victory on the battlefields
complete and we may trust the Presi
dent and the heads of these othel
powers to secure a just peace wher
the proper time comes. Our part 1!
to maintain the agriculture of the Ma
liOh VII q buunu DdSlSI W bSCuIe SUI
fcient foods and feeds for ourselves
and to meet the demands of the for
eign nations, and to strengthen tn,
foundations of agriculture for the flu
ture
Farmers Have Responded Magnifi
Gently
During the period since we enter
ed the war, the farmers of the Natiol
have responded magnihcently to tn
appeals for increased production an
all the people have complied with tn
urgent requests for fuller conservn
ton, During this present fall season
our farmers have planted an In
creased wheat acreage and a larg
acreage In rye. II Is too early now
make detailed suggestions for III
spring planting season. We do M