The Monticellonian., 1918-03-01
9EhGGE:
 |5 G 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 Feedstuf to
 Feed America and Its Allies.


 an increased acreage to spring whea and the production of an increased sup ply of other food products and of live stock. especially hogs, Is recommend cd in a supplementary food production program issued by the United States department of agriculture.
 This program re-emphasizes and am plifies the food-production program for 1918 issued by the department in August, 1917, and other suggestions made in the fail 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, it suggests in full the pro posals which the department thinks it desirable to offer with q view 10 SO cure enough meat and dairy prod ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple and perishable foods. wool and cotton for the nation. its armies. and the all lies. It gives suggestions for the ap- preaching spring '.operations, based upon the latest available information as to the condition of the fall-planted crops of winter wheat and,rye and aS to the number of meat and dairy ani- mals reported for 1917. They repre- sent the best thought of the special fists of the department who have had the benefit of advice from agrieultu- ral 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 our 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 to 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 be 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 of most things except wheat. and succeeded in greatly in- creasing the number of live stock"
 "The situation is such that chief em- phasis should be given to the produc- tion 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 own 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 ani- mals 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- Dor problem. points out the lines of ef- fort for relief, and outlines the activi- ties of the federal and state agencies to furnish assistance.
 Spring Wheat.
 tn 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 own uses and to meet the needs of the allies.
 While the area of winter wheat sown in 1917 was the largest on record the condition of the crop, as reported on December l, was the lowest eyel recorded indicating a probable produc ton of only 540,000000 bushels Whether the actual production will bt greater or less than the estimate vii depend upon conditions prevailing be tween now and the time of harvest. Il there were planted to spring wheat 1T the United States this year an acreage equal to the sum of the record planting in each spring wheat state within tht last ten years, there would be sown ap proximately 23.300,O00 acres. If ther, should be planted an acreage equal tC the sum of the record planting for eacl state within the last five years ther, would be sown approximately 21o00, 900 acres. The record planting for an! year was 20.3s1 900. in 1911. The acre age for 1917 WAS 1S,511 900.
 'The department of agriculture hai carefully studied all these records ant other data in connection with the pres ent war conditions and needs. and be liavas that 1T xvflI ha noSSihla this voa to secure an acreage in excess of tn, record acreage which was planted il 1911. It Is believed that increase,