The state herald., 1918-03-01
Agricultural Departments Pro-
gram for 1918 Points Out
Needs Of Nation and Allies.
GROW MORE SPRING WHEAT
Necessity Of Producing Large Supply
ef Foods and Feedstuffs 10 Empha.
slxed-More Hogs Demanded
South 10 Urged to Feed
Itself.

lS8eIt.
Washington, D. C.-The planting Of
an Increased acreage to spring wheat
and the production Of an increased sup
ply Of other food products and Of live
stock, especially hogs. 10 recommend
ed In supplementary food production
program issued by the United States
department Of agriculture.
This program re-emphasizes and am
plines the food-productiOn program
for 1913 issued by the department In
August, 1917, and other suggestions
made In the fall 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, II suggests in full the pro-
posals which the department thinks II
desirable to offer with q view to Sc
cure enough meat and dairy prod
ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple
and perishable foods. wool and cotton
Tor the nation, Its armies. and the al
lies. It gives suggestions for the ap-
preaching spring operations, based
upon the latest available information
as to the condition Of the fall-plnnted
crops Of winter wheat and rye and rs
to the number of meat and dairy ami
mails reported for 1917. They repre-
sent the best thought Of the special
lists Of the department who have had
the benefit Of advice from agricultu-
raj leaders throughout the country.
Our Best Efforts Required.
Notwithstanding an increased pro-
duction Of staple crops In the United
States In 1917. there II 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-
cnuse 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 difYiculties 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
ereaslng the number OF live stock"
"The situation is such that chief EN-.
phasis should be given to the produc-
ton Of the great staple food products,
with special stress on wheat and hogs,
the leading war foods"
The South IL urged to provide food
for Its own people and feed for It's live
stock and then to plant as much cotton
~ can well be cultivated and harvest.
ed. To rnisers Of hogs and beef AMI.
mails the world need for meats and
fats IN made clenr. 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 Ia.
bor problem. points out the lines OF ef.
fort for relief. and outlines the actlvi.
tfes OF the federal and state agencies
to furnish assistance.
Spring Wheat.
In dealing with the question OF
sprink wheat. the program states:
The acreage Of spring wheat should
b Increased In order 70 make certain
that ~s shall have IN adequate supply
sf wheat for our own uses and to meet
the nssds sf the aliIss.
"while the area Of winter wheat
sown In 1917 was the largest on record,
the condition Of the crop. as reported
on December I. was the lowest ever
recorded. indicating probable produc.
den Of only 5so.000.0O0 bushels.
Whether the actual production will be
greater or less than the estimate will
depend upon conditions prevailing be-
tween now and the time Of harvest. II
there were planted to spring wheat In
the Uaited States this year an acreage
equal to the sum Of the record planting
In each spring wheat stnts within the
last ten years. there would be sown sp.
proxirnsteiy 23,300.000 acres. II there
should be planted sn acreage equnl to
the sum Of the record planting for each
state within the last Ave years there
would be sown approximately $1,000.
ooo acres. The record planting for my
year was 20.3sl 900. In 1911. The acre.
aSs for 1917 was 1s.6ii.O00.
The department OF agriculture has
carefully studied all these records and
ether data In connection with the pres.
ent war conditions and needs. and he.
lisvss that II will be possible this ycnr
70 secure an acreage In excess Of the
record scrcage which was planted in
Nl1. II 10 believed that Increased
asreagss caa be secured In states and
sections where spring wheat production
10 known to BE- reasonably promising
aal that such increases can Be made
without upsettins farm plans.
The total scrssgs will be greatly In.
0uencsd by what 10 done In Minnesota.
Morth nakota M0ntana ana fNshn