The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-11-07
FARM BUREAU WORK
LONG REPORT OF WHAT
HAS BEEN DONE
LINEUP Of THE RESULTS
Marked Reduction Of Grain
Smut; Information lncreas-
ing Production


An interesting report on the ac-
tivities Of the Blue Earth County
Farm bureau during the past year is
being prepared by County Agent M.
r. Benedict. and County Club Lead :
er Nj. II. Coe. This material is to
be put into printed form and copy
furnished to practically every farm
er and city businessman in the
county in order that they may und :
erstand this new work, and be in
formed as to what the bureau is do
ing.
IN spite of the tremendous growth
in the demand for the services of the
bureau, there are still many who do
not understand the nature of its
work, and there is still much need
for extending the work into com
munities not yet in touch with it.
In 1918 there were tremendous
losses from grain smut throughout
Blue Earth county. I Eight demon
stration meetings were held by the
county agent in various parts of the
county during the spring of 1919 ex-
planning the method of control for
this disease. and many; individual
farmers were shown how to use the
treatment. 10 This has bgesulted in
marked reduction of 1.rsmutting in
fields treatcdJ
Testing of Cattle.
A great deal of interest in the
tuberculin testing of cattle has been
developed largely through the sug-
gestion and influences of the coun-
ty agent. More than ninety herds
in Blue Earth County comprising
more than 1900 cattle have, during
the past year, had tests preparatory
to becoming federal accredited tub
ersplosis free herds. The tremend-
ouS saving through this general era
dication of disease carrying animals
can hardly.Ibe estimated. 1t means
safety to the; families aof the owners,
it means prevention ofsfurther loss
In cattle, HeImeans prevention of
swine tuberculosis, and lit means a
great advertising valuest0 Blue Earth
county herds.
One of the features.of farm bureau
work that has received yery general
commentator. is that of disseminat-
ing information iR- regard to the
control of hog cholera and related
swine diseases. The county agent
has made d0zenspof farm visits to
investigate cases of suspected chol-
era and other swine diseases, giving
suggestions and information in re-
gard to prevention and control. In
addition, six meetings were held in
various parts of the county to dis
cuss with groups ofq farmers the
means of Identifying and controlling
these Diseases These meetings
were attendei4 by more than two
hundred farpers, $50
New Breed Association.
A new breed association, the
Blue Earth County Beef Cattle
Breeders association was formed
during the year. This association Is
beginning to advertise the stock OF
this county, and is bringing breed
ers together for united work in cat
tie Improvement. All three of these
cattle breeders associations have
been assisted in arranging for pict
mics, interesting new breeders in
their work and in thes general work
of their orsapization.
Through et3e work ofsrthe county
agent, working in cooperation Will
the breed associations, Jsmore THAI;
$4,000 worth Of purehred cattle
have been located in this county dur
ing the past1year.- 4o6 -
Through the Tri- county Beekeep
ers association of which 1.-THE county
agent is secretary. association or
ers are being placed for bee supplies
at a. saving Of twenty per cent over
list processes
In the farm labor work, 1873 mer
were sent out so far as the records
show. Records are not complete fol-
the early part of the season when
the bureau was working in CO. opera
,tion with the federal labor bureau
then located in Mankato.
f Show and Sale Pavilion.
At present plans are being arrang-
ed for a show and sale pavilion to
be erected on the fair grounds al
Mankato. Leading stockmen of the
county are very much interested in
the plan, and are giving it hearty
support.
These and a host of other projects
such as consultation on soil prob
lens, help in registering stock, judg-
ingS at fairs, locating tuIfs, assist
ing fair secretaries. organizing COW
testing associations, etc., comprise
the major work of the county agent
In addition to this, the Office work
of the county agent is no small item
The records show 1905 office calls
during the year, 2275 letters written
'4Ss farm visits made, 1447 telephone
calls, and 9S47 circular letters mailed
The Biennial Drive
. Arrangements are being made by
IA membership committee Lof Farm
Bureau OFFICIALS consisting pf Robert
Haedt, F. o. True, L. A. Yeager, fol
the biennial drive for farm bureau
membership which will be carried
'on next week. An effort will be made
to acquaint every farmer in enc
county with the nature of the work
and to secure his membership. Mem
bership in the farm bureau mean:
more than merely means of rails
ing money. 1t is means of securing
united support and co operation in
all matters for the upbuilding of farm
conditions
Bows and girls. club work done by
the farm bureau through dts county