The Mankato free press., 1919-01-31
Value OF FARM BUREAU
1T Is SHOWN IN THE REPORT
MADE BY AGGIE AGENT
Great Many Things Have Been
Accomplished During Past
Several Months

the pNNA ~
ing during the past year:
One of the first tasks confronting
the Farm bureau last spring was to
secure enough seed corn for the coun-
ty where there appeared to be none
TO be had. Other sections of the state
were in as bad condition or worse
A campaign was put on to interest
every farmer in making Il careful
test of his seed. The bureau search
ed out and PLACED every bit OF sur
plus seed that could be found, about
three hundred bushels in all; worth
at last yea/'s prices $4,000 to $4,000.
In only a few cases were there any
poor stands from this corn. The re-
suits of the campaign is reported by
farmers of the county 10 be the best
stand of corn in years in the face
of the worst seed shortage ever
known.
A similar condition exists with re-
gard to clover seed this year. Ev-
cry farmer sowing clover seed should
he sure to have ary seed he buys eX'
amined and tested; as the shortage
and high prices are apt TO lead TO the
sale of poor and adulterated seed. lr
spite of the high prices, there are few
kinds of seed that can be more prof
itably sown this spring than clover
seed.
During the fall, the early selection
of seed corn was urged, and accurate
reports from a majority of the town
ships indicate over $4,000 bushels
saved. This is more than one bushe
to every three acres, the amount re-
Quested.
Over $50 Farmlaborers Supplied.
During the summer more than 25(
farm hands were secured and placed
some of them month men and some
of them day men. This was no
enough to supply the need. but help
ed a great deal in meeting the short
age. During the rush season, the
county agent made a round Of the
Mankato streets nearly every morn
ing, and, with the aid of the police
force, managed to keep practically al
loafers either on the move out o
town or else got them to work OF
farms.
Hog cholera has appeared in a
least nine separate parts of thu
county during the year. 1t has beer
the work of the county agent Il
spread information TO those arount
infected herds as TO the best mean
of preventing its spread and for pre-
venting loss in their own herds. AlsC
to guard against carlessness in tn
disposal of casses of dead logs, etc
The results have been exceedingl!
satisfactory in all except one section o
the county. The disease was checkei
nntf hot ~
five of the nine communities where j
appeared. In three other communitie'
there was very little spread. In on'
section in the northwest part of th'
county the situation was complicated
by a disagreement between local ant
state veterinarians as TO the nature
of the disease present. 1t finall!
manifested itself as acute cholera
and caused some little loss in tha
section.
Blackleg also appeared among cat
tie in four different localities. While
this is easily controlled, treatment il
sometimes neglected and considera
BILE loss sustained, through leavin.
carcasses unburied, etc. These out
breaks were checked Immediately.
Much Interest Shown in Bureau.
That farmers of the county art
taking an active interest in thu
bureau is shown by the fact that the
county agent has had more thar
$500 office calls in regard to farm
business since the first of Marcl
when the bureau was established
This shows more demand of thi
kind on the bureau than any othe
county in the state mas had. Thi
means an average of about ten mel
calling at the office in connection
with farm business for every workin.
day since the bureau was established
this being in addition to many mino
calls not recorded. In addition to thi
495 farm visits were made in con
nection with the Farm Bureau work
This meant an average of about TIVE
farm visits per day. Fifty-two meet
ings were attended besides man.
committee meetings and director
meetings. More than fifty newspape
articles have been written, an,
nearly 1000 letters written mostly il
reply to inquiries. The large activ'
demand for services of various kind
have to some extent prevented ex
tension of the work along new lines
although this is being developed al
rapidly as possible. In order tha
the bureau may reach as large par
of the farming population as possible
it is necessary that farmers clubs o
similar organizations be built up il
as mary communities as possible
This work is being developed a
rapidly as possible.
Assistance was given in carrying
out the nations agricultural wa
program.
Meetings were addressed and in
formation spread as to the crop an,
livestock needs of the nation. Blu
Earth county increased her whea
acreage very materially, and nearl,
maintained her corn acreage.
This work will be still more need
ed iE. 1919. No one is in a position
to say now just what the crop ant
livestock needs for 1919 will be. II
the present unsettled condition,
will be very easy for the country {,
over produce or under produce alonj
certain liEes with consequent de
moraliZation of prices. 1t is expect
ed that the food administration an,
United States department of agricul
ture will be able to announce de
finite program at the state Farm
Bureau conference the first week il
February. Meetings will be held il
very Dart of the county IN djScuS