The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-01-16
COUNTY AGENTS
IN CONFERENCE
HERE TODAY
Agricultural Advisors of Seven
Counties Consider Problems
of Production
SEED QUESTION IS BIG ONE
Effort Will be Made to Induce Farmers
to Grow. Potatoes and Corn
for Seed

The war and reconstruction have
laid new emphasis upon the import
ance of agricultural production and
those men whose duty it is to direct
the farmer along paths of continued
progress and increasing success, find
new problems confronting them. With
a view to better meeting these prob
lens county agents from seven of the
leading agricultural counties of the
state are in conference here today.
The conference is being presided
over by R. B. Coghlon, state leader and
is attended by the following county
agents: j. N. Price, of Yakima and
his assistant, E. G. Scott; W.. Leon
ard Davis, of Kittitas; HI. H. Bone,
of Walla Walla and his. assistant, w.
C. Buell.; j. M. Lewis, of Columbia;
w. B. Cooney, of Klickitat; 7. S.
Brown, of Franklin; and Lee M. Lamp
son, of Benton. In addition to these
county agents, j. L. Dumas, represent
ing the u. S. Office of markets, Roy
Bean, agriculturalist for the reclama-
tion service at Yakima, and "A. A.
.Scullen, state bee Inspector, are in at
tendance.
Much of today's session was taken
up with discussion of the seed and
marketing questions. Each year the
question of obtaining clean and de-
pendable seed is becoming a larger
problem in the Northwest and the alb
normal demand for food products
caused by the war has brought about
an acute shortage in the seed supply.
For the purpose of encouraging the
production of more and better seed in
the state there was organized at the
State Fair last year the Washington
State Seed Growers association. The
county agents are now endeavoring to
cooperate with this organization in
carrying out its purposes and aims.
Each agent will strive to induce GER
, tain farmers in his county, whose
lands are suitable, to grow crops for
seed rather than for consumption.
In some of the counties these seed
projects are already under way and in
others they are to be started. The
seed crops to which most attention
will be given are corn and potatoes,
while some projects will be under
taken for the production of seed
wheat and beans. Of the seven coun-
ties represented here, Columbia and
klickitat counties are said to be par
ticularly well adapted to the produc-
ton of non-irrigated seed potatoes,
while Yakima and Benton are similar
ly well adapted to the growing of seed
corn. In each county the seed pro-
Jects are to be carried out under the
close supervision of the county agents.
While the work of the county agent
mas to do primarily with production,
tney have in times past and expect
20 continue to give valuable assist
ance in marketing farm products.
That their efforts in this direction may
oe more efficient the agents spent con-
siderable time today in conference
with Mr.. Dumas, who outlined the
aims of the office of markets.
Mr. Lampson, of this county, was
one of the first county agents of the
state to systematic and at the same
time popularize his work by calling
70 ms assistance the best farmers in
tne several districts of the county. His
agricultural council has not only great
y slmpllfied his work, but has been
great aid to improved production
methods in almost every phase of
agriculture in the county. For the
purpose of still further systematizing
uie work of the county agent, and to
oring about closer cooperation, not
.niy between the county agents, but
.ee"een the farmers of central Wash
nston' uniform plan of county or
sanitation is to be adopted at this
meeting. In this and other counties
: ene district where there are already
siicuitural councils or advisory
yards, the oganizations are to be
snanged to conform to the plan that
is adopted today.