The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-12-30
RODENT CONTROL
SAVES MILLIONS
EXTENSION DIVISION OF UNI
VERSITY OF IDAHO SAVED VAST
SUM TO FARMERS.

Crops worth $3,461,33 were saved
from destruction by ground squirrels
in 1919 and 1920, through the rodent
control work of the extension division
in cooperation with the federal gov
ernment, counties and farm bureaus,
says statement from the office of
the extension division, based on the
biennial report of Director L. w
Fluharty Rodent control work is un-
der control of W. E. Crouch
Rodent pests would cause an an
nual s5,000,0O0 loss in Idaho if they
were allowed to destroy crops and
range unmOlested' says this state
ment. LOSS by ground squirrels,
alone, would be S4,075000 an estimate
based on signed reports of 4037 Idaho
farmers received in the last three
years, and representing conditions on
638,971 acres in 20 counties. On this
area, a saving of crops valued at
$1.677,932 was effected by the poison
ing of ground squirrels, and losses Of
$409,810 were sustained because of in
sufficient or no poisoning. Possible
loss, therefore, on 638,971 acres, had
no poisoning been done, was $2,0S7,-
142, or 1926 an acre. There are ap-
proximately 1,250,000 acres of cult
waited land in Idaho, infested with
ground squirrels, and this area, at a
loss of 1925 an acre, would suffer to
the extent of $4,075, 900.
'sIn cooperation with the United
States bureau of biological surveys,
county farm bureaus and county COM
missioners, S72,8O5 pounds Of poisoon-
ed bait were distributed-505,a $50
pounds over an area of 982,821 acres
in 1919, and 367 $50 pounds over
LOAF ,4S5 acres in 1920, a total of
2,030,306 acres in the two years. Co
operation of 9,174 farmers in 80 coun-
ties in 1919 and of 6,653 farmers in 3S
counties in 1920 made this work pos
sible. Bait distributed cost $93 1876
for the first year and $82, ,514.71 for the
second total of $175,979.87. Re-
suits achieved by farmers who sent in
signed reports were interpreted in
terms of savings per ounce Of poison
used, and these averages applied to
computation of results from poison
distribution but not reported upon.
Savings in 1919 totaled $2,344 983, and /
in 1920 $1,116,356.
"In the counties where the farm
bureau existed the campaign was
carried on in cooperation with this |
organization. Strychnine and sac
charine were purchased in quantity |
by county commissioners and county
farm bureaus at manufacturers prices
thru the corporation OF the bureau or
biological survey of the United States
department of agriculture and the uni
versity extension division. The bio
logical survey arranged the details of
the transactions with the manufactur-
ers and the extension division handled
the materials for the state, receiving
them in large quantities and distribnt-
ing them to the counties. BY this
procedure, material savings in cost of
supplies were effected. Where Dracti-
cal, poisoned bait was mixed and
sacked at central points in the re-
spective counties, by assistants from
the extension division, cooperating
with county agricultural agents. mi
addition to the cooperative poisoning
done on private land by land owners,
a large area of public land Estate and
federaD was treated by the extension
division and the biological survey un-
der direct supervision of the central /