The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-09-09
SIX PROJECTS COMMON
| TO EAST ORE. COUNTIES
Plans Are Under Way to Enlarge and
Strengthen Type Of Farm Bureau
Program-Meeting of Farmers at
LaGrande.
(By F. L. Ballard.)

kby r. Il. Ballard.)
Plans to strengthen and enlarge
the type OF farm bureau program
now followed In Eastern Oregon and
10 recommend a federation of the
farm bureaus of the state to further
its adoption rather than to branch
out in new activities, were made at
meeting OF Eastern Oregon farm
bureau presidents attended by repre-
sentatiyes OF six of the nine farm bu-
reaus in that district held at La
Grande this week.
Those attending the meeting we're:
Jay ii. Dobbin and G. w. Franklin
of Wallowa county; Albert Hunter
of Union county; V. V. Hickox Of
Aalheur county; W. w. Harrah Of
Umatilla county; Oscar Kelthiey Of
Morrow county; V. H. Smith OF Sher-
man county. Baker and Deschutes
counties we're not represented. 7.
H. Case, president of the klamath
County Farm Bureau, because OF diff
ficult transportation to La Grande,
will represent Klamath county at
similar meeting in Western Oregon
next week. Harney, Lake and Wasco
counties are carrying on an extension
program, but are not yet organized
farm bureaus.
1t was the opinion of those attend
ing, that the strength of farm bu-
reaus rested in a county program OF
development based upon community
divisions and selected by the people
themselves within the communities.
1t was recommended that a state
federation be formed with an execu-
tive committee consisting of three re-
representatives. from Eastern Oregon
and like number from Western Ore
gon. This committee would meet
a few times each year, according to
plans projected, to assist in carrying
out farm bureau policies in the state
and to represent the farmers when
ever occasions requiring such repre-
sentation might arise.
In view Of divisions of opinion and
lack of a working policy Of value to
Oregon on the part of the National
farm Bureau Federation. it was re-
commended by the farm bureau pres
idents that Oregon farm bureaus wait
year before taking steps to affiliate
with the national organization.
The programs of work Of the farm
bureaus in Eastern Oregon show
marked similarity and an analysis
develops the fact that there are six
projects common to practically all of
the counties comprising an Eastern
Oregon program. The projects in
cluded in this program are:
/ Application of sulphur to alfal-
ia.
2. Establishment of Grimm alfalfa.
3. silos and silage crops.
4. Seed certifcation and pure seed.
=. GlOCh Improvement.
s. Pest control.
Sufficient accomplishments have
been attained on all of these lines to
demonstrate conclusively their value.
There are approximately 100000
acres of alfalfa in Oregon, for in
stance, the yield of which would be
increased ton per acre by sulphur
application. There are also $4,000
acres now in alfalfa which would re-
turn increased yields If sown to
Grimm, a hardy type, better adapted
to high attitudes than the common
varieties. Equally valuable results
are possible along the other lines
enumerated, judging from accom-
plishments already recorded.
1t was also learned that the only
counties in Eastern Oregon without
silos, which greatly reduces the cost
of livestock production, are those
which have never organized around
development programs carried out
with the assistance Of county agents,
also that those counties are the only
ones in which sulphur is not being
applied to some extent to alfalfa.
With profitable livestock production
dependent upon large quantities OF
forage, it was the opinion of those
present that this type Of work offered
large field for effort in Eastern Ore
gon. 1t was recommended that the
farm bureaus do not engage in direct
marketing activities, but on the other
hand, render assistance In that re-
gard wherever there is clearly de-
fined need. 1t was believed that CO.
operative activities should rest upon
their own foundation in cooperative
associations and that cooperative pur-
chasing and selling should be done
by farmers exchanges, specialized as
sociations and other cooperative en-
terprises under direction of ther own
officers and on their own financial
responsibility.
Herbert Hynd was up from Cecil
yesterday. His father. Jack Hynd,
who recently went to Chicago with