The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-01-22
NEW YEAR RESOLU.
TIONS FOR FARMERS
DO You Know Dairy Farmers Were Only
Ones Who Made Money In 1e2o3-
Advice from A. &C. M.

Among those who are preaching good
practical gospel at the series of exten-
sion workers group meetings now be.
ing held, is Mr.. L. A. Higgins, chief
dairy husbandman. Mr.. Higgins is one
of the quietest and most modest and
self effacting workesr as we'll as one
of the most conscientious. He has
made a lifelong study of dairy hus-
bandry in all of the live stock areas
of the United States, and finds that for
all reasons and from every standpoint
Mississippi has more natural advantag-
es than any other state, if only the
farmers and landowners would cultivate
them.
After a careful survey of general
farming and country life conditions in
the state, as stated by Mr.. Higgins,
he has come to the conclusion that a.
bout the only class who made any mon
ey on their 1920 campaign were the dali
ry farmers who had conducted their
work in a systematic manner
In a bulletin which he is sending to
all dairy farmers in Mississippi by way
of greeting and encouragement to great
er care and more thorough study of
opportunities, Mr. Higgins asks con-
corning their activities:-
What special branches of farming
were most successful? Which were
failures? Did your dairy herd pay a
profit? Did each COW in the herd make
a profit over the cost of feed consumed
and other overhead expenses? Do you
know butsthat you could have fed and
handled one-half or three-quarters the
number and made more profit? Was a
balanced ration fed and was each cow
fed according to her productive capa-
city thereby getting the most possible
from the expenditure for feed? In fig-
uring results during the past five years,
would it have been more profitable to
have grown all cotton and bought these
supplies? These are some of the ques-
tions which each dairyman should ask
himself, and the ability to answer them
correctly and in a definite way will por-
tray the business methods essential to
success.
Now that the years work is summed
up and analyzed, turn about face, look
ing toward the new year. Make a SOL
enn resolution and plan for a more
successful year than ever before. Re-
solve to keep more accurate records on
your various farm activities and to put
more thought into the planning of
same. To weed out the inferior COWS
from the herd, give the good cows bet
ter care, and to use more system in
feeding TO close this year with a much
better herd than was owned at the be-
ginning. To know what each COW has
consumed and what she has produced
from same. thereby eliminating the
guess. To not be satisfied with cows
which merely pay for their feed and
care. TO plan the cropping system so
that all the legume hay and other
roughage needed with some of the grain
ration and be grown at home. To put
forth every effort to have supply of
silage for next winter To have si1aEe
or soiling crop, to supplement short
pasturage during August, September
and October. TO improve the perna-
nent pasture. To plant cotton after
sufficient acreage has been set aside for
these other crops, only TO help to or
ganize and to join bull associations If
possible. TO in some way, provide the
herd with the services Of registered
bull of good individuality and the three
nearest ancestors ON both sides Of
which have production records Of not
less than 500 pounds of butterfat in
one year. To fully develop heifer cal
yes resulting from such breeding and
not to breed any Of them under sixteen
months of age. To start the herd on
the U. S. Department of Agriculture
tuberculosis free" accredited herd list.
To cooperate with neighbor farmers
in buying feed in car lots, in organic
ing cooperative cream routes, in or
ganizing cow testing associations, and
to cooperate in other ways for the
general Improvement Of dairy condit-
ions In the cpmmunlty.