The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1921-05-12
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
AGENTS REPORT FOR APRIL

| blNtu bllenllOn were marketing Y
farm records and pest control. Sew
eral other projects we're given at
tention and large amount of rou
tine work attended to.
| Marketing
The marketing committee of the
| Farm Bureau held n meeting on the
25th to confer with Paul Mehl, mar.
keting specialist concerning advis.
able procedure for the cooperative
marketing OF several leading farm
products grown in the county
| Specific recommendation were
made for marketing OF poultry pro.
ducts and wheat, and plans sug
gested for dairy products, hay, WOO
and potatoes. A special committed
OF three was appointed TO handle
the pooling Of wool and lambs.
Upon invitation of the Idaho
| poultrymen, a committee composed
| OF Chairman Tensen of the market
ing committee, chairman Cain OF the
Poultry committee, Paul Mehl, mar
keting specialist, U. L. Upson, man
ager OF the Pacific Poultry Produc-
ers association and the county agent,
attended poultry marketing con-
ference at Boise on the 30th. The
result of this meeting was the APP
pointment OF a committee, one mem
ber from each interested county. 20
ascertain the demand for a poultry
marketing organization, secure fig
ures On the number of hens In the
territory. and otherwise attend to
the preliminary work necessary In
/ bringing about such organization.
| The general sentiment seemed fav-
orable to organization of southeast
Oregon with southwest Idaho into
branch OF the Pacific Poultry Pro-
ducers.
other important work along mar
keting lines consisted OF n series Of
educational meetings where Paul
Mehl lectured on the principles OF
successful cooperative marketing. "
In all, nine such meetings were
held, only the first five OF which
this report. These meetings were
well attended and the subject mat
ter presented was highly appreciated
by those who we're present. The
result should be TO make the farm
ers OF the county better able to
Judge regarding the merits OF var
ious cooperative marketing schemes
when presented TO them.
Farm Records
Work In this department consist
ed chiefly In the compilation OF n
mass OF data secured during the
winter. showing 1920 financial re-
turns from so irrigated farms un-
der projects usisg electrical power
for pumping purposes. X. V. Gum,
farm management specialist. spent
about week on this project, tabu-
latlng the figures shown on the In
dividual reports. The completed re,
port shows many facts concerning
farm business In the Snake River
valley OF value In connection with
marketing and production projects
and other work OF the farm bureau.
Pest Control
Work In this department consist
ed OF distribution OF polsons by sale
as provided for through the revolv-
ing fund account; completion OF the
experimental work In gopher poison
ing by the Biological Survey. the
result OF which was favorable 10
wheat bait treated with Plper's
special strychnine stuck On with
starch paste; publication OF no.
tices to exterminate pocket gophers;
and the filling OF a request with the
Biological Survey for assistance In
controlling groundhogs In the NAL
heur community.
Soil Improvement
Chairman Russell and committee
man Carman OF the committee on
soil Improvement made progress
with collections for local support
for the experimental drainage and
alkali work In progress near Vale
under the supervision OF the De-
partment OF Soils OF Oregon Agrl-
cultural College. This work is max
ing good progress aud the method
used TO dig the canal by use OF
water promises to be an experiment
which alone Is worth many times the
cost OF the entire project.
Other Project Work
Some time was devoted TO live
stock improvement work by giving
assistance TO the Adrian Bull AS
ISOLATION. A test OF Tangier peas
was arranged by placing seed fur
nished by the Crops Department OF
the Agricultural College with chair
man Fry OF the crop improvement
committee Tor trlal, one day was
spent at the Union Experiment
Station to study the results secured
there in experimental feeding tests
on steers, calves and sheep. The
Horticultural committee held a
meeting on the 27th TO discuss work
for the season, +. l.. Ballard, AS
sistant County Agent Leader met
with the farm bureau executive
committee on the 9th and spent
some time in conference with the
county agent.
Miscellaneous
The routine work during the per-
iod OF this report consisted OF at
tending 6 committee meetings; 8
farm bureau educational meetings, |
and other meetings; IA farm Wis
its were made; demonstrations |
were visited; monthly reports and |
farm bureau news written; 96 per-
sonal business letters and AZ eircu-
lar letters of $40 copies written; |
10 articles for the press written;
1T persons called at the offices on
business; and other miscellaneous