The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-09
Reporting Service
Is Outlined Before
Marketing Officials

CHICAGO, December GA compre-
hensive program for perfecting the
governments crop reporting service,
which will be carried out as soon as
funds are available, was outlined here
soday by Leon NJ. Estabrook, of the
United States Department Of Agricul-
.ure. speaking before the National
Association OF State Marketing Offic-
sials at its annual meeting. Mr. Esta-
brook spoke on the relation OF the
Government crop reports to marketing,
describing the various processes in
volved In gathering and disseminating
!he reports and pointing out the uses
% which they are put in aiding the
production and marketing Of asricul-
tural products.
Alluding to criticisms made Of the
service from time to time, Mr. Esta
brook declared that officials respon-
sble for the preparation of the gov
ernment crop reports know better
than any other class Of men exactly
wherein the crop reporting organi-
zatfon are deficient and know exact
ly IN what, particulars and how they
can and should be improved. Crop re.
porting, he pointed out. has been in
successful operation for more than
half century. and every conceivable
defect in the system and every CON
ceivabe method has been repeatedly
brought to the attention of the re-
sponsible officials"
Means Of Improving Service Discussed
These officials, he said, have tried
or seen tried every known method
and every method that has ever been
suggested for estimating crop and
livestock production. Mr.. Estabrook
grouped the various features of the
program for improving the service
under nine general divisions, which
he discussed as follows:
There is a growing and insistent de-
mand that the estimates be localized
by counties. During the last three
yeats the department has gradually
extended its system to making coun-
~ estimates through its State statis'
ticiahs. 1t is hoped now 10 publish
maps for each state at or about har-
vest time, indicating surplus and de-
of the important crops.
1t Is planned n issue figures show
ing the marketable surplus production
that part OF the crop that is sold
and actually leaves the farm and
goes into the channels OF trade. UP
10 the present time the department
has simply estimated total farm pro
ducticn because of lack OF funds eS'
a cept during the war period when emer'
gency appropriations permitted esti'
mates OF commercial production OF
fruit and truck crops.
Estimates will be more in detail
such as production by varieties, quail
. tiles, and grndes; estimates of aban'
Ndoned acreage, of loss and damage
from disease and insect pests; disposi
tion. utilization. shrinkage, and waste
farm stocks, and other factors that
have a direct bearing on time, place
quantity or quality of production.
Enlarged Livestock Reports Needed
Complete. accute and timely informa'
tlon with respect to livestock produc
tion is needed. perhaps, more than
anything else, Mr.. Estabrook said. Ad
ditlonal funds would allow the de
partment greatly to enlarge its live
stock reporting service and to fore
cast the production of beef, hogs
lambs, wool and dairy and poultry
products with the same frequency
and degree OF accuracy as the staple
crops Of the country are now esti
mated.
An improved foreign information ser
vice Is needed that will give timel,
unbiased, and dependable Information
At all time with respect to crop ant
livestock production, stocks on hand
consumption. imports and exports, sur
pluses and deficits for all countries
The department now receives regularly
the official reports of the Internat
ional Institute of Agriculture ut Rome
and directs reports from the adherint
governments. while valuable, these re
ports are not timely, as they are to'
slow in reaching this country. 1t II
therefore. necessary to supplement
these sources OF foreign crop infor1na
tion, and the department Is advocatins
the employment Of agricultural al
tachcs In the same way and for th'
same purposes as these officials ar
now employed by many foreign gov
ernments,
As soon as funds are available, th'
department proposes To employ
corps of trained commodity econo
mists or specialists whose particnia
function Il will be TO bring to
focus all the statistical and economi
t.sx ltnb xNif
out the department bearing on thei
particular commodities. TO analyze
summarize and interpret the data, {
act as consulting experts. TO coord
nate. unity and systematize the var
ious sources OF information, TO secur
the cooperation OF all organization
and agencies Engaged in the collec
ton OF commodity data. to answc
correspondence and to represent tn
department before the public and be
foro the various commodity organ
zations.
Commodity Economists 10 be Employe
1t is planned. also, 10 improve III
methods OF presenting the data OF
tained by the department. The CON
modify economists will be expected I
prepare careful analytic statements Il
popular form. setting forth the e'
sentiai facts with respect to relativ
supply and demand. for publication
In periodical and special reports an
In the press. These reports will b
brief and we'll illustrated by. maps
diagrams. and charts so as to be read
ily understood ut a glance even b
those who are not accustomed TO ar
l. alyzing statistics.
= The consolidation Of the Office q