The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-11-11
COUNTY AGENT VITAL
TO RURAL PROGRESS
Department of Agriculture Issues Cir.
cular Describing His Work and
Worth.

Washington, Nov. 9.-After ten
years of experimentation and develop
ment under the direction of the depart
ment of Agriculture, county agent
work has proved itself an indispensa-
BILE factor in agricultural communities
in the Northern and Western states. 1t
has awakened the farmers economic
instincts and is helping him to stand
on an equality with other business in
terests. 1t has brought about a re-
organization of social conditions in
rural districts which makes country
living more satisfactory and has
brought to the country boy and girl
a new respect for the farm and a new
and better vision of country life.
The specific activities of county
agents in Northern and Western
states, with respect to soil fertility,
crops, seed improvement, pest and in
sect control, fruit, livestock, farm
management. boys and girls clubs,
farm home problems, etc, are fully
and interestingly described in Depart
ment Circular 179, which may be had
on application to the Department of
Agriculture.
The circular also gives brief history
of the county agent work from its in
ception in 1911, in Broome county,
New York. By the end of June, 1913,
about one hundred of the agents were
at work in 10 states. The passage
of the Agricultural Extension Act in
MAY, 1914, and later the food produc-
ton emergency of the World war, led
to the rapid expansion of the county
agent force, which now numbers 1,166
agents in the 1000 agricultural coun-
ties of SO Northern and Western
states. Iowa and Minnesota are the
only states which have a complete
quota of agents.
1t is interesting to note that the
early efforts Of county agents were
poorly received by county communities
and in very many cases were openly
resented by farmers. The changed at
titude of agricultural communities in
regard to the county agent is n of
the most notable triumphs of the work
and is the best possible proof of its
value and necessity.
County agents attitude toward such
economic problems as cooperative pur-
chasing Of farm supplies and market
ing of farm products has resulted in
the information Of a national policy.
The county agent today helps deter
mine what crops should be grown, he
advises how to grow them efficiently
and how to market them profitably.
The same is true in connection with
his work in the livestock industry.
The county agents first duty is to
help the farmer help himself. One of
the outstanding developments in con-
nection with the county agent work
has been the increased emphasis placed
on the appointment of community pro-
ject leaders and through them the de-
velopment of programs of extension
work in agriculture and home econom-
les. Whether the need of a particular
community be drainage of wet lands,
stump blasting, corn, wheat or other
crop work, improvement of seed po-
~tatoes, eradication of prairie dogs or
grasshoppers, pruning and spraying of
fruit trees, a "bctter sires" or tuber-
culin test campaign, farm accounts,
boys and girls clubs, or other prob
lens, the method Of approaching the
work is about the same.
The aid of extension experts from
state colleges of agriculture and the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture is frequently sought, since farm
ers are insisting on a high standard
of qualifications in those from whom
they expect to learn newer and better
methods of farming.
The circular gives many tables and
figures in connection with it's story
of the county agent work in the
Northern and Western states.