Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-11-16
OUR PUBLIC FORUM
DO WE NEED A COUNTY AGENT!

In regard to the value of a county
agricultural agent for Grant county,
it might be we'll to bear in mind that
there are slightly over 1000 farmers
in this county. Putting the matter on
dollar and cents basis, the county
agent must make each farmer an av-
erage of dollar per farm per year to
be a paying proposition.
This might be done by developing
an interest in pruning and spraying
the old orchard. Perhaps by organ
izing a group to own and operate a
spray outfit. With apples at So a
bushel consider this.
Poultry culling demonstrations bet
ter handling Of flocks could easily in
crease the farm revenue many times
this one dollar.
Advice in regard to the use of com
mercial fertilizers and the knowledge
of firms putting out high-class goods
in this line are both available at the
county agents office.
If any farmer has Il poor spot in a
field, a place he has cultivated and
fortified faithfully and got no re
turns from, he may senC a soil sam
pie to the county agent where it can
be tested to find out the food elements
lacking The county agent is there
to instruct this man what each par
ticular soil needs and to advise him
as to the best methods to improve the
sick spots.
| Also, remember, it is not only thf
| training and knowledge Of the county
agent alone, but he has behind hin
| the extension department OF the state
university and the experiment statiCI
at Madison and the u. S. dept. of ag
riculture. Each farmer should be able
! to get his dollar out of one or the
| other of these departments and re
member the county agent is the con
Meeting link He is Immediately
available to every farmer in the
county.
He can get you seed grains of most
any description suitable to our coun-
ty. He has in his Office lists OF pro
ducers of high-class seeds with al
amount of each variety available. He
can get you farm help and bring il
outside buyers of surplus stock.
Getting away from collars and cents
for a moment, there are over one
hundred of the boys and girls OF the
county taking an active part in call
and pig club work. There are prob
ably great many more youngsters
interested besides the fathers and
mothers taking a greater pride in the
achievements of their children
You may say the county agent is
not responsible for all of this. Cor
rect. but to keep this work going and
the community club going needs the
county agent the same as a wheel
needs the hub.
Coming back to dollars and cents
the state pays the agent 5000, the
federal govt, 5000, so the county does
not pay it all, at least not directly
OF the II counties in the state, 81
nave county agents. OF $500 counties
in the U lited States, 1000 have coun-
tv agents In which class do you
want Grant county?
John Morehouse with his spraying
outfit and our county agent gave a
demonstration at Tennyson Joseph
Patzner took an especially keen int
crest in the work. F. r. Clifford, the
state extension fruit specialist was
brought in here by the county agent
and with the latter persuaded Mr.
Patzner to buy an outfit. Last year
1920 with a good fruit year, he sold
$50 worth of apples. This year, an
off year in most orchards, he had
over 1000 worth of apples to sell.
There have been six power spray
outfits placed in the county this year
through the active interest and adj
vice of our county agent. Ii each
Yields only a fractional part Of Joe
/ Patzner's success, still it is well
worth the while.
Personally l will have to credit the
county agent with saving me between
| S25 and $50 and | intend to have him
help me more than that another year
! AS it says in the foreword from
| the report of the county committee
on agriculture for 1920:
| seUse your county agent. That is
what he is for Write him, telephone
or call at his Office. His services tc
every farmer in the county are with.
out charge"
Farmers, if you don't get your dol
lars worth, be sure it is not your own
fault.
Hugh Harper