The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-10-14
INFORMATION on
)" 80
COUNTY AGENTS


The county. agricultural agent is a
public official whose business 1t is to
make available in practical form the
knowledge of agricultural science as
lions, the United states department OF
agriculture. and the results Of the
best farm practice. He Is. expected to
show by field demenstrations, publ n,,
Of such knowledge to. local farm con-
ditiOns. .....,r -.
The advantages Of improved farm
practices as demonstrated on the
where the agent is employed. are called
to the attention of farmers in his ter
ritory. With these demonstrations be-
fore them. individual farmers are able
TO which they will apply the lessons
of the demonstrated conducted ny
the agent.
The county agent J., an officer of the
state college of agriculture and the
United State department or agr1cul-
ture. He may also be employed in CO.
operation with the county gCvernmen:
or the county farmers organic alton
in his work. He is not. however. ex-
pected to act as the business agent CT
the farmer or of groups of farmers In
CARRYING on commercial transactions
He is not in any sense a hired man.
operating the farmers own farm cr-
terprises.
The subjects on which the county
agent may give demonstration or adj
vice are as varied as the needs of the
farm population in his county. 1t is
his duty to demonstrate the applca-
ton Of agricultural science to soil
management and building. to the con.
troll CT plant diseases and insect pests
to the introduction of better varieties
of farm crops, and to Improvement in
methods OF feeding. breeding, and
feeding of farm animals. The economic
NJ n a pay Cf the farm u whp1t
TO yield the largest net returns. the
study of systems of marketing locaa
farm products. advice on the purchase
of farm supplies. comparatively ant
otherwise. are broader phases Of his
diversified work.
As a cooperative employee of TIL,
United States department of aGricul-
ture. the state agricultural college
and the county. the county agent
first duty is to inform himself as tc
how he can intelligently serve all tn,
people Of his county. He must get ;
cal system of farming, the kind %
people he is TO work with. and {
knowledge of soil conditions. He mus
the county and with. them fcrmulat,
definite plan of work in regard t.
their more urgent problems.
AS he must endeavor to reach a.
many of the people as possible. an,
help them raise the average standar,
Of farm practices. there must be ;
number of concrete demo nstrations
well scattered over the county from
he secured, The county agents
strength OF leadership is demonstrate
ed by his ability to perform his du
ties without drifting into superficial
work: to amntain well balanced pro
gram. to distinguish between essen.
tials and non-essentials under existing
conditions: IL get people to help them
selves. and to cooperate with them n
~ Slr hai siSt.
ance and to assist them in makins
and carrying out the general progrm
While the county agents position
and duties make him the leader in ae
rIcultural matters. he can not fairl
be expected to be an expert on all ae
ricultural subjects. He should hay.
sufficient general knowledge TO ad
wise on the leading questions. and h
should know on what specialist to cal
for help on technical CT difficult prob
lens that may arise
Those in charge of cooperative ex
tension work. both. in the United
states department of agriculture and
the agricultural colleges. believe thai
the agents should assist the farmers
of the county with every problem con
nected with their business. from tn,
ing OF his products. It is natural fol
the. farmers TO look to the agent a:
their agricultural adviser and Leader
in marketing. as well as production
and to expect him to give them IN.
formation on questions of harvesting
grading and packing. For the pas
two years the marketing problem ha,
been the most vital one to all branche:
of agriculture. 1t is believed that i
is legitimate and proper for the asen
10 encourage cooperative marketing
to obtain information as to what pro
duets should he worth, where th,. hes
mari ets may be found. and how thes,
markets may be reached at the leas
expense to the producer.
~ agent personally to enpag, in tn
buying and selling of the farmer
products. to handle funds in the trans
action, or to hold any office in mar
keting or other farmers orsaniza
tons: but there should be no question
OF. his right to furnish the very hes
Information and to encourage in ever,
way possible The farmers Hho do thes
things for themselves through som
business manager Or cooperative as
soc1atfcn:-T. s, Department of Agri
culture News Bulletin.
Some men take an hour off to tel
hNVr hEy-