The Redwood gazette., 1922-05-03
Radio Will Be
Farm Boon
Chief, Radio News Service u. S. De-
partment of Agriculture.

paTCmonC OF agriculture.
Washington-Ada of radio
communication to the use and service
of agriculture will, in my Judgment,
do more to revolutionize life on Am
erica's farms than any other single
factor that has ever been known.
Radio can bring to the farmer those
things the lack of which has done most
to make farm life both difficult and
distasteful- news, market informa-
ton, amusements and instructive en-
| tertainment.
To my mind, there is no single use
of radio except the protection of life
at sea and in the air that should take
precedence over it's utilization for the
benefit of agriculture.
There are more than 100000 peo-
pie on farms, comprising nearly one
third the total population of the Unit
ed States. Most of these are located
where they are practically cut off
from immediate contact with the out
side world. The radio is the only
means Of getting to them quickly Ell
ther the economic information neces-
sary in the proper conduct of their
business, or the general news of the
day.
Six Radio Stations.
The department of agriculture
broadcasts weather, crop and market
reports from six radio stations of the
postoffce department.
Daily market reports on the live
stock, grain, cotton, hay, feed fruits
and vegetable markets are broadcast
over virtually the entire United States.
Farmers located almost anywhere can
receive them either direct or through
the assistance Of amateur operators
A number of state bureaus of mar
kets and agricultural colleges are also
broadcasting both local and national
market and crop reports by radio
telegraphy and radiophone.
With regard to the broadcasting of
music and entertainment, anything in
the way of entertainment that will af-
ford the farmer even slight divertise-
ment from his daily labors will i'm
measurably rebound to the benefit of |
the whole nation. The farmer is as
much interested in the daily gossip,
financial or sport news as anyone. In
many instances, the only entertain
met of whicle the farmer can avail
himself is that which comes by radio
phone.
The time element in dispatching
weather, crop and market news is
big factor affecting the value of such
reports.
In cutting hay or harvesting grain,
for example, an hours delay in the
dispatch of weather reports may mean
a loss of several thousand dollars. An
early morning report on weather con-
ditions and the estimated receipts at
the market that day is of great value
to the livestock grower about to ship
a carload of hogs to market.
Helps in Shipping.
Prompt daily reports on the fruit
and vegetable markets enables the
farmer to determine when and where
farm products are most needed and to
his shipments accordingly.
A sudden frost may kill an entire
fruit crop. By radio, warnings of
severe temperature changes or of
storms can be flashed instantly to an
entire district.
When thousands of tons of food
products are threatened with destruc-
ion by impending storms or floods,
ordinary methods of communicating
warnings are too slow. Market news
% be of greatest value should be re-
:eived the same day. \
All this is possible by radio. 1t en-
sbles the farmer to keep in instant
ouch with weather, crop and market \
news necessary for his business; it
rives for his information summary
# important news happenings; it
,rings to his home, for all his family
heretofore only acces-
ible to the city dweller.
Radio puts the farmer in direct I
ouch with the whole world. \