South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-30
ANNUAL REPORT OF
AGENT BIRD SHOWS
VALUE OF BUREAU
County Agriculture Agent In
spects $50 Farms During
Present Year.

More than $40 visits to farms in
St Joseph county were made by
County Agent E. c. Bird during 1922
and 4.224 Office consultations were
held by him, according 70 his annual
! report.
At l27 meetings sponsored by the
county agent during the year. a to-
tai OF 4.59s persons were in atten-
dance, while Bird wrote I76 agri-
cultural articles for the meetings
and press. Twelve issues OF the
Farm Bureau News, edited by Bird
had a total circulation OF $4,000 CO.
pies and In addition TO these. his Of
fee sent out 1887 circular letters.
During 1922 there were 1,210 herds
OF cattle or 1928 animals tested
/ for tubercular Infections and LASS
animals were retested. OF the cattle
tested 1877 reacted 70 treatment or
approximately seven percent The re
port states that PAT herds having a
total OF 1920 heads Of cattle were
found TO have tubercular infections
during the year and six-tenths per
cent were retested.
In explaining the work OF his Of
fee Bird said
"Functioning as the local extension
office Of the L. S. Department Of
agriculture and Purdue University,
the county agents office in the court
house is the local extension head
quarters for ma tiers affecting agri-
-.
Farm Bureau Is also a cooperator in
that it contributes to the local bud
get for extension work"
This extension work Of the county
agent follows two distinct lines. First
comes the broa dcasting of accurate
information, based upon the expert
mental data developed by the Dept
of Agriculture and the state agricul-
tural college. Second comes the
development of a definite local pro-
gram through the organization CO.
operating in extension work. During
1922 the program Of the county
agent and the St. Joe county Farm
Bureau has been conferred around
the eradication Of Bovine tuberculo-
sis from the dairy herds Of the cOun-
ty. The windup Of this work during
the last week of December shows
that go per cent of the cattle in the
county have been tested. The goal at
the beginning Of the year was SET
at 10000 head and exceeded by 1721
head. In an organized way this WORK
was carried on by the farmers Of ID
townships Of the county starting on
| March 9Th, 1922 and placing St.
Joe county IN the lead in Indiana on
T. B. Cleanup work"
The 1922 program also included
a lime phosphate and legume pro
ject based on the need for correct
| ing soil acidity and loss OF fertility
on st. Joe county farms Acidity
tests were made on IA farms; AS
farmers consulted the county agent
regarding fertilizers. resulting In the
purchase Of 1907 tons Of commercial
fertilizers. Lime importa I o n s
approximate 10000 tons for 1922"
General informa ton was extend
ed along the following lines Of farm
enterprise:
Poultry, seed corn. boys and girls
CluD WOIhs LlOL -4Cu4NuAe o4lON' NV
stock shipping, potato seed improve
I ment, soy beans and mineral mix
lures, publication Of farm bureau
news, farm accounting, dairy ratiOns,
muck and truck crops. insect pests.
chinch bugs, seed improvement"
In brief the county agricultural
agent IL the joint representative
Of the u. S. department. Of agricul-
ture and Purdue university. the
county and the Farm Bureau and
/ through these institutions the best
! agricultural information is available
for the use Of farmers and citizens
Of st. Joe county"