The Washington herald., 1922-07-02
U. S. RADIO SERVICE
KEEPS FARMERS IN
TOUCH WITH MARTS
Department of Agricul-
ture Furnishes News to
10000 Readers.
WAS STARTED IN 1920
Prices and Crop Reports Are
Broadcasted From IS
Stations.

National crop and market reports
are now. broadcast by radio from
forty-nve government and private
broadcasting stations in the United
States. The area covered by these
stations is shown on the accompany
ing map. In charting the areas the
minimum range Of each station is
used. but under favorable static
conditions the area actually reached
is much larger. 90 that it "a fre-
ouently possible 10 receive the mes
sages anywhere IN the United
States. More than thirty-nve Of the
stations broadcast by radiophone.
which involves no technical knovi-
edge Of radio technique or codes on
the part Of those who listen In"
The Radio Market News Service
Of the United States Department OF
Agriculture is an effort 20 get vital
agricultural news TO farmers as
quickly as possible after the close
OF the markets. To gather market
Information the department has
seventy-three branch ofices in for
ty-six large market centers. sixteen
Of which are directly connected with
the Washington once and with each
other by 2.55o miles OF leased teie-
graph wires. Marketing specialists
keep in constant touch with market
conditions In the feld and st con-
suming centers. and at least 1900
responsible individuals. irms. and
railroads also report to the Depart
ment regarding the various factors
that control the marketing OF farm
products. The result is a complete
dsy-to-day picture OF national sgri-
cultural conditions. BY the use of
the telegraph and the press. and
more recently Of the wireless, this
market news is received by not less
than $4,000. 5000 readers.
The FIRST national Agricultural
news bulletin broadcast by radio
anywhere In the world was sent out
from the Washington wireless sta
tion Of the Bureau Of Standards.
December is. 1890. This was an
experiment to determine the practi-
csbility OF utilizing radio in des-
seminating market information. The
experiment was a huge success, and
the department eagerly accepted the
OFFER Of the Postofice Department
to utilize some OF its stations con
nected with the Air Mail Service for
sending out market reports by wire
less. Since then, daily reports Of
conditions in the fruit and veee-
table markets. the grain markets
and the livestock markets. have
been continuously sent out from
these stations located az Washing
ton. d. c.; Omaha and North Platte.
Nebr.; Rock Springs. wyo.; and
Elko and Reno. New.
Meanwhile rapid progress was be-
ing made in the use OF radio tele--
phony. and IL was seen that this
was the best method OF dispstching
market reports. Agricultural col
leges also became interested in the
work and a number OF them In
stalled rsdiophone equipment for
transmitting the national reports
furnished by the United states De-
partment OF Agricultural and sup
pIemented by reports OF mere local
conditions. Today fifteen agricul-
tural colleges and State marketing
agencies are distributing this agri-
cultural news by radio. Many com
mercial agencies also broadcast the
reports.
Upon request. the United States
Department OF Agriculture will fur
nIsh receiving operators with time
schedules and special forms to take
down the messages broadcast by ra-
dio telegraph.