The Mena weekly star., 1922-03-09
RADIO BECOMES AN
 AID TO FARMING
sk Sends Market and Weather Re- ports Rapidly-Music and Other Entertainment Broadcast by
 Wireless.

Washington, March S.-The im- portance of radio to Americas rural papulation is the dominant note of sAse radio telephone conference now in session nere, fin the opinion of the de- partment of agriculture. 1t is con xidered the radio not only makes the isolation of the farm a thing ot the rast. but brings quickly to the farm cr she information needed in the in- hcTIigent conduct of his business. The aending of weather, crop and market reports is the most important use to which the radio is being put, in the opinion of various radio experts at tending the conference.
 ~There is no single use of radio, ex- cent for marine and aerial purposes, that should take procedure over it's utilization for the benefit of agricul- surc.v said Y. 4. Wheeler, delegate of the United States Department of Az rsruIture. sThere are more than S2 million persons on farms, comprising nearly one-third the total population Of the United States. Most of these arc located where they are virtually cut off from immediate contact with the outside world. The radio IS the only means of getting to them quickly at small cost the economic informa- ton necessary in the proper conduct of their business
 Send Market Reports Daily.
 Daily market reports on the live stock, grain, cotton, hay, feed, fruit and vegetables are broadcast over virtually the entire United States, and farmers located almost anywhere can receive them either directly or with the assistanse of amateur operators, Wheeler explained. A number of state bureau of markets and agri- culture colleges alec are sending both local and national market and crop reports by radio telegraphy and radio phone.
 With regard to the brcadcasting of music and entertainment, Wheeler said that anything in the way of en- tnrtainment that will afford the farm CT even slight diversion from his daily labors will bc of great benefit to she whole nation"
 The time element in dispatching weather, crop and market news is big factor affecting the value of such reports, Wheeler said. In cutting hay or harvesting grain, for example, an hours delay in the dispatch of wealth CT reports may mean loss of sev- eral thousand dollars. An early morning report on market conditions and the estimated receipts at the market that day is of great help to the livestock raiser who wants to ship z load of hogs to market A sudden frost may kill an entire fruit crop. By zzzio, warnings of sudden tempera- tGre changes or of storms can bs flashed instantly to an entire district.
 News Must Be Fresh.
 When thousands of tons of food products is threatened with destruc- tions by impending storms or floods, ordinary methods of communication of warnings are too slow, Wheeler 8nid.
 Market news to be of greatest value should be received the same day. The prompt receipt of reports on the condition of crops also is of great importance The radio is the only means of quickly communicating these various kinds of information to khe farmer"
 A rapid movement in the formation of farm Trad" clubs, composed of farm boys and girls interested in rad so service, is taking place turnout the country, it was said.