The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-04
The County Agent
And the People
Marketing as Well as Produc-
ton Within Agents Field
of Service

Inc county dSIICuICQld al etSSHl ID
public official whose business it
is to make available in practical
! form the knowledge Of agricultural
science as developed in the state
experiment stations. the United
States Department Of Agriculture,
and the results Of the best farm
practice. He is expected to show
by field demonstrations. publica-
tionssand otherwise, the application
Of such knowledge to local farm
conditions.
The advantage of improved farm
practices as demonstrated on the
most successful farm in the county
where the agent is employed are
called to the attention of farmers
in his territory. With these demon
strations before them, Individual
farmers are able to determine in
telligentiy the extent to which they
will apply the lessons Of the demon
STATIONS conducted by the agent.
The county agent is an officer OF
the state college Of agriculture and
Of the United States Department
of Agriculture. He may also be
employed in cooperation with the
county government or the county
farmers organization contributing
to his support and aiding in ms
work. He is not, however, expect
ed to act as the BUSINESS agent OF
farmers in carrying on commercial
transactions. He is not in any
sense hired man, operating the
farmers own fam enterp1 3es.
The subject on which the county
agent may give demonstrations or
advice are as varied as the needs
Of the farm population in his coun-
tx It is his duty tc demonstrate
the application Of agricultural SCI
ence to soil management and build
ing, to the control OF plant disease
and insect pests, to the mtroduc-
ton Of better varieties of farm
crops, and to Improvement IN
methods of feeding, breeding, and
care of farm animals. The economic
management of the farm as
whole to yield the largest net re-
turns, the study Of systems OF mar
keting local farm products, ADVICE
on the purchase Of farm supplies,
comparatively and otherwise, are
broad phases Of his diversified
work.
While the county agents posi-
ton and duties make him the lead
er in agricultural matters, he can
not fairly be expected to be an ex-
pert on all agricultural subjects.
He should have a sufficient gen.
eraI knowledge to advise on the
leading questions, and he should
know on what specialist to call for
help on technical or difficult
problems that may arise.
Those in charge OF cooperative
extension work, both in the United
States Department Of Agriculture
and the agricultural colleges, pc
lieye that the agents should assist
the farmers OF the county, with
every problem connected with their
business, from the preparation OK
the soil to the marketing OF MS
products. It is natural for the
farmers to look to the agent as
their agricultural adviser in mar
keting as we'll as production and to
expect him to give them inforna-
ton on questions Of harvesting.
grading, and packing. For the
past two years the marketing pro-
bfem has been the most vital one
to al! branches of agriculture. 1t Is
believed that it is legitimate and
proper for the agent to encourage
co-operative marketing, to obtain
information as to what products
should be worth. where the best
markets may be found, ana now
these markets may be reached at
the least expense to the producer
DIR. A..C. True. Director, States
Relation Service.