Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-12

which follows tells OF the very ef-
! fective work done by county agents
Ward and Marshall, along this line
in Grady and Sumter counties.
The cooperative live stock sales
which began in Georgia with the
hog sale held by County Agent P.
H. Ward, at Cairo, November, 1916,
have been great stimulus to the
live stock industry of the state. Dur.
ing the last fall and winter, sales
were held in thirty-five counties and
at more than fifty shipping points.
During the past year there were han
died in these sales nearly 800 car
lots of hogs and cattle. This figure
includes only actual car lots handled
in the sales held under the super
vision Of the county agents and does
not include numerous special orders
for both butcher and feeder hogs,
the sale of which resulted from in
formation furnished by county
agents.
A very conservative estimate Of
the saving to farmers on live stock
handled in sales last season would
exceed the sum Of $4,000. Add to
this the savings realized in private
sales as a result of the stimulus in
prices resulting from the public
sales, considering also the effect
on quality Of product through the
educational effect Of the sales. Then
it must be admitted by the most
conservative student of the live
stock industry that the county
agents have, through these sales
alone, saved the farmers Of Geor-
gia more than the state appropr.ates
for the maintenance Of the county
agent work.
The history Of the swine industry
in Georgia is inseparable from the
history of the county agent work
Thousands Of former pig club mem.
bers are now mature farmers pro.
duc1ng purebred hogs for market.
Furthermore, almost innumerable
mature farmers are today raising
hogs because it was demonstrated
TO them by their own or by neigh
bors' boys. in the pig clubs, that hog.
raising was practicable and profit.
aole IN the south. Since the county
agent has been the guiding influence
IN this work all the while he is
naturally in better position than
anyone else to understand the prob.
lems attending the production and
marketing OF hogs. Since he is the
Key man in the production phase of
the industry, he logically bears the
same relation to the marketing phase
of the work.
The progressive growers and
county agents realize that there is
yet much to be done, for as the in.
dustry develops our local markets
Will not suffice. Furthermore, we
already feel the need of a more
competitive market. During the
summer months, the prices we re-
ceive for our livestock are in line
with the big markets: whereas, in
the winter, when our local markets
become glutted, the prices are out
Of line. Either our local markets
must be better developed, or we must
organize livestock shipping associa.
tions and seek outside markets for
a part Of our livestock. Much edu-
CdIlOllclA "Olh SILL ll0OuS " UG
done. The county agents can be de-
pended upon to do their part.
County Agent Marshall, of Sum-
ter county, has made hogs for the
past five years one of his main
projects. In connection with this
project, of course, he has had in
hand the different phases such as
grazing crops and feeding demon
STATIONS as well as the cooperative
selling. He thinks there are now
twice as many hogs in the county
as there were five years ago.
The cooperative hog sales con-
Quoted with the assistance Of the
farmers in the county have been
the means of stimulating interest in
the production Of hogs to the ex-
tent that now fully 80 per cent Of
the hogs in Sumter county are
purebred, and the farmers have
learned by selling comparatively at
their own pens that the purebred hog
Gnakes the best gains for the feed
sgiven. Consequently, the grades
are fast disappearing. Purebred
sires are being used almost entirely.
Possibly 10 car loads would cover
the shipments out of Sumter county
prior to five years ago. During the
past five years 1926 car loads have
been shipped. Since cooperative hog
1+xy