The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-11-25
NEED ON FARMS
MORE DIVERSITY
DEAN IDDINGS BACK FROM SOUTH
SAYS ROTATION AND STOCK
PROSPERITY BASIS

Dean e. J. Iddings, of the college
of agriculture at the University of
Idaho, who arrived at home Thursday
night from a ten days trip through
southeastern Idaho, came back more
than ever convinced that diversified
farming, including a rotation of crops,
and the raising of some livestock,
is essential if Idaho farmers are to
prosper as they should in the future.
The dean has long been a deciple
of diversified farming, and has grown
stronger in his belief as a result of
conditions in the farming districts in
all parts of the state the past two
years.
Dean Iddings accompanied the
movable schools to a number of
points on the upper Snake, and also
visited the substations in south Ida
no and consulted with the extension
workers, farm agent leaders and farm
agents.
No Market for Potatoes
The potato situation has proven a
handicap to many farmers in the
southeastern part of the state, Dean
Iddings stated. An enormous crop
has been grown all over the country,
and this, coupled with the car stu
alton, has made 1T impossible to mark
ct much of the Idaho crop at a prof
It. Some potatoes have been sn1pped
at a fair figure and some farmers
have picked out the bakers, and dis
posed of them at a good price. Many
however, have not been able to get
a market that would justify handling
the crop, and as a result there are
many acres Of potatoes still in the
ground. The Indications are, the
dean said, that the acreage of potat
oes next season will be much smaller
than this, throughout southern Idaho.
Livestock Situation Better
The livestock situation, generally
lis much improved, Dean
the sheep mems dollar is now greater
than before the war. The beef cattle |
condition has improved in the past
few months and poultry and dairy
products continue to sell at q reas-
onably satisfactory price, bringing
the farmer a better profit. on an
average, than any other products.
Tho inward tendency in the wheat
market has been a benefit to some,
in districts where the land
values are comparatively low and
where there is moisture to grow a
'air crop, such as in the Teton basin
'egion.
The farmers. Dean Iddings says,
are continually looking with more
.avor upon real diversified farming
which will include the grow
ng of variety of crops, proper ro
alton, and also the raising of some
livestock, the principal crop in the
-arious sections depending upon the
of the region.
Too Much of Living Shipped in
Another prominent factor in many
# the agricultural districts, accord
ng to the dean, is the failure of
armers to produce the greater part
# their living on the farm, such as
oultry and dairy products, pork,
vegetables, etc. Some 20 years ago
t was characteristic of the western
armer not to grow any of the So ]
allied stuff, but to farm only in a {
ig way and to buy everything for I
is table, most of it, at that time i
eing shipped in from the east. {
here is still too much of that prac- l
ice, Dean Iddings states, farmers
aging out cash to someone else for {
upplies which they could grow sue {
essfully on their own farm, and thus {
fleet a great saving.
On the whole, Dean Iddings states.
here is a general tendency toward +
lethods of farming which will mean {
lore certain prosperity throughout :
of