The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-12-08
COUNTY AGENTS
ANNUAL REPORT
Introductory.

which is used for grazing purposes.
There are 210O farms in the county.
Eighty-five of these farms are irri-
gated. The irrigation system includes
592 miles of bitches with a capacity of
over ten thousand second feet.
The summer months are warm and
the normal climatic conditions are
ideal for irrigated farming, although
the growing season is short because
Of heavy frosts which usually occur
in the early fall-or late summer. The
crops grow much more rapidly than
In some climates where seasons are
longer.
Most of the farms are situated a.
long the Snake River on a narrow
strip Of land approximately sixty-five
miles long. This necessitates a great
deal of travelling and is handicap in
carrying on Extension work. The
grazing and desert lands bordering
the farming section provides a har-
boring place for rodents and insect
pests which are very detrimental to
the agricultural activities.
The economic conditions are tar
from desirable. Almost every pro-
ject has been limited more or less be-
cause Of lack Of funds on the part Of
farmers to finance any undertaking.
This condition is not improving, and
the outlook is very discouraging.
Prices for farm produce are below the
cost Of production on most crops, and
cars cannot be secured at the pres
ent time to use in shipping these pro-
ducts to market.
Potato Improvement
The program of work for the po-
tato improvement project was a very
extensive one. Plans were made to
give SO field demonstrations, two in
each community where potato work
was requested Ia addition To this
engagements were made to organize
potato clubs for the boys, hold two
potato schools in the county stan
dardize the types to be grown, inspect
fields for certification, and try TO
induce every potato grower to raise
seed plct.
Because Of the shortage of time
and large amount of insect pest con-
troll work, it was impossible to hold
two field demonstratinos in all com
munities. Twenty-one demonstra-
tions were held at which instructions
were given in roguing out diseased
and weak plants, and in hill selec-
ton. 442 farmers attended these
meetings. Two potato schools were
held with an attendance of 275. The
interest was keen and the meetings
were very successful. The school at
Blackfoot was conducted by r. r
Bennett, the field Horticulturist, but
on account of Mr.. Benefits illness
the Aberdeen meeting was conducted
by the county agent.
Over two hundred seed plots were
raised by potato growers from which
to select their seed for next year
Good seed was secured for these plots
and they were rogued during the
growing season.
72O acres of potatoes were inspect
ed for certification. 1877 acres passe'
the last inspection and are eligible
for certificatiOn.
Community meetings were held il
practically all communities where no
tatoes are grown. Talks were give1
on cultural methods, seed plots an
hill selection. The county agent wa
assisted at these meetings by MI
Pendlebury, manager of the Black
foot Potato Growers Assn.
Fourteen potato clubs were organ
lied with eighty members. Thes
clubs were supervised by the Smith
Hughes instructors, Mr.. NJ. Field
baum of Blackfoot, A. +. Sells c
Shelley. and c. M. Sly Of Aberdeen
Field meetings were held to give in
struction in cultural methods IN
foguing.
Potato Improvement was made on
of the leading projects because Of u
fact that potato diseases We're Gu
ting down the yield and quality.
was plainly visible that if somethio
was not done to control the diseas
the potato industry would soon be
thing OF the past in tAis county,
have tried to teach the farmers
practical demonstration the anval
tages of using good seed and metho,
q growing high Welding, disease IN
potatoes q The best Qualify. The =
suits have been very gratifying as
large majority o. the potato grove
are adopting these improved me-
dds
Crop Improyement-t'rains.
The grain Inn ovement project "
intended TO encourage irrigated ia
mers to standafdize varieties, to j
e~oaa the average yield, and to UT
growers to produce hi
Yie] "e certified seed which. VIII
plotted again, would improve t