The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-12-27
ANNUAL REPORT Of
LATAH co. AGENT
AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS COW
Erred IN ACTIVITIES TAKE
:. WIDE RANGE

The annual report of o. S. Fletcher,
/ Latah county agricultural agent, has
just been issued, showing in detail
the activities of the office in the past
year. Mr. Fletcher represents the
cooperative extension work in the
county, in which the University of
Idaho extension division, the United
States department of agriculture and
the Latah county farm bureau par
ticipate, and his work covers a wide
range of activities along agricultur-
al lines, and has been of such a ma
ture as to attract no little attention
throughout the northwest to the ex-
tension work and county agent work
in Latah county.
Following is the complete report:
COUNTY AGENT WORK DEFINED
Section of the federal Smith
Lever act, under which county agent
work is carried on, states that CO.
operative agricultural extension work
shall consist of the giving of instruc-
ton and practical demonstrations in
agriculture and home economics to
persons not attending or resident in
said colleges in the several commune
ties, and imparting to such persons
information on said subjects thru
field demonstrations, publications and
otherwise; and this work shall be
carried on in such manner as may be
mutually agreed upon by the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture and the State agri-
cultural college or colleges receiving
the benefits of this act"
In discussing the Smith-Lever act.
Wu nA -
States department OF agriculture re-
Gently stated: "It is thus made clear
that the work OF the cooperative ex-
tension employees is educational.
These extension workers are public
teachers paid with money largely
raised from all of the people by tax
alton and are charged with giving in
struction and practical demonstra-
tions in agriculture and home eco
nomics. Their work covers the entire
rural field, which includes economic
production, economic marketing, and
the development of better home, COM
munity and social conditions"
The United States department of
agriculture and the University of
Idaho cooperate with the people of
Latah County, as represented by the
a county agent in this
AS pointed out above, the
agent is the field man whose
luty it is to cooperate with the farm
srs and other people of the county
md bring to them the best practices
recommended by the state college OF
agriculture and the U. S. department
If agriculture. He also demonstrates
O various farmers any beneficial
PRACTICES that may have been devel-
ped by other farmers in the county.
n short, his work is to be of service
O the people of his county in the ag-
icultural development of the county.
PLANNING THE WORK
While in a general way the work of
he county agent is supervised by the
J. S. department of agriculture and
he College of Agriculture of the Uni-
ersity of Idaho, the people of a coun-
y very largely determine the work
hat shall be done in that county by
he county agent This is especially
rue in Latah County. In November
91S, shortly after the present county
gent took up his work in Latah
ounty, meeting of representative
armers from all parts of the county
purpose
f working out longtime program
)r the development of the agricul-
lral resources of Latah County. The
lrmers in attendance at that meeting
1T that a permanent program for the
etterment of agricultural interests In
atah County should include projects
lat would lead to - the most eco
omical PR luction Of the principal
ops of the county; (2) provide live
ock of good quality for balanced
rming; (3O look toward the develop
ent of proper crop rotations for the
aintenance of the fertility of the
Ill; and (4 provide for the protec-
On of the farm and crops from pests.
ith these basic principles in mind,
e farmers present adopted the fol-
wing projects for 1919 and for such
her years as they might be appli-
BILE: Wheat Standardization and
ed Improvement; potato standard
alton and seed Improvement; live
ock, including the various phases
that big project; crop rotations and
il improvement; weed CONTROL con-
)l of diseases and insect pests of
ans; and squirrel control Farm
Dor and crop reporting were also
opted
Since the adoption of the funda-
,ntal outline set forth above, the
unity program of work for each
AZ has conformed to the principles
erein set forth, altho there have
IN slight changes in projects from
ar to year. The projects on which
rk was done in 1928 were as fol- .
VS.: Grain Improvement, potato
livestock, poultry, soils
/ crop rotations, women's work,
ed control, squirrel control, crop
marketing, and miscellan-
is. The 26 organized communities
the county adopted total of 120
al projects. Farmers of each COM
nifty decided upon the work for
t community and selected their
al leaders. In general. the chief
rces of income in community
Y largely decided the work under
en- there. The county program is