The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-03-06
GOVERNMENT GETTING
CLOSER TO THE FARMER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL-
TURE is PUTTING MARKET
FACTS BEFORE THEM.
FOREIGN CONDITIONS STUDIED
Particular Attention Is Being Given
To Cost of Marketing Live Stock.
Department Is Engaged in Many
Other Helpful Activities.

Department Is Engaged in Many
Other Helpful Activities.
Fundamental business facts of agri-
culture are being supplied to farmers
directly as never before by the depart
ment of agriculture. Establishment of
shipping point inspection in several
leading agricultural states, together
with nationwide expansion of its
news service by the use of radio and
the establishment of grain market
news reporting service, have brought
the United States department of agri-
culture closer to farmers during the
last year.
Coordination of economics studies
covering each phase of the processes
on production, marketing and distri-
button of farm products has made
that result possible. During the year
the bureau of markets and the bureau
of crop estimates were consolidated
into the bureau of markets and crop
estimates. The Office OF farm econom-
les and farm management was later
brought into the group, forming what
is now the bureau OF agricultural eco
Monies. thus rounding out the whole
plan of handling economic problems
from producer to consumer.
Facts of Foreign Demand
Outstanding activities have had to
do with cost of marketing, collection
of information relative to agricultural
competition of foreign countries with
the United States and the demand for
American farm products in foreign
countries. Also the effecting of ar
engagements for securing information
as to condition and production of
crops in various foreign countries; an
analysis of the economic situation in
the live stock industry and the devel-
opment of plans leading to the more
orderly marketing of live stock and
many other studies and Investigations.
Particular attention was given the
cost of marketing live stock in the
corn belt states. Data on various
phases of marketing were obtained
from PIG organizations which ship live
stock on a cooperative basis, 81 local
buyers and u producers who ship
their own stock independently. The
cooperative agencies from which the
information was secured shipped more
than $22,000,000 worth of stock dur
ing 1921, the bulk of tiHs~ shipments
consisting of hogs. A series of bul-
letins, each dealing with a specific
phase of the marketing of live stock
through the agencies studied, is to be
issued.
Economic Survey of Europe.
Agricultural Representatives were
maintained in Argentina, London,
England and in the Balkan countries,
collecting information relative to agri-
cultural competition of foreign coun-
tries with the United States and the
demand for American agricultural
products in foreign markets. A special
study of the English market for
American pork and pork products was
made. Two representatives were also
sent to Europe to make an economic
survey of agricultural reconstruction
and to arrange for the interchange of
information as to the condition and
production of crops in leading Euro
pean agricultural countries. Work on
the establishment of world crop
reporting service was also begun.
Special attention was given the de-
veloping of a service for reporting
marketable supplies and movements
of meat animals. Additional safeguards
such as checks on statistical methods
of making crop estimates were effect
ed. A special survey in May showed
the prospective number of hogs for the
fall markets. Estimates of the acre
age of durum wheat under cultivation
June LIST, as distinguished from the
hard spring wheat varieties, were
made A check on live stock and 9TH
err estimates showed the estimates in
accord with census figures.
Studies of Fruit Auctions.
Studies of organized fruit auction
companies disclosed valuable informa-
ton. Although fruit auction compa-
MES in the larger city markets handle
about $150,000,000 worth of fruit an
nually, little has been known of the
details of their organization and re-
garding their relative efficiency in the
handling of different classes of prod
ucts. Grades for fruits and vegetables
received greater attention during the
year than ever before. the number of
commodities for which federal grades
have been formulated being brought
to IA.
Tentative grades for shelled Span
ish peanuts also were recommended.
Shipping point inspection of fruits and
vegetables was established in num-
Der of states under cooperative agree
ments.
Tentative grades of grain sorghum
were distributed to the trade and are
now in use in all of the important
grain sorghum markets. Two types
of an improved grain-cleaning device
for cleaning wheat on the farm were
designed and tested in the spring
wheat producing areas Many addi-
tional phases of cooperative market
ing were studied A great increase in
the number of requests for licenses
under the United States warehouse
act occurred, 268 cotton warehouses
being registered under the act at the
close of the fiscal year, 263 grain
warehouses, Is wool warehouses and
IA tobacco warehouses.