The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-06-19
UNCLE SAM IS
FACT GATHERER
FOR ALL CROPS
Reporting Service Best
in the World; of Great
Value t o Agricultur-
lists.

Washington. - Especial CORES
pondence).-Every year brings album
dance of crops to some parts OF the
world and failure and threatened Ia
mine to others. Food must be brot
from the regions OF plenty to feed the
muliitudes in the regions of dearth
To facilitate this distribution OF food
all over the world to places of need.
| dependable knowledge of the crop
prospects is essential Ii must be
quickly obtained and issued.
Practically all civilized countries
now maintain some sort of a crop re-
porting system. but the United States.
the greatest agricultural nation in the
world, appropriately maintains the
largest and most comprehensive ma
tional agency. Its service is the old
est. having been organized more than
90 years ago. The excellence and
thoroughness OF the work in this
country has come to be recognized
abroad and a number of couiries have
recently sent representatives TO study
our system with a view to adopting
features suitable to their own con-
ditions. Argentina has recently Sc
cured the loan of Mr. Leon NJ. Esta-
brook. Chief of the Crop Reporting
Service. to reorganize its crop report
ing system.
$1,000 Reports
The American system is based upon
a plan OF extensive sampling. More
than 10000 crop correspondents dis
tributed throughout every agricultural
county in the u. 5. send in to the de-
partment OF agriculture a monthly re-
port for their localities. This brings
under personal observation very
large proportion of the total farm area.
About twice that many correspondents
report less frequently on special sub
ects. About 100000 send reports
or annually giving the con-
iition on their own farms. In addi-
ion. the Crop Reporting Service has
n each state a trained statistician to
make special investigations and to
ample large areas by personal field
The high average intelligence and
pirit of public service in this country
makes our system possible because in
10 other way would it be practicable
o secure such reliable first hand in
ormation so inexpensively. These
representatives. make their reports
With no expectation of compensation.
Monthly Forecasts.
Through the work of the crop esti-
rating service of the department of
griculture, the condition of the crops
this country, in per cent of a nor
lal crop is determined monthly From
lis the forecast yield per acre is cont
uted, from a study of ratio OF con-
ition in past years. These fore
asts" may vary widely from final
ield, as subsequent conditions inhu-
nee development, but at harvest time.
'timates of the yield are usually ac-
lrae to within a small per cent for
| important crops.
To supplant these data, records are
elected of cotton ginnings, mill re-
.ipts, shipments from country points,
fetal inspections, and annual state
OF acreages planted. Be-
ies acreage, yield and production the
rvice collects and publishes data
vering quality, variety, grade. farm
ocks, prices, wages, labor supply,
:. Livestock data are gathered just
thoroughly and accurately. Com
extensive methods of the movements
livestock are being accumulated as
basis for later forecasts of probable
ovement.
The greatest amount OF detail in
rmation secured in our system
,kes it the most valuable system for
purpose OF any similar service in
: world. Contrasted to this detail
ormation are the systems in most
-eign countries which merely report
phrases. as good. fair etc.