Smyrna times., 1924-09-17
DIVERSIFIED FARMING AS
AGAINST ONE CROP GAMBLING
D. H. OTIS, AGRICULTURAL d.
RECTOR, GIVES SOME FACTS
American Bankers Association Expert
Tells of Effort To Solve Farmers
PrOblems.-Helpful Advice

Tells of Effort 10 Solve Farmers
PrOblems.-Helpful Advice
One of the leading problems that
is confronting many of our states is
that of diversified farming, says D. |
H. Otis, Agricultural Director of the |
American Bankers Association.
During the past year the Agricul-
tural Commission of the association
has arranged for conferences in eight !
of the twelve Federal Reserve dis
tricts," he says. "At these conferences
we have tried to get in touch with the
agricultural needs of the respective
regions and advise with the bankers
and others interested as to what the
banks might do to help in their sOlu
ton. A resolution adopted in the Fifth
District serves as an example of what
is needed in many sections:
Encouragement of a proper sys-
tenn of diversified farming in which
farmers will grow as far as practi-
cal all the food and feed crops nee
essary for feeding the family and
livestock of the farm, and to keep on
the farms the requisite kinds and
amounts of livestock best to meet the
economic needs of farming in this
district
"The conference in the Ninth Dis
trict emphasized strongly the need of
greater diversifcation. The farmer
who raises nothing but wheat is un-
wise, even foolish. He is one of the
worst kinds of gamblers, one who
CANDLES on the weather, on insects,
on drought, and various other things
that affect the quality of the product.
The farmer who raises wheat and
along with it the other crops and
keeps a reasonable amount of live
stock has something to fall back on
when wheat is plentiful and cheap.
He is not putting all of his eggs in
one basket.
DiversifcatiOn for COntentment
SIN many of the states the first
step in diversified farming is to get
the farmer to raise sufficient livestock
to feed his own family. He needs to
get a COW, sow and a couple of dozen
chickens so that his own needs can be
supplied without going into debt at
the store. Livestock used to furnish
food for the family will frequently
consume large amounts of feed that
would otherwise go to waste. Live
stock enables the family to set bet
ter table and live under more health
: full conditions. More work is furnish
ed to the family, making possible
> larger family income. If the farm
" family is producing enough to feed it
;. self, there will be much more content
E ment and much less idle time in whicl
to criticize the government.
= "The Agricultural Commission
doing all in its power to encourage
a sane system of diversified farming
The subject is being discussed at val
ious conferences, articles and editor
ials are being published for the pun
pose of acquainting bankers with tn
importance of this work.
2 Bankers Everywhere Are Assisting
at is encouraging at these confer
ences to find that the bankers are il
cooperating the subject of diversifie
farming in their program and layin
plans in every way possible to carr
it out. To this end we have recOrC
of number of banks who are putin
up money to their farmers to purcl
ase livestock. They are encouragin
D. boys and girls to go into club work.
ye "For the coming year we hope
III carry on this work in greater deta
81 and as far as possible hold conferen'
n with the officers and members of Il
ID agricultural committee in each of Il
IN respective states at the Agricultur
College. We believe that in cO-Ord
mating this work with the college, v
Y. will reap the benefit of team effOl
We are pleased with the hearty r
ry sponse we are receiving from the va
ious colleges of agriculture and '
believe that the opportunity is gre
&c for influencing various cOmmuniti
W. in better types of farming and in il
or proved methods of business manag
ment."