The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-10
DIVERSIFIED FARMING
VS.. ONE CROP GAMBLING
Agricultural Director of the Amer
lean Bankers Association
Tells of Efforts to Solve Farm
erS' Problems.

! 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. cat these confer
ences we have tried to get in touch
with the agricultural needs Of the re-
spective regions and advise with the
bankers and others interested as to
what the banks might do to help In
their solution. A resolution adopted
in the Fifth District serves as an ex-
ample Of what is needed in many
sections:
Encouragement Of proper system
of diversified farming in which farm
ers will grow as far as practical all
the food and feed crops necessary 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 liberalization The farmer
who raises nothing but wheat is I'M
wise, even foolish He is one OF the
worst kinds ct 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 1t the other crops and keeps a
reasonable amount OF livestock has
something to fall hack on when wheat
is plentiful and cheap. He Is not
putting all Of his eggs In one basket.
Diversifcatlon for cortentmcnt
"In many of the states the first
step in diversified farming Is to get
the farmer to raise sufficient live.
stock to feed his own family. He
needs to get COW, SOW and 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
consume large amounts of
feed that would otherwise go to waste.
Livestock enables the family to set g
better table and live under more
-calthful conditions. More work is
furnished to the family, making pos
sible larger family income. If the
farm family is producing enough to
ICED itself, there will be much more
,ontentment and much less idle time
n which to criticize the government. |
"The Agricultural Commission is do |
ng all in its power to encourage q
'ane system Of diversified farming
The subject is being discussed at vari-
'Us conferences, articles and edito- !
ials are being published for the pur.
'ose of acquainting bankers with the
Importance of this work.
Bankers Are Assisting
1T is encouraging at these confer
noes to find that the bankers are
Incorporating the subject of diversi-
led farming in their program and
aging plans in every way possible to
AIRY it out. To this end we have
1
ecords Of number Of banks who are
utting up money to their farmers to
urchase livestock. They are en-
ouraging boys and girls to 60 into
lub work.
For the coming year we hope to
AIRY on this work in greater detail
nd as far as possible hold conferences
-ith the officers and man ora ~ tho
gricultural committee in each Of the
sspective states at the Agricultural
ni,cGe, We believe that IN co-or-
lna '',e this work with the college,
e will reap the benefit Of team effort.
7e are pleased with the hearty re-
)onse we are receiving from the vart
is colleges Of agriculture and we be-
eve that the opportunity Is great for
various communities In
sitter types OF farming and in I'M
owed methods of business manage.