River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1924-12-25

four years. This acreage Of alfalfa producing two
and one hall tons per acre yields o000 tons Of hay
Valued at $50 per ton means an asset Of $4,000
70 the farmers IN this one crop alone.
Beside this feed value it is impossible to estimate
the amount Of nitrogen stored in the soil by this
crop. All Of the alfalfa grown is Of the Grimm
variety and comes from registered fields in South
Dakota. Complete registration papers OF the
helds from which the seed came on file IN the
office. Each farmer purchasing seed has copy
q the affidavit showing the purity OF the seed.
From this large acreage Sown, have not heard OF
any failures. therefore the future OF alfalfa ~
tins county looks very promising Everybody now,
appreciates the value OF this crop, and the work %
be done by this office alfalfa from on will
be TO get good seed from reliable sources. number
OF farmers attempting to raise their own seed
ana some are succeeding very well. Ii depends on
weather conditions during July and August.
Soybeans are becoming popular leguminous
crop. Farmers planted them this year with corn
Tor sllage, and for emergency hay crops. The
seed used was Illinois grown Manchus. This
variety OF seed grew very well under conditions.
The backward season was somewhat of handicap
to this crop as well as to CORN, but even at than
some farmers reported soy beans IN their corn
tour 20 tlve feet high. Several experimental plots
OF different varieties OF soybeanS carried on
and the above variety proved to be the best for
hay and silage
Several experimental plots were run on the
State Normal School Farm at River Falls this year
ot flax with other crops and flax alone. MI
Wright of the College OF Agriculture assisted me
lows
Average yield Of plots OF oats alone 81
bushel per acre,
Average yield Of 4 plots OF barley alone ~
Average yield of o plots OF wheat alone is
Average yield of plots Of fax alone 10
Average of six plots OF oats and flax together
were oats p bushel and flax bushel.
This being equivalent in yield of oats Of 81
bushel per acre.
Average yield of plots of flax and wheat to-
gether; of wheat II bushel per acre and flax four
bushe per acre. This being equivalent in yield OF
wheat of 10 bushel per acre.
The results OF these plots brought out the
following: that flax grown with other grains do not
decrease he yields of the other grains per acre, and
besides there is fair yield of flax, which can be
separated from other grains, and sold as a cash
CROP or ground with the grains to make valuable
feed. Flax grown alone does not do as well on
account of the large number OF weeds growing in.
The flax ripens about the same time as oats and
wheat so it has proven the best when grown with
either one OF these two crops. The soil USED Tor
the above plots was rather light therefore cutting
down the yield. We expect to run a similar group
of plots on heavier soil next year. A number OF
farmers growing flax with other grains and re-
port 1t very satisfactory.
Eleven samples of seed were tested for ger
mination.
Five samples were sent TO Department OF Seed
Inspection for purity and termination test.
Assisted Northrup King & Co in signing up
contracts with farmers for growing 30 acres OF
seed corn.
Inspected 8 fields OF pure bred grain for GER
tification.
Enrolled one farmer in the State Two Acre
Corn Contest.
Made crop Exhibit at River Falls Grain and
Poultry Show
Encouraged number Of farmers to save seed
corn this fall. From all reports enough seed corn
has been saved to supply the farmers in Pierce
County.
Livestock: In carrying on the work under this
project | co-operated with different breeders
Associations and individual breeders of live stock
The best way Of improving the Dairy Indus
try is through the Cow Testing Association.
helped reoreanize the Spring Valley. Elmwoods
Associations. We hope to organize another as
ISOLATION before spring.
The annual reports Of the six associations
completed their work last July were printed in one
bulletin. This is the FIRST combined report OF all
Cow Testing Associations in one county ever pub
lshed. 1000 copies were printed and distributed at
the National Dairy Show and in various other ways
Cost OF report covered by advertising space
sold This bulletin gives lot of valuable material
for anyone interested in dairying.
Mr.. Jacob Jacobson OF Spring Valley owns the
COW making the most butter fat of any COW in all
the associations. She gave 1920 pounds of milk
and o353 pounds Of butter fat. Chas Fedderly OF
Elmwood had the highest herd in all associations.
His herd of cows averaged l2.774 lbs. OF milk
and 4io.7 lbs. of butter fat All the cows in the
Maiden Rock Association averaged 1904 lbs.
butter fat There 2070 tested in six associa-
tions, on which farmers had complete records OF
production, and cost Of production. This shows
only per cent OF the cows tested IN the county
| and there is room for Improvement You will
| find one of these combined Reports your desk.
Three county Show Herds consisting of Guern-
| sey, Hostein and Shorthorn cattle were again
exhibited at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair.
| At this Fair with very strong competition
Shorthorn herd won first place, our Guernsey
| herd, fourth place, and the Holstein herd fifth
In the open classes we won one LIST; six End; nine
3rd; and four 4ths The Holstein herd was also
shown at St. Croix County Fair, Greenwood City.
Tri-state Fair at Superior and at Durand. All Of
these cattle were shown at the Pierce County Fair.
| This gave us some very good advertising through
out the northwestern part OF the state.
The demand for t. b. Testing of cattle is still
increasing. In 1920 l27 head of cattle were tested
| in the county by the Federal Tester. The past
year S,2o2 head have been tested. Forty Teactors
were found, which shows very small per cent OF
reactors. A large number of farmers have signed
up agreements for the test and are on the waiting
! list.
A number of cattle owners realizing the value
OF an area test requested that petitions be circu-
lated in the county for an area test. A number Of
these petitions have been returned with signers.
and is hoped that by January list the 90 per cent
of cattle owners required TO sign the petitions viii
be obtained. You will find your desk map
showing how rapidly the State and Federal Govern
ments are testing the cattle in the different coan-
ties. Work has started now IN Polk County. ST.
| Croix and Burnett Counties will be next.
| Two sales. Holstein and Guernseys, were held
this fall at which so grade females l pure bred
female and eleven pure bred males were sold, 70
| buyers from Minnesota NORTH Dakota and Wis
consin. Besides this IL pure bred males. 8 pure
bred females and 20 grade females were sold thru
this office.
The managing and bookkeeping of the above
sales were taken care of through this office.
| Assisted the Shorthorn Breeders in holding a
! Get Together Picnic, the Guernsey and Holstein
breeders in holding banquets. and arranged Field
! Trip in Minnesota for the Jersey Breeders
| Co-operated with Mr.. Brant Swine Specialist
| in arranging for three Swine Feeding Denonstra-
tons in the county. Purpose of these being 10
| find out cost of producing a pound of pork with
alfalfa or rape pasture and different kinds OF feeds
fed from self-feeders In two of the demonstration
a gain OF one pound day was made, the greatest
profit being realized from the one having alfalfa
pasture In both cases very good profit was
realized. These demonstrations bring out the
value OF keeping Farm Accounts. We hope 10
tcarry on several more next year
| Assisted the Fair Assn. in revising the Live
Stock Premium List, and helped them get out a
livery large live stock exhibit.
Enrollments in calf, pig and lamb clubs are
increasing and this is helping improve the livestock
in the county
q registration papers and transfers and 10
pcdigrees were obtained farmers.
Assisted State Hog cholera inspector in check
ling and cleaning up outbreaks OF hog cholera
| Judged a Cali Showing Contest at River Falls
Soils. Fertilizer and Lime: Considerable /,
being done TO improve the soil conditions in the
county.
As the Federal Sot Survey map win not be
out for two years, | am obtaining copies of the
original maps and together with the i36 private