The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-06-05
REPORT OF THE TWIN
FALLS AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMIC CONFERENC E

ECONOMlC CJNFEktEN VI
The conference respectfully de
sires to call attention to the Idah'
farmers and those interested will
him in farming enterprises numbel
of essential facts.
LIVESTOCK
In making plans affecting the live
stock business, it is well to remem
Der that butter, as compared to Other
commodities, has purchasing power
of 112, eggs 121, wool 145; thai
beef prices have been steadily com.
ing up; that, in the past, such peri
DDS as this of heavy pork production
and low prices have led to a reduc-
ton in breeding SO drastic as to
result later on in shortage and in
dications are that hog producers may
now be moving into one of the re-
current periods of low production.
Livestock husbandry has always
been the keystone source of income
of Idaho irrigated farmers. 1t is
well to remind ourselves that Idaho
farmers have right now an invest
ment of $10,664,000 in dairy cows,
$13,318,000 in beef cattle, 1921
600 in sheep, $3,553,000 in hogs,
100000 in producing hens Cap
proximate). No estimates are avail
able for the investment in livestock
equipment. Wise farmers and bank
ers are giving first consideration to
the maintenance to full production
of dairy. cows, poultry, sheep, beef
cattle and hogs but planning cropping
systems which will furnish ample
feed. They recognize the danger
of great loss unless the great invest
ment in livestock and equipment is
protected by production to full ca
pacity. Unless feeds are abundant,
many farmers may be required to
sell high priced livestock at a great
sacrifice.
GRAIN CROPS
OF all the grain crops barley re-
quires the least amount of irriga-
tion to mature. 1t is the first rank
ing grain feed for livestock in Idaho.
Next to barley, oats requires the
least amount of water and its i'm
portance in growing out young stuff
commends it as a crop in short water
years Corn has become the basic
fattening feed for lamb, steer and
hog feeding. 1t can be produced
with much less water than most
farmers use and will mature much
better without the last irrigation
which most farmers apply. 1t re-
quires more water than barley or
oats.
FORAGE CROPS
Alfalfa may be compared to corn
in irrigation requirement. Corn for
silage, however, requires less water
than corn for mature grain. For
q pasture, sweet clover requires less
water and produces more pasture
than any other grass. Pasture plant
ings are dangerous in short water
years because of the risk in secur
ng a good stand.
CULTIVATED CROPS
Beans require theN least amount
If water Of all the cultivated crops.
Next to beans comes peas then pOta-
oes. Onions and beets are safe
,rops to plant where there is ample
storage water for late irrigation.
In connection with cash crops, we 1
lesire to call special attention to
he report of the u. S. division of I
rop and livestock estimates relative
o probable planting and coupled ,
nth this, the increase in shipments I
4 Idaho cash crops to California (
markets due to steadily increasing I
opulation. In view of the prevail t
,g drought in California, the out q
)ok Is for increased consumption of r
IDAHO products. Il
SEED. CROPS 3
1t requires less water to produce 8
Italia seed than it does for either n
eed peas or clover. 1t is safe to /,
tempt clover seed production where h
late irrigation is assured. Seed n
cas- require less irrigation than
over and about the same amount D
, wheat In short water years ex- t,
erienced seed growers have saved n
le first crop of alfalfa or clover n
" seed and only good clean fields.
WATER SUPPLIES lo
The situation as to water is about
Te have this advantage, however,
rperience has taught US the better
,e of irrigation water, both early
I'D late run OF, and storage sup
lies. We can pretty accurately esti- :, -
ate for each individual project how :,
lrly and how late storage water -
ust be used.
From the experience of 1919, we
hTn IHdI IL 10 6OOu pIdCIlCO " AOiu T.
much of the early overflow of =,
le Snake by running it into the
mails Of the upper Snake river val :,
y and thus fill the vast under =,
'ound reservoir there. This under =,
round reservoir water gets back .
to the Snake river later in the y
ason and is caught as late season y
IN of on the lower irrigation pro- -
cts. This enables the conservation
storage water with better promice
late irrigation this year than in :
10.
The conference has faith in the i
perience of the project managers
ID their understanding of the irri- n
tion requirements of crops and the
ofitable and efficient use of storage
ater. The rigid supervision of
orage water this season is import
It, Idaho irrigated farmers can
thru another year of successful
oduction if willing cooperation is
tended project managers.
--f.- HI