, 1924-06-18

AVSoB thcIt WcIl
43S,000.000 chickens in the Unite,
States, valued at approximate,
1900, 900 900. The annual produc
ton of chicken eggs is estimated a
LOO. 100000 dozen. The averag,
farm price of dressed poultry dur
ing the 1913 to 1922, in
elusive, was approximately 17h
cents per pound, fluctuating not tc
exceed two cents per pound durins
the twelve months of the year. Fol
d same period the lowest average
farm price for eggs per dozen was
24.6c for the month of July, and
the highest 45.4c for December.
The United States exports annual
iy approximately $1,000, 900 dozen
eggs and imports 100000 dozen
and 27.O00.0OO pounds of dried
frozen and egg albumen. There are
held in cold storage during the
month of August approximately 10,
100000 cases of eggs, which by
March are reduced to as low as 10.
o cases. The cold storage hold
ing OF poultry in 1922 reached 1O3.
100000 pounds as against $4,000,
600 pounds in 1917.
We have discussed the merits of
this industry as related to the or
binary water users on government
reclamation prajects. A close in
vestigation develops some very in
teresting facts. We hear consider
able noise along the lines of other
agricultural industries, but little or
nothing about the poultry grower.
1t may be Illuminating, therefore,
TO compare this line of activity with
the sheep industry, with which al
most everyone is familiar.
According to the census of 1920
there were in the United States
$4,000, 900 head of sheep, valued at
$395,00O,0 900. To this we would
add the wool production, about'229,
100000 pounds, with a valuation
of s120.0OO.0OO giving us a total
valuation for the sheep industry of
S515.000,0 600. The same authority
gives the valuation for chickens
raised that year (1919) at 1886,
24O,367. and the egg production at
$661,0S2,SO3 total $1,O47,323,17O.
In other words, including chickens
only, h poultry industry of this
country is shown to be $4,000, 900
more than the sheep and wool in
dustry combined.
or the total source of farmers
food supplies in the United States
eggs and poultry constitute less than
2 e cent. 1t is safe to assume
from the foregoing that the poultry
industry during the next decade
will assume large proportions and
this line of production is well worth
the consideration of progressive
farmers at the preset time. The
problem is. How may a man of
limited means get into the poultry
business?
Fro the experiences which have
been supplied the Department it
would seem that poultry is being
confined quite generally to the 40
acre farm and the character of this
industry necessarily connects it very
closely with a system of diversified
production. Alfalfa hay and grain
seem to be necessary and through
the medium of these crops, poultry
is closely related to the production
of other profitable lines, such as
lambs and dairy cattle.
AS an example of what industry
and good management may accom-
plish even in these trying times we
Introduce the experience of Mr.. and
Mrs. M. l.. Russell of Meridian,
Idaho, (Boise p~roject). In 1917
they purchased an S0-acre tract of
~'sagebrush land but soon after re-
duced it to 40 acres. Their capital
consisted of $500 down payment on
the land and sufficient means to
purchase a team, COW and a small
amount of equipment, but not
enough to build a home so they
were compelled to rent a small
house on an adjacent farm.
During 1923 thirty-six acres were
cropped, producing "a tons of al
falfa, 26 tons of clover hay, AZ
bushels of clover seed, $50 bushels
of barley, log bushels of wheat and
considerable pasture. A family gar
den and orchard provided a large
share of the actual living expenses.
All of the crops raised, with the ex-
ception of the clover seed. were fed
on the place to livestock and poul-
try.
They started the season of 1923
with 800 pure bred English white
Leghorn chickens. The receipts
from eggs, baby chicks and cockrels
amounted to somewhat more than
$1,000 net. In addition they had
5 milk cows, 2 heifer and a team.