Milford chronicle., 1924-09-12
DIVERSIFIED FARMING
vs.. One CROP GAMBLING
Agricultural Director Of American
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.
II. 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
districts" he says. "At 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 a proper sys-
TEN 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
1.-THE conference in the Ninth Dis
trict emphasized strongly the need
OF greater diversificatiOn. The farm
er who raises nothing but wheat is
unwise, even foolish. He is one of
the worst kinds of gamblers, one
who CANDLES on the weather, on in
sects, on drought, and various other '
things that affect the quality of the {
product. The farmer who raises !
wheat and along with it the other t
crops and keeps a reasonable amount
of livestock has something to fall
back on when wheat is plentiful and
cheap. He is not putting all of his
eggs in one basket. !
DiVerSificatiOn for COntentment
I'm many of the states the first
step in diversified farming is to get 4
the farmer to raise sufficient live 4
stock to feed his own family. He 7
needs to get COW, SOW and couple
)f dozen chickens so that his own q
needs can be supplied without go G
ng into debt at the store. Livestock 4
lsed to furnish food for the family n
will frequently consume large
of feed that would other G
wise go to waste. Livestock enables Fl
he family to set a better table and ir
i've under more healthful conditions. fc
More work is furnished to the fam 9,
ly, making possible larger family in II
'ome. If the farm family is produc- tc
ng enough to feed itself, there will Il
De much more contentment and eI
much less idle time in which to G
riticize the government. 81 81
"The Agricultural Commission is al
Ioing all in its power to encourage ii
sane system of diversified farming. 81
7he subject is being discussed at pe
ariOus conferences, articles and ed
torials are being published for the Il,
urpOse of acquainting bankers with de- iIl
he Importance of this work. al
Bankers Are Assisting nc nc
"It is encouraging at these confer da
nces to find that the bankers are b3 bfh
Incorporating the subject of diversi- re
ed farming in their program and da
aging plans in every way possible II, no
carry it out. To this end we have to
ecords Of a number of banks who ev
re putting up money to their far re-
lers to purchase livestock. They are eIt eit
ncouraging boys and girls to go in
} club work. tic
"For the coming year we hope to a az
AIRY on this work in greater detail lis
nd as far as possible hold confer ist
nces with the officers and members in' IN
the agricultural committee in tn
lch of the respective states at the sit
gricultural College. We believe mn El1l
lat in co-ordinating this work with eri
lie college, we will reap the benefit be
team effort. We are pleased with pr
le hearty response we are receiving an
ON the various colleges of agri- ma
llture and we believe that the op- 20 70
is great for influencing Of
lrious communities in better types be
farming and in improved methods gei
business management" cb,