Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-10-17
Farmers Disposing
of Livestock
Letting Go" of Cattle on Account
of Hay Shortage Is Discussed in
Rural Sections.
BY w. ]. He'll, Co. Agt.

Dissatisfaction when voiced in the
right channels is a great and price
less asset. Contrary to many
opinions, it has been the controlling
factor in formulating the progress
sive trend of modern civilization.
The greater the causal factor for
creating dissatisfaction, the greater
is the benefits apt to be on its cor
rection. 1t can be truthfuhy stated
that, dissatisfaction is the mother OF
progress. If man had always been
satisfied with his station in life we
would still be driving oxen, rowing
canoes. hunting with the bow and
arrow, using candle light and other
former conditions and practices that
have been thrust into obscurity.
The present agricultural season has
brought dissatisfaction to many of
our rural folks. We do not blame
them in the least. The summer,
with its long dry spell and late
frosts, was enough to make anybody
stop and scratch" his head. Man
has not been able to master the
natural elements, but he has devolv-
ed varieties of crops that can be
reliably grown and that are adopted
to the particular section Of the coun-
try involved.
Just now the general conversation
amongst the rural districts centers
ON the disposing of the greater part
of their livestock. At periods of
this kind, when hay shortage is
especially felt, the departure Of
large number Of unworthy cattle,
especially scrubby bulls is indeed
welcome sign. The sad feature
however creeps in rather easily
Being in a selling mood, one is apt to
'let go of real good dairy cows at
an unreasonably low figure. 1t IS
wise economy to buy good hay and
feed rather than allow known pro-
ducers to go.
It does not take much Of an
argument to convince the farmer
that keeping livestock on the farm
helps to enrich the soil, but he may
not always readily see that he IS MAX
ing profit on the livestock.
Although the immediate monetary
return is not conspicuousiy notice
able. nevertheless there is a cumuia-
tive profit to the farm. This factor
i well illustrated in the experiments
conducted at the Tennessee Expert
ment Station. At this station two
| fields Of like soil and equally pro
ductive were closely accounted FOR
for a period of sixteen years. Ihey
were capable Of producing an aver
age crop Of 20 bushels to the acre
/ From one Of these fields all crops
were fed to some. form Of livestock
/ for the sixteen year period and the
manure produced returned to It &C
cording to a we'll planned system Of
livestock farming Legume crops
were rotated with grain crops
4 From the other field, which was
cropped according to the usual
system Of all grain farming, the
croDs were sold on tie market. no
manure was applied to the soil, tor
on grain farms there is none Of TINS
article produced.
/ At the end Of the sixteen year
period following this plan on the
two fields. the former was producing
corn at the rate Of SO bushels 70 the
acre There was steady gain IN
its productive capacity from year 70
wear The other field at the end Of
i fba neriod produced only = bushels
81 corn to the acre. The earning
capacity Of the first field had oeeh
doubled and re-doubled. whereas
that Of the latter had been reduced
/ two-thirds.
Thus while livestock On the farm