The Bozeman courier., 1926-06-11
Extension Work Makes
Rapid Strides i'm State

1880 agents in the country at the
close of the first war year. After
the signing of the Armistice and the
CONSEQUENT discOntinuance Of emer-
gency appropriations, the number
Of agents was gradually reduced,
reaching 2,O40 in 1920, and since
then there has been a gradual in
crease until the present total Of
2,1OO has been reached.
! It is interesting to note that the
first agents devoted themselves
largely to assistance in pest and di-
sease control of plants and animals.
! Gradually the field of the county
agent was enlarged to include all
| of the problems of production, which
during the period from 1910 to 1920
were the vital factors in farm aper-
alton. With the deflatiOn of 1920
the problems of economics and Of
marketing began to assume greater
proportions in the eyes of the farm
ers and agricultural agents respond
ed to the demand by devOting more
time and giving more attention to
these matters. Today, much of the
county agricultural agents time is
taken up with problems of farm
management, marketing and other
problems of a more economic nature.
= In Montana last year every agent
in the state devoted some time in
giving assistance to farmers in CO.
Operative marketing ventures and eV-
cry county in the state now has some
p sort of cooperative marketing ag-
! ency ranging from small local egg
: circles to county and district ship
ping associations handling a great
variety of farm products.
The keynote of county agricultural
work is cooperation. 1t is based or
united thought and united action
Community associations are fOstereC
in which the individual and cOmmun
ity problems may be considered anC
dealt with. Every agricultural de
velOpment of any Importance in the
state in the last 10 years has haC
organized community effort as ;
background.
While the number of county agent
in Montana is below the national av
erage, the state has one of the high
est ratings in service and efficiency
It has established a high standard il
directing the work of improving
crops and livestock, encouraging bet
ter cultural methods, stimulatin
economy and efficiency in farm an
ranch management and improving
conditions in rural communities an
rural homes. The system of see
and crop improvement establishe
here is a model for other states;
national reputation has been mad
in the production of certified see
potatoes; COW testing association
and clubs are rapidly eliminatin
nOn-prOfitable dairy COWS and pU
ting dairying on a stable basis; flOc
improvement through the culling {
ewes and hetter systems of breedin
is a vital factor in the develOpmeI
of the sheep industry; work wit
beef cattle has dealt primarily wit
lowering cost of production wit
good results; turkey production h;
become established as one Of the in
pOrtant farm industries of the sta
and the production of eggs and pOu
try generally has been greatly IN
proved. Equally important is Il
work in farm homes and rural cor
munities where greater comfort, ha
piness and beauty have followed Il
activities of the Extension ServiC
Most important of all, there has be-
established an outstanding system
training for the young people on t
farms through the agency of the f.
club work.