The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-31
:. q Miesen Finds People Of Bur-
leigh County Favorable to
Extension Work and Willing
to Cooperate - Acreage of
a Feed and Forage Crops
e Greatly Increased

A. r. Miesen, Burleigh county ag.
ricultural extension agent, has just
completed the most comprehensive
years work in his history.
His work has been carried on in
every one Of the AZ townships Of the
county and he has been aided by ex-
tension work carried on through II
: active community clubs with q men,
I bership Of $50 men and women with
sc local community assistants.
There are now five girls and boys
clubs with q membership Of II boys
and 40 girls who are directed by five
local leaders.
Mr.. Miesen paid 1892 visits to SIS
farmers in sc different homes. He
also called on "a junior club men,
bcrs.
A total Of 1888 office calls were
+ registered, 2,O19 telephone calls
were made, 112 days were spent III
the office and 202 days spent in the
field.
16,508 Attend Meetings
There were 16,608 people at "a
farmers Institutes that Mr.. Mieseu
attended. At 50 demonstration meet
ings there were GIG people while ia
attended the meetings that he held
with community or local leaders.
The following account is q brief
survey of the annual report that
was prepared by Mr.. Miesen for the
state agricultural college:
"The people in Burleigh county are
favorable to extension work and are
willing to cooperate in any way
possible. Farmers generally realize
that it is possible to change the
farming system and thereby increase
the efficiency. It is particularly
gratifying to note that the better
class of farmers are very anxious
to receive help-help especially in
locating livestock, pooling carloads,
practical ideas on new crops such
as alfalfa and sweet clover.
Major Projects
"Feed and forage crops, alfalfa
and sweet clover were selected
especially as major projects for 1927
because the crop failure Ct 1926 and
the forced sale Of SO much livestock
brought out this need very forcibly.
If this is to become q livestock coun-
try there must be some insurance
against such years as 1926. Lee
gumes, corn, sorghums and sudan
grass must be grown extensively.
1.-THE major agricultural projects
were: alfalfa, sweet clover, junior
clubs and corn. The minor agricul-
tural projects were:- dairy cattle,
beef cattle, poultry, sheep and hogs.
The major home economics projects
were: Homemakers clubs, and junior
clubs.
"Thc alfalfa crop increased 1000
acres in 1927.
"Sixty-eight farmers in Burleigh
county brought $3.50 pounds Of reg
istercd Grimm alfalfa seed which,
at the rate Of six pounds per acre,
seeded 995 acres. This, according
to the best available information, is
about q 100 per cent increase in
acreage of this crop.
Clover Acreage Doubled
"With the actual record Of $500
pounds Of sweet clover seeded in
the spring Of. 1927 by 81 different
farmers, the acreage in the county
was doubled. ssa
Approximately 100000 was
spent by farmers Of the county for
feed and seed during the win
I ter and spring of 1927. While
All farmers had county feed
and seed loans for total Of
$4,000, another $4,000 was spent
for hay and the remainder ssspent
by individuals for additional feed
and seed financed privately and
through local banks. Out of the
$4,000 loaned to farmers Of the
county for feed and seed about ST.
600 remains unpaid and that has all
been promised.
! "a total of 1000 tons Of hay was
ordered through the county agents
office, but before the loan went in
TO effect the office located and
bought nearly 1000 tons Of alfalfa
mostly for dairy farmers. This hay
cost the farmers So to IS less per
ton then they could have been
bought for In neighborin0 counties
and was Of = much better grade.
Nearly $4,000 WAS saved in this
manner.
4 Returns from five denaonstration
plats with: Ceres wheat showed .
yield OF about ~ bushels which
Matured q. week earlier than Mar
xquis and with less rust damage. This
(esd is being saved by the farmers
u - L.. - FAAAEN -