Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-01-20
POTATO GROWERS
ORGANIZE AGENCY
(rrom Montana State College,

nEFINIrE steps for the organization OF
a state wild certified seed potato
~ marketing agency n an increase in
certilcation fees to place the work of in
specting n certifying seed potatoes on
a self-supporting basis, were the out
standing results Of the annual meeting
OF the Montana Potato Improvement as
ISOLATION at Farm M Home week. Boze-
man. this month. A. II. Small Of Cres-
ton was elected president of this organi-
cation to succeed Gerard Dewitt OF
Malta: Tom Herrin of Helena was elect
ed first vice-president and Louis Belzer
OF Glasgow, second vice-president.
The decision to establish a cooperative
marketing agency for handling the GER
titled seed potatoes of the state came as
a result of a favorable report of a COM
mittee of 10 important seed potato grow
ers Of the state. headed by MIR. Small.
Practically all of those who came to
Bozeman for the meeting of the Potato
improvement association remained over
in Bozeman for an extra day after this
session was closed to draw up plans for
the marketing association. The potato
growers had the assistance n advice OF
William Morrow, manager OF the Nebras-
ka Potato Growers association.
Under the plan adopted local market
ing organizations Will be established In
each of the important seed potato grow
ing counties of the state. Early in Feb
ruary representatives of these local units
Will meet to organize a state marketing
association. 1t is proposed to send 6
representative to southern states this
spring to make contracts with southern
growers, assist with demonstrations ant
testing work and to sign contracts fol
the 1923 crop.
Most important among the changes II
certiication rules adopted by the Potato
Improvement association is the one deal.
ing with increased fees. Certified seee
potato growers in Montana this year vii
pay an application fee Of $40 which in
cludes the inspection fee for the frs
acre. Additional acres viii cost 50 pc
acre for inspection, and there Will be
tag fee of five cents per 100 pounds
Fields turned down on the first inspec
ton will have one-half of the applica
ton fee returned and hose turned low
on the second field inspection will hav
one-fourth of the fee returned.
Certified seed growers must provid'
their p%ro-rata share of seed for carrying
on field tests and demonstrations, tn
maximum that may be called for not Il
exceed so pounds per acre. All certified
seed must be marketed in clean, new
bags Of uniform weight. The horticul
tural department at Montana State col
lege is given full authority over inspec
lions for certiication.
In the certified seed potato exhibit hell
in connection with the meeting of tn,
improvement association. Roy Byerly o
Ingomar won first in the Bliss Triumph
class md A.. H.. Small won first in tn
Netteu Gem class. The victory for Mr.
Byerly gives his seed stock an impressiv
string of victories. AT previous show
this fall and winter he was a consisten
winner, taking first places at the Rose
bud County fair at Forsyth, at the East
ern Montana fair at Miles City. at tn
Midland Empire fair at Billings and q
the Northwest Potato show at Spokane
Other winners in the Bliss Triumph
class were F. H. Barringer. Hathaway. sec
ond; James Franklin, Hardin, third
Louis Belzer, Glasgow, fourth, and A. c
B. Granville, Norm, Alberta, fifth. Othe
winners in the Melted Gem class in tn
order given were Eric Lehson. Missoula
Peter Hilger e. Son. Helena, and ". A
Sievers, Belknap.