The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-22
AGENT CARRIES
EXTENSIVE PRO-
GRAM FOR 1928

In summing up the result of work
accomplished by the County Extension
Agent as outlined in his Annual Re-
port which was submitted to the state
and federal directors of extension
work, it was found that the work car
ried on in Sheridan County in 1928
covered a large variety of projects.
The most important project that
was conducted throughout the entire
county was the crop Standardization
work. In ali agriculture district such
as Sheridan County, the most eff
Gent way to increase the net income
of the farmer is by producing crops
that are particularly adapted to the
county and crops that are pure as to
variety. In 1928 pure seed growers
were located in practically every COM
munity in the standard varieties of
crops that are recommended for the
section of Montana.
There were twenty-six hundred
acres planted to approved fields of
grain, and field inspection made on
all fields in order to keep up sup
ply of pure seed for future years.
There were also several thousands of
acres more planted to varieties trac-
ing to pure seed, which Melted the
growers neat income due to increase
in yield and quality of product. Twen-
ty-siX field variety demonstrations
were conducted in cooperation with
farm leaders to test out new crop va
rieties that look promising for this
county. Two crop tours were held
during the month of July to create
more interest throughout the county
in the production of high quality seed
of standard varieties. A crop tour at
the Fairway farm at Brockton to
study up-to-date methods of operating
large type farms. Twenty-Five sam
pies of grain were picked up by the
Extension Agent for farmers thruout
the county to have pre-harvest pro-
TEN test made in order to demon
strate the value of finding the pro-
tein content of wheat before the crop
is harvested, which resulted in the
farmers being in a position to market
their crop in more orderly system
on the protein basis.
Another phase of extension work
that will leave a marked change or
. the topography of the county is the
/ distribution of shelter-belts. Fourteen
( new shelterbelts were applied fol
through the County Extension Office
and will be planted by farmers thru
; out the county. This is an increase
of 2OO%o over previous years. The
; shelterbelts were secured through thu
Northern Plain Station at Mandan
: and the Clark-McNary Nursery a
: Missoula.
Sow thistle was discovered CROWNS
along the railroad tracks and upon
survey of both railroads in this coun
D ty, it was found to be scattered t.
e such an extent that the County Com
: missioners asked that the Extension
= Agent put on an extensive campaign
to eradicate this pest. The Grea
: Northern cooperated very readily il
f furnishing four tons'of salt to sprea
t over the area infested on their pro
/ perty, which will control the pest
The 500 Railroad cooperated to tn
e extent that all sow thistle along tn
/ line was cut and kept from going t
|, seed, but as yet have not endeavore
). to kill out the weed. No doubt the
will take action to eradicate this pes
along their property in 1929.
t. Thirty-thousand pounds of gophe
poison was mixed and distributed t
farmers within the county in orde
, that the losses from destruction
& gophers may be reduced to the min
mum. $1,250 was paid out in bount
e for gophers and rabbits during tn
s. past year.
L In cooperation with the Great No
n thern Railroad, a Livestock Demon
Il stration Train was brought into IL
y county for the purpose of creatir
re more interest in the production
at more and better livestock.
A number of caponizing demonstr
ID tions were held throughout the cou
v ty, and as a result of this work, the
e. will be approximately one-half c;