Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
u, S. Can Produce
Ample Foodstuffs
BY HARDEN CoLFAX.

Despite the exodus from the farms to
the cities, there Is no question that
the United States will be able TO pro-
vide its own foodstuffs without importa-
ton, no matter how large its popula-
ton may grow. This fact Is stressed
by officials Of the Department OF Ag-
riculture, who declare that modern
farming methods and improved ma
chinery will enable the farmers Of the
country to produce enough food for at
least 200,000,0 900 people. Oflcials OF
the Department of the Census antici-
pate that the population Of the United
States will just about become stabilized
at 100000, 900.
Farm power machinery not only IN
creaSes production, but reduces expense,
according to Nils A. Olsen, chief of the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics. He
added that the reduction in cost, eS-
pecially In some Of the seni-arid regions
of the West, by the use of farm ma
chinery was remarkable. The de-
partment is making a detailed study of
the use Of power machinery on farms
and ways to increase 1t.
OficialS Of the Department Of Ag-
riculture point out that the improve
ment in machinery has been especially
useful In the fattening and prepara-
ton for market of meat animals and In
the dairy industry. They declare that
the American people will not be forced
to discontinue the use Of animal prod.
uctS and get q greater quantity of
human food direct from the SOIL They
note that this Is what has taken place
in Eastern Asia where the people have
dispensed to large extent with animal
foods and depend chiefly on cereals.
Needs No Expansion.
According to DR.. o. E. Baker Of the
Department Of Agriculture, this country
will require for its own use hardly any
expansion of the farm area and there Is
no imperative need for any decided in
crease In the area Of farm land.
Nearly all the requisite increase In
our crop acreage during the next 10
years." DR.. Baker said, could be OBJ
tanned by cultivating the crop land that
Is now idle on farms. In addition our
farms contain more than 100000, 900
acres OF plowable pasture"
DR.. Baker declared that the tractor
and the combine are aiding to produce
splendid crops on the semi-arid land of
the Great Plains region and that there
| probably will be a continued decrease
| In the hilly and less fertile lands of the
East and South.
Larger Acreage Possible.
| AICer 1851, ne SAID, the country
will still have available a half billion
acres of potentially cultivatable land
| This is a larger acreage than that now
cultivated. Less than one-half of this
potential acreage would have to be
added to the existing crop area to sup
ply population of 200,000,O0
Acre yields are being increased stead
| lily by the use of fertilizer, and it Is pos
sible that by the time any additional
land Is needed, not more than quarter
of the potential acreage would have to
be titled to feed 100000 900.
The electric utilities companies Of the
country are doing their part toward
| putting the farms on an operating basis.
| Electric service, according to the Middle
West Utilities Co., is now being extended
to thousands of farms. The advent OF
electrical energy into agriculture marks
n new era In the farming industrv. II