The producers news., 1930-10-10

dation. stock of registered seed.
Fields of many others have been
inspected and approved for gener-
al use. In the past eight years
76 variety demonstrations have
been conducted so that Sheridan
county farmers could see the ac-
tual difference between pure seed
and the ordinary seed tney might
be using. By 1926 more than 500
farmers were planting pure Mar
quis that had been increased from
seed brought into the county by
the county agents office.
Better tillage practices at less
cost always have been emphasized.
Before the advent of modern large
type tillage machines, denlonstra-
tions with homemade devises were
carried on. In the past two years
the results of the experiments at
Brockton have been brot TO the
county through a special low cost
of production train. Two tours
organized by the agent took $50
farmers to Brockton to see how
the machinery the farmers owned
could be operated in order to pro-
duce wheat at lower cost per
buShel.s -.
Rodent and, Pest Control. Dur
ing the past eight years the coun-
| tyuagent has mixed nearly 100000
lbs. of poison bait for squirrels.
The saving ON the cost of poison
over what the farmers would have
had to pay if it had not been mixed
and sold at cost has been nearly
$4,000. The estimated saving to
, crops due to rodent control has
amounted to approximately $780,
: 600. During part of this time the
county has put bounty on squir-
; rel tails and rabbits, but this has
, been discontinued.
In 1923 there was an outbreak
, of grasshoppers in several com
murities. The county commission.
ers placed the county agent il
charge of a campaign for eradica
tion and furnished the poison. Ont
hundred and sixty-five farmers
spread poison on 1900 acres tha-
were threatened with grasshop
per destruction. The farmers
themselves estimated an immedi
ate saving of $4,000 in crops. In
formation has been given out from
I time to time concerning contro
of other pests that have threaten
ed to become serious in the coun
ty.
= Weed Control. The weed bill o
, most farmers is heavy in spite O
constant effort. The county agen
could justify his existence solel.
y through his efforts to reduce tn
weed bill. Add the cost of weet
+ control, the lowered yields and th'
decreased land value if perennia
weeds are present and the cost Il
$ a county is staggering.
Livestock and Feed Crops, Fol
, lowing the extreme drought a dec
ade ago, the need for more live
= stock and feed crops was evident
! In 1923, eight livestock meeting
We're held attended by $40 farm
! ers. In 1924 the agent began {
purebred sire campaign. In. tn
following year 35 purebred sire
were secured thru information fur
Q nished by the county agents of
r flee. And in 1926, forty-one pure
3 bred sires were purchased as a re
, suit of the meetings, tours an,
publicity. Hog shipments jumpe,
y from cars in 1923 to IS cars il
1926 At the same time the, acre
: age of feed crops was being lstim
: ulated. In 1928 there were onl,
: $500 acres of corn. This jumpe,
: II, 600 in 1924, 1900 in 1926, bu
dropped TO 16,500 in 1926, and du
to unfavorable years and the in
crease in tractor farming ha
slightly declined. The shift from
corn to barley has also contribute,
to the loss.
County Agents office a medium
of exchange. Through the count,
agents office farmers who hav,
had a surplus of good seed, feed
and livestock have been placed il
touch with others. who wante,
these products. A resume show,
t that during one year exchange
V to the value of $26,810 were made
Smut Control. The copper car
! Donate method of treating nov