The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-13
Agent CardWell Presents Pa.
per Given AT Meet Of
Agricultural Workers
GUY A CALDWELL
General Agricultural Agent

General Agricultural Agent
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.
At the Fortieth annual convention
Of the Association Of Southern Agri,
cultural Workers held in New Or
leans, February 1928, one of the i'm.
portant themes discussed was The
Improvement and Use Of Southern
Feed Crops" Among the papers pre-.
pared on this theme of particular
interest to livestock farmers in Vir.
ginia and the C%arolinas, was one
by Paul F. Newell, Mississippi State
college, Mr.. Newell's paper follows:
Topic discussions have explored
broadly the field of southern feed
crops. Valuable contributions were
made for increasing supply of feeds,
improving their quality and nutri,
tional efficiency.
1t is not my purpose to discuss
these crops individually or as a
group, but rather to emphasize the
necessity and wisdom of placing
new stress on that group of crops
that supply forage.
We are striving, as agricultural
workers, to increase the permanent
producing capacity of land, animals,
and man in the South; to increase
both cash and total farm income;
to increase the abundance Of farm
life.
The logical foundation on which
feed crop programs for the South.
east should be built in the future
is that kind which will conserve
and improve soil fertility, supply
economical livestock feeds, main.
tain and improve our present STAN
dards of living.
Numerous economic factors must
be considered in determining de.
sirable changes in farming and feed
crop production in the South. Our
most enconomical feed units are pro,
duced from pasture, hay and silage,
and other forage rather than from
grain crops, and forage production
lends itself to soil conservation prac'
tees more perfectly than do grain
crops.
In view of these several situations
has our planning and work with
feed crops in research, resident
teaching and extension been as log
ical as it might have been? If we
are to give our farmers information
to aid them in attaining a real self.
suficing status and increase pro
duction efficiency Of classes Of live
stock marketed, where will emphasis
on feed crop production and i'm
provement be placed In the future
Feed units from grain and othel
concentrate feeds produced in the
South are considered, generally. mos
costly. Still, Southern farmers de
pend more largely on grain and con
lcentrates and less on forage in feed
ing livestock than farmers in any
other major farming rea In this
country. Highest use Of grain and
largest forage deficiencies are noted
in rations of dairy cattle, workstock
and hogs, but the situation holds
somewhat for all livestock.
If animal husbandry contributes
its part toward restoring u south
ern agriculture to a profitable basis
it would seem that we will have tc
give more attention to forage. The
feed crop problem Ear be rather
simply stated, but realization of a
desired goal is not so evident. The
AAA has marked the trail and has
stimulated activity both OF the part
of the farmer and the colleges. The
movement has only begun and will
have to continue for years to insure
results.
Recent trends in livestock produc.
ton enterprises in the South indi.
cate emphasis will be on efficiency
in feeding and management Of live
stock now maintained, rather than
on sharp increases in livestock pop
ulation. In fact, major increases in
livestock numbers in the Southeast
are inhibited by available land, or at
least land that is fertile enough to
compete with other feed producing
areas.
In view of the failure OF livestock
numbers to increase ~appreciably in
the face Of an increased supply Of
forage, it is evident that extensive
benefits may be derived through
more efficient feeding Of livestock
now maintained. before we begin
ever to reach a live-at-home ade-