The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-23
|FSA PUSHES SMALL
GRAIN PROGRAM
Two Combines For Harvesting
Purchased; Other Pur-
chases Planned

One of the greatest contributions
the Farm Security Administration
program is making to farmers in
Brunswick county is the promo
ton and encouragement of tn e
small grain and livestock program.
During the past year, two COM
bines for the harvesting of grain
have been purchased and there
will be two or three others pur-
chased before the spring wheat
harvest. The lack of adequate har-
vesting machinery has in the past
prevented farmers from growing
their oWn flour with which to make
their own biscuits. Consequently,
thousands of dollars have gone Out
of the county to the western farm
ers for flour, and a great deal
more has gone to elevators anu
transportation facilities or han.
ding and shipping flour.
H. L. Climmons of Supply, has
already secured through the Farm
Security Administration a combine
which will cut, thrash and sack
the wheat right in the field with
one operation. A majority of his
neighbors for two or three miles
around have from one to four acres
of wheat planted and doing nicely,
Next summer when many families
may be wondering where their next
bread is coming from these wheat
growing farmers are expecting to
have their flour in the bin.
Before this equipment was pur-
chased the FSA and the Extension
Service under the leadership Of j.
F. Dodson County Agricultural
Agent of Brunswick county, held
meetings in the leading agricul-
tural areas of Brunswick county,
at which time the advantages OF
small grain growing and the pos
sibility of purchasing equipment
through FSA loans discussed.
At the present time there is a
combine at Supply and n at
Exum. 1t is hoped that in 1871
combines will be bought for the
following additional communities.
Bolivia, Shallotte, Ash, and pos
sibly Hickman's Cross Roads.
Brunswick county is not a good
cotton county, and both the farm
ers and the soil are very greatly
removed from the best tobacco
area. Therefore, neither the soil
nor the people are very well adapt
ed or trained for tobacco growing.
However, these wide, flat, and in
many cases fertile, e are
adapted to the use of machinery
and livestock. Along with the great
er use of machinery more small
grains can be produced and con-
sequently more livestock can be
produced. To do well with live
stock a farmer must produce the
majority of his own feed. In addi-
ton to increasing the livestock an
additional supply of grain may be
partly disposed of through the reg
ular market channels.
One farmer at Exum produced
AZ bushels of barley per acre. This
crop required no cultivation, only
planting and harvesting. There is
a good market for most of the
seed. However, any surplus not
needed for seed is sold to various
types of manufacturing plants.
In the same area one farmer
produced lespedeza seed for sale.
The yield and quality equaled. the
leading areas in lespedeza seed
production.
FSA farmers in Brunswick coun-
ty are required to plant their wheat
fields if there is any harvesting
machinery available, or if there is
any likelihood of such equipment
being available. Loans are not ap-
proved otherwise.
The County Agent who has been
in the county for many years anu
other agricultural leaders see the
future of Brunswick county lying
in the direction of small gram ana
livestock production. The Holly
Ridge project with its demand Tor
butter, eggs and other Livestock
products will boost this trend. Inc
FSA is doing it's part to help the
farmers adjust their farming oper-
TELEGRAPH in Wilmington,