Smyrna times., 1947-11-27
FARM NEWS
By Ralph R. Peters
Executive Secretary
29th Annual Convention of

dllOA Will DC iCid III SihSo6Os &c
cember 14-18.
w. H. Reynolds of Middletown
will attend the Field Crops meet
ings December 14th and 18th al
which time long-range farm pro
gram will be discussed. Mr.. Rey
nolds will be one of three leaders
representing the Northeastern
States at this meeting and will
welcome suggestions from Farm
Bureau members on a field crops
program.
Charles Marker of Dover, will
represent the interests of poultry
men of the Northeast at the poul-
try meeting December 14th and
18th. The future of the poultry
industry in this area can well de-
pend upon working out a good
sound long-range program that
will maintain a market that will
enable good growers to make a
reasonable profit.
Other commodity groups meet
ing at the same time are dairy,
livestock and fruit and vegetables.
CoOrdinating Agricultural
Agencies
In Delaware we are reasonably
proud of the relationship which has
existed between the various agenc-
les and the Extension Service; yet,
there is a lot of wasted effort and
a lot of overlapping in contacts
with farmers.
For instance, each of these
has personnel capable of
advising farmers on crops, fertil-
izer requirements, and on soil con-
servation. Coordinating these
under one head, keeping
the good points of each would re-
suit in less confusion on the part
of farmers who would then have
only one agency to deal with and
would also result in less overhead.
The Agricultural Coordination
Act of 1947 as introduced in the
last Congress by both Democrats
and Republicans should accomplish
this if enacted into law.
BAE Report on Hatchery
Production For October
Commercial hatcheries produced
81, $4,000 chicks during october,
BAE reports. This was 5 per cent
less than in October last year but
6 per cent above the 1941-45 aver
age for the month.
During first 10 months of this
year, 1,196, 6,813,0OO chicks were
hatched-1 per cent more than
during same period last year.
Department of Agriculture Urges
"4 Pullets To Hen"
AS yardstock to use in reach
ing laying-fock goals by Jan. 1
USDA will urge poultrymen to fol-
low the rule, "Four Pullets to One
Hen"
The Department points out that
poultry experts have been urging
flocks for years. The
ratio of pullets in focks has grad
ually been increased and, in recent
years, has been around two pullets
to one hen.
Pullets are better utilizers of
grain than hens, particularly in the
heavy breeds, the Department says,
and their flock mortality is norm
ally lower. Since pullets are small
er, to increase the ratio of pullets
to hens will result in better utiliza-
tion of floor space.
AS a feed conservation measure,
USDA recommends that poultry
men not fill feed hoppers over two
thirds full. 1t is also stressing the
of providing ample
water.
USDA Suggests Farmers
Can or Freeze Gull Hens
AS further help to the current
poultry-culling campaign, USDA is
urging farmers to can Gull hens or
put them in freezer lockers. The
is suggesting home
canned chicken as Christmas pres
ents from farm families 70 their
city friends and relatives.
USDA Gets No Poultry Under
Purchase Program
USDA probably will revise the
poultry purchase program to pro-
vide increases in professor marg-
ms. No offers have been made un-
der this program to speed culling
of hens and the Poultry Branch is
analyzing the reasons.
Reports received by the Depart
ment are that margins for prOCure-