The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1950-04-06
W. n. Sullivan. County Agent

The big question among cot
ton farmers is, What Will / do
with the land taken out of cot
ton-how can ! make best use of
these diverted acres this year and
for the long cullg"
II is a problem each individual far
mer will have to work out on the
farm. But here are a few sugges-
tons that might help you to get
started on the right track toward
solving the problem.
/. Plant you full allotted cot
tcn ucres. Cotton will still be the
most important cash crop on
most farms.
2. Produce all you I'm on the
allotted acres. You can sell all
the cotton you al produce on
the allotted acres. Select the best
adapted cotton land - prepare
good seed bed--plant treated seed
of best adapted Notwithstanding
heavily - cultivate clean - and
poison as recommended.
3. Live at home. Produce all
the food and feed needs of fami-
~ and livestock that it is practic-
able to grow-fruit and vege-
tables, potatoes and molasses,
chickens and eggs, milk and but
ter, beef and pork, corr and hay,
pasture and grazing crops.
There's a wide difference be-
tween farm prices and consumer
prices Don't pay consumer
prices when you can buy from
your own farm at farm prices.
4. Begin NOW to devlop one
or more livestock enterprises 10
supplement cotton income - or
if you already have these, plan
to improve them for increased net
income. Mississippi is still short
on livestock, dairying, and poul-
try.
Generally speaking, beef cattle
fit best on larger farms-dairy
and poultry on smaller farms.
Hogs and sheep fit on many
farms.
Grow into livestock-don't go in
to it. This takes times, but now
is the time to start.
But keep in mind available
market outlets when planning
livestock enterprises
Livestock calls for good pas
lures and ample feed crops. This
fits into good land use-and helps
answer your big question about
land taken out of cotton.
5. Muke fullest possible > q
Ne PIMA Conservation Program.
One hundred fifty thousand dol
lars VIII be available to Holmes
County farmers in 1850 for soil
building practices.
There is little hope for the
farmer who works poor land and
gets poor yields. Poor soils and
poor living are like husband and
wife-they are one.
s. Sssd production Offers op-
portunities on many farms.
This fits well with livestock. Most
legume and pasture crops seed
will be scarce for several years
wild winter peas, white Dutch
clover, crimson clover, lespedeza,
and many others.
z. Forestry and wild lie fit
on lGnd not suited to cultivated
crops or pastures. Both make for
increased income, conservation,
and better living. Put every acre
to good use.
8. Follow good management
practices. Management is a ma
jor factor that determines sue
cess or failure. Good land, suit
able equipment and adequate
operating capital, plus good
management, almost always
means success. These physical as
sets without good management
spells failure.
What is good management?
1t is the use of good common
horse sense"-a combination Of a
little natural ability plus train
ing and experience.
Some have it and some don't.
That's what makes the difference
between a good farmer and a poor
farmer-SuccesS and failure
plenty and poverty.