The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-03-06
Senate Cloakroom
BY J. GLENN BEALL
United States Senator from
Maryland

farm states. Farm people make
up only 88 per cent Of lis popula-
uoa, as compared with the national
average o. ~ per cent The aver
age Maryland farm contains 1893
acres vuie the national average
Is 44l2 acres
Yet taesc Walitatige aqmes
ap hirhly deceptive, and in terms
Of qualitative values Maryland
farming ranks near The top.
For example, It is interesting to
note thar The ll9-acrc Maryland
farm has a value in land ana build
inae $2oa96l roughly the same
S20105 as that of the average"
American farm double it's size.
Maryland's cash receipts from
farming il 1856 Gatest available
figures totalcd S2l35o0,oO0 an in
crease Of approximately SlO00O.-
eco over the previous year The
cash income per farm was $7.O99.
or couse. we Marylanders under
aud i'm importance Of agricul-
tWe in our overall state economy.
From data provided me by our De-
partmonl Of Agriculture. | have
undertaken to summarize this week
some of the efforts our Govern
ment has made to stimulate this
vital agricultural enterprise.
CONSERVATION: The Soil Con-
serration Service provides techni-
cal help ia soil and water conserva-
ton through local organizations in
all Of our % counties. aiding Is
G79 farmers operating 2.307. 1874
acres These farmers have applied
225024 acres in contour farming.
63085 acres pasture planting. IL
GSt acres tree planting. 140.960 acres
farm drainage built 2.135 ponds and
129 miles Of terraces.
Under the Agricultural Conser1 a.
tion Program, in which the Gov
eminent shares the costs Of APP
proved conservation practices.
Maryland farmers in 1856 on 1886
farms with 100000 acres carried
tCH cost sharing.
SOIL BANK: In this program.
which controls SURPRISES by induc-
ing farmers to retire some of their
productive acreage. Maryland farm
ors last year received S2278. $40 for
placing 43046 acres under Acreage
Reserve agreements that is to say,
for producing less than their "allot-
mants In addition 34l farmers
put 259 acres under Conserva-
lion Reserve contracts calling for
first-year practice" and annual
payments Of 100000.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT: With
the rising cost Of modern farming
farmers need credit to help them
finance the Improvement Of lands
and tire purchase Of farms equip
ment and livestock. In fiscal 1857,
the Government made and insured
loans in Maryland totaling 81 .624,00O,
as compared with SL022.000 in 1856.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Our
own Garrett County is one Of the 70
selected pilot" counties in 80 states
where the Government is aiding
local people to reach a long-term
goal Of balanced farm, industry and
community development Initial de-
velopment work includes the
organization and operation Of a CO.
operative fruit and vegetable mar
ket and research and planning for
improved use Of forest products.
SCHOOL LUNCH. This program
made school lunches available to
198830 children in $50 Maryland
schools in fiscal 1857. Maryland
was allotted S1,020,803 in school
lunch funds, and 1503,5O2 pounds
Of food costing S197855 was distrib-
uted to our schools. In the Special
Milk Program. In 912 Maryland
schools. children consumed 10000
GOO half pints of fluid milk Federal
funds expended in reimbursement
totalcd S1118,O00
RESEARCH: Government mar
ket research showed Maryland to-
bacco farmers that their best OPP
portunity to cut the resale margin
Of their tobacco is to sort and pack
if more carefully. Another study
showed that Maryland poultry
farmers may escape damages such
as they suffered from Hurricane
Hazel by erecting, at a cost of 10
cents per hen. a 30-by-70 foot frame
poultry house capable Of resisting
a l08-milc-an-hour hurricane wind.
EDUCATION: The 112 Maryland
county extension agents bent their
efforts toward helping farm families
adjust farm and home operations to
chronological innovations. changing
economic conditions and improved
Government aids Extension agents
in 1856 helped 22838 Maryland
farm families, 15214 rural nom
farm families. 130,157 urban families
and 1883 All Club members.
DIRECT DISTRIBUTION PRO
GRAM In 1857, the Government
made available 4,85O211 pounds of