Show BIG INCREASE IN FOOD SUPPLY IS DEMANDED agricultural departments program for 1918 points out needs of nation and allies GROW MORE SPRING WHEAT necessity of producing producing large supply of foods and feedstuffs Feed stuffs Is emphasized more hogs demanded south Is urged to feed itself washington D C the planting of an increased acreage to spring wheat eat and the production of an aD increased supply of other food products and of live stock especially hogs Is recommend ed in a supplementary food pro production luction program issued by the united states department of agriculture this program re emphasizes and amplifies the food production program tor for 1918 issued by the department in august 1917 and other bugge suggestions s eions made in 1 the fall and the first of this year regarding increased pork production and increased Increase dl production of food tuffs in the south taken in connection with the recommendations previously made it suggests in full the proposals which the department thinks it desirable to offer with a view to secure enough meat and dairy products cereals sugar gar and other staple and perishable foods wool and cotton for the nation its armies and the al lies it gives suggestions for the approaching pro aching spring operations based upon the latest available information as an to the condition of the fall planted crops of winter wheat and rye and as to the gumbei of meat and dairy animals reported tor for 1917 they represent the best thought of the specialists of the department who have had the benefit of advice from agricultural leaders throughout the country our best efforts effort required notwithstanding an increased production of staple crops in the united states in 1917 there Is need tor for more food the program states taking into account our own needs the needs of the nations associated with us in this war and the needs of friendly neutral nations our best efforts will he required to provide enough food in 1918 whether the war continues or not the demands on this country because cause e of the increasing population and the needs of europe will be great an especially strong demand will be made on this eyu wintry for meats end and live stock in 1917 notwithstanding the many difficulties encountered the farmers planted the largest in the history of the nation harvested record crops of most things except wheat and succeeded in greatly increasing the number of live stock the situation Is such that chief emphasis should be given to the production of the great staple food products with special stress on wheat and hogs the leading war foods the south la is ur urged ed to provide food for its own people and d feed tor far its live stock and then to plant as much cotton as can well be cultivated and harvested to raisers of hogs and beef animals the world need for meats and fats Is made clear F farmers are urged to join with the men on the ranges in providing sheep whose wool Is needed to equip soldiers the program discusses the farm labor problem points out the lines of effort tor for relief and outlines the activities of the federal and state agencies ta t furnish assistance spring wheat in dealing with the question of spring wheat the program states the acreage of spring wheat should be increased created In in order to make certain that we shall have hav an adequate supply apply of wheat for our own uses aies and to meet i the needs of the allies I 1 while the area of winter wheat sown own in 1917 was the largest on reco record ird the condition of the crop as s reported on december 1 was the lowest ever recorded indicating a probable production of only bushels whether the actual production will be greater or less than the estimate will depend upon conditions prevailing between now and the time of harvest if there were planted to spring wheat in the united states this year an acreage equal to the sum of the record planting la in each spring wheat state within the lt last ten years there would be sown approximately acres if there should be planted an acreage equal to the sum eum of the record planting for each state within the last five years there would be sown approximately acres the record planting tor for any year was in 1911 the acreage for 1917 was AW the department of agriculture has ha carefully studied all these records and other data in connection with the present war conditions and needs and believes that it will be possible this year to secure an acreage in excess of the re record rd acreage which was planted in 1911 it is believed that increased can be secured in states and sections section where spring wheat production Is known to be seasonably promising land and that uch such increases can be made without upsetting farria farm plans the total acreage will be greatly influenced fluen ced by what la Is done in minnesota north dakota montana sat and idaho where the conditions have hav bot been the most favorable and where in so some in see sections they have been decidedly unfavorable during the he pills past two we years north dakotas acreage in the last five years was that of 1917 min in 1917 Monta naB in 1913 and in 1913 north dakotas record acreage in the last five years was lo in 1915 minnesotan Min in 1913 in 1917 and ida hos has in 1917 north dakotas five year average 1912 1010 1016 was minnesotan Min BlIn and annual planting has shown increases during the last four years its as follows 1914 15 1915 1015 16 1916 17 what these states can do this spring it Is difficult to determine it Is hoped that many farmers especially in the northern part of the corn belt will find it possible to plant five to ten acres additional in wheat in some cases they will plant more in a number of states in the pastern eastern and central portions of the country where spring wheat has not been grown in recent years the crop Is now being reestablished ond and it Is recommended that this movement be encouraged to a small extent the acreage in oats if necessary could be reduced in the interest of wheat likewise a v very ery small portion of the acreage which normally would be planted to corn in the northern part of the corr coria belt might be sown to spring wheat if the acreage of spring wheat indicated for some of the states cannot be planted the barley acreage which la Is known to grow better in some localities might be increased the use of barley for food Is increasing in this country and it Is a welcome food in europe summary of other recommendations following Is a summary of other important recommendations regarding cereals meat poultry and perishables hogs the number of hogs should be increased by at least 15 per cent during the year 1918 sugar effort should be made to maintain the acreage of sugar cane and sugar beets and to increase these areas in so far as these crops are well established or are necessary to sound agricultural practice production of satisfactory substitutes for sugar including sorghum corn and cane maple products product and honey can and should be increased sorghum it Is pointed on out may be produced la in nearly every state in the union and increased production of sorghum sweets would enable the public to conserve still further the sugar supply in the form most available for transportation thour soldiers dairy Dalry products the supply of dairy products should be maintained to meet the needs of this country and to help supply the increasing demands of the allies poultry poultry production should be increased greatly especially in back yards and on farms where waste material Is available and the purchase of expensive grains and other material la Is not required corn an acreage of corn mr tely equal to that of 1917 should be planted with ith possible slight reductions la in certain sections to free areas tor for spring wheat oats barley rice buckwheat and flaxseed the area la in oats should be maintained especially in regions and on soils which are not so well adapted to other grains but with a small reduction to provide for increasing the wheat acreage barley production should be increased in regions where it grows bests best especially la in the northern edge of the corn belt and in sections north and west of the belt I 1 and rice buckwheat and flaxseed ll production should be maintained and it if possible increased grain sorghums Sorg hums the production of grain sorghums sorg hums milo feterl ta etc should be increased greatly throughout the drier portion of the plains region kafars are the most certain grain crops in this section and they can be made to supplement wheat as human food and to replace corn as animal food potatoes the normal acreage of irish and sweet potatoes should be maintained in 1918 notwithstanding the large crops in 1917 hay forage and pastures pasture wherever feasible the area devoted to hay forage and silage crops should be I 1 increased n and these products should be used to a greater extent in place ot of grains and other concentrates beef animals animal the number of beet beef animals should be maintained and in areas where it Is clearly the best range and farm practice should be increased beans bean peas pea and peanuts peanut the production of beans and peas should be increased in regions to which they are adapted because of their high food value keeping beeping qualities and availability for domestic or export trade soy beans and peanuts should be increased la in order to supplement beans and peas pea as human food as a source of needed oil and as animal feeds perishables Perli hable a market gardens near large consuming centers should be increased so as to meet as nearly as possible the needs of the community and in order to obviate the necessity of transporting such products product from distant points it Is important to do all the tha is possible po elble to relieve the strain upon tran por port atlon tation faculties facilities b the planting of home garden gard enill especially for family needs need and for preserving food for future use again should be emphasized c the commercial production of 0 perishables generally should be increased above normal cormal wherever it to li reasonably clear that transportation and marketing facilities will be avell avail ohio abla |