Show ASK BIG ACREAGE S OF SPRING WHEAT Government Calls on Farmer to Increase Food Supply SO TH FEED ITSELF Agricultural Program for 1918 Urges Necessity for Producing Large Supply Supply Sup Sup- ply of Foods and to Feed America and Its Allies Washington D. D C. C The C.-The The planting of an increased acreage to spring wheat and n the production of an Increased supply supply supply sup sup- ply of other food products and of livestock livestock live livestock stock especially hogs is recommended recommend recommend- ed in a supplementary food production ram program am Issued by the United States department of agriculture This program re emphasizes and amplIfies amplifies amplifies am am- the production food-production program for 1918 Issued by the department In August 1917 1017 and other suggestions made In the fall and the first of this year regarding Increased pork production production production tion and Increased production of foodstuffs foodstuff foodstuffs food food- stuffs stuff in the South Taken in connection connection connection tion with the recommendations previously previously made It suggests In full the proposals proposals proposals pro pro- which the department thinks It desirable to offer with a view to secure Secure secure se se- cure enough meat and dairy products products prod prod- cereals sugar and find other staple and perishable foods wool and cotton for the tIle nation its armies and the al al- al lies It gives suggestions for the approaching approaching approaching ap ap- ap- ap spring operations based upon the latest available information as to the condition of the planted fall crops of winter wheat and rye and as asto asto asto to the number of meat and dairy animals animals animals ani ani- mals reported for 1917 They represent represent represent sent the best thought of the special special- specialIsts of the department who have hn had hadI I the benefit of advice from agric agricultural ral leaders throughout the country Our Best Efforts Required Notwithstanding an on increased production production production pro pro- of staple crops In the United States In ln 1917 1017 there Is need for more food the program states Taking Into account our own needs the needs of the nations associated with us In Ia Inthis inthis this war var and the needs of friendly neutral nations our best efforts will willbe willbe be required to provide enough food in 1918 Whether the war continues or tot Lot the demands on this country be be- cause of the increasing population and the needs of Europe Europ will be great An especially strong demand will be made on this his country for meats and nd stock In 1917 2017 notwithstanding the many difficulties encountered the farmers planted the largest acre gesin Ip in the history of the nation harvested r record cord crops of most things except wheat and succeeded In greatly g gr Increasing increasing increasing In in- creasing th the number o of live stock The situation Is such that chief emphasis emphasis emphasis em em- should hould be given to the production production production tion of the great grent staple products with special stress on wheat and hogs the leading war foods The South Is urged to provide food for its own people and feed for fol Its live livestock livestock stock and then to plant pant as much cotton as can well be cultivated and harvest harvest- ed To To raisers of hogs and beef animals animals ani ani- mals the world need for meats and fats Is made clear Farmers are urged to join with the men on the ranges In providing sheep whose wool Is needed to equip soldiers The program program discusses the farm l la labor labor la- la bor problem points out the lines of effort effort ef ef- fort for relief and outlines the activities activities activities ties of the federal and state agencies to furnish assistance Spring Wheat In ID dealing with the question of spring wheat the program states The acreage of spring wheat should be increased In order to make certain that we shall have an adequate supply of wheat for our own uses and to meet the needs of the allies While the area aren of winter wheat sown In 1917 was the largest on record the condition of the crop as reported on December 1 was the lowest ever recorded indicating a probable production production production tion of only bushels Whether the actual production will be greater or less than the the estimate will depend upon conditions prevailing between between between be be- tween now and the time of harvest If It there were planted to spring wheat In Inthe Inthe inthe the United States this year ear an acreage equal to the sum of the record planting in each spring wheat state within the thelast thelast last ten years there would be sown approximately ap ap- proximately acres If It there should be planted an acreage equal to the sum of the record planting for tor each state within the tho last five years ears there would be sown approximately acres The record planting for any year was In 1911 The acreage acreage acre acre- age ae for 1 1917 11 was WI The department deportment of agriculture has carefully studied all un these records and other data In connection with the he present pres pres- ent eat war conditions and needs and believes believes be be- that it t will be possible this year to s secure cure an acreage In ess s 9 the record acreage which i was w s planted in In wil It Its Its' is beIl believed that l increased n can be secured in states and I sections where spring spring- wheat sprIng heat production production I IB is known to be reasonably promising Ing and that such increases can be made without upsetting farm plans It Is hoped hope that tha lUan many farmers espe daily in the northern part of the corn belt will find it possible to plant fito fi five to ten acres additional In wheat In some sODe cases ases they wil plant lunt more moret In Ina Ina a number of states in the eastern and and central portions of the country where spring wheat has not been grown In recent years the crop Is now being reestablished reestablIshed reestablished re re- re- re established and it is recommended that this movement be encouraged To a small extent the acreage In oats If necessary could be reduced In Inthe inthe the Interest of wheat Likewise a aVery avery avery very small portion of the acreage t which normally would be planted to corn in the northern part of the corn belt might be sown to spring wheat If It the acreage of spring wheat indicated indicated indi indi- for some of the states cannot be planted the barley acreage which Is known to grow better in some beauties beau beau- localities localities ties might be increased The use of barley for food is increasing in this country and It Is a welcome food od in Europe Europ Summary of Other Recommendations Following Is a 9 summary of other Important important im- im important Im im- recommendations regarding cereals meat poultry and perishables Hogs The number of hogs should be increased b by at least 15 per cent during the year 1918 1018 Sugar Effort should be made to maintain the acreage of sugar cane and sugar beets and to increase these areas arens in so far as these crops are well established or ore lire necessary to sound agricultural practice Production of satisfactory substitutes sub substitutes ti- ti for sugar including sorghum corn and cane cone maple products and honey can and should be In In- creased Dairy Products The supply of ot dairy products should be maintained to meet the needs of of this country and to help supply the increasing demands of the S allies Poultry Poultry production should be increased greatly especially In back backyards backyards backyards yards and on farms where waste material material material mate mate- rial is available and the purchase of expensive grains and other material is not required Corn An acreage of corn approximately approximately equal to that of 1 1917 1017 11 should be planted with possible slight reductions In certain sections toJ free areas reas for spring wheat I Oats Barley Rice Buckwheat and Flaxseed The area In oats should be maintained especially in hl regIons regions and andon andon andon on soils solIs which are not So 0 well adapted to other grains but with a small reduction reduction tion to provide provid for increasing the thc thew w wheat ent n a acreage r ag f. f Barley production should be Increased si In regions where It grows best best especially lt in the northern northera north north- ern era edge of the corn b belt lt and In in sections sections sections sec sec- north and west of I-df the belt and andrice andrice rice buckwheat buckwheat and production tion should be m maintained and If possible possible possible pos pos- sible Increased f r y S Potatoes Tb The normal acreage of Irish and sweet potatoes should shoud be maintained In 1918 notwithstanding the large barge crops crops' In 1917 1017 Hay Forage and Pastures Wherever Wherever ev ever r f feasible the he area devoted to h hay y forage and silage crops should be be Increased increased increased In in- creased and these products should should be used to a greater extent In place of grains and other concentrates S Beef Animals The number of beef animals should be maintained and In areas where it Is clearly the best range and farm practice should be Increased Beans Peas and Peanuts The pr production pro production pro pro- of beans and peas should be increased In regions to which they are adapted because of their high food value keeping qualities and availability ity for domestic or export trade Soy Soybeans S Soybeans y beans and peanuts should be increased In order to supplement beans and peas as human food as a source of much needed oil and as animal feeds Perishables a Market gardens near large consuming centers should be Increased so as to meet as nearly nearby as LIS possible the needs of the community ty y and In order to obviate the necessity necessity sity of transporting such products from distant points It Is Important to do all that Is possible possible pos pos- sible ible to relieve the strain upon transportation transportation trans trans- facilities b The planting of home gardens especially for tor family needs and for preserving reserving food tood for future use again should hould be emphasized c The commercial production of perishables generally should be Increased In In- creased d above normal wherever It Is reasonably clear that transportation and nd marketing facilities will be avail avail- able |