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Show MORE SPRING WHEAT ASKED OF FARMERS Large Supplyd and Feed-stuffs Feed-stuffs Needed in 1918. cultural DepTrt 9ed Pork Production and Larger Acreage of Grain Crops. ... n p The planting of Washington, D. 0 wh(,at program issued by the United State-department State-department of agriculture This program re-emphas.zes and am p,ifi the food-production program for 1918 issued by the department in Angus, 1917. and other ;,on made in the fall and the fir: t of 'J s vear regarding increased pork piortuc ion and increased production of food stuffs in the South. Taken in connection connec-tion with the recommendations previously previ-ously made, it suggests in full the proposals pro-posals which the department thinks it desirable to offer with a view to secure se-cure enough meat and dairy products, prod-ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple and perishable foods, wool and cotton for the nation, its armies, and the allies al-lies It gives suggestions for the approaching ap-proaching spring operations, based upon the latest available information as to the condition of the fall-planted crops of winter wheat and rye and as i,. nf mont- and dairy P.ni- 10 Hie uuiui'ci wi ...x... mals reported for 1017. 'They represent repre-sent the best thought of the specialists special-ists of the department who have had the benefit of advice from agricultural agricultu-ral leaders throughout the country. Our Best Efforts Required. "Notwithstanding an increased production pro-duction of staple crops in the United States in 1917, there is need 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 be required to provide enough food in 1918. Whether the war continues or not, the demands on this country, because be-cause of the increasing population and the needs of Europe will be great. An especially strong demand will be made on this country for meats and live stock. In 1917. notwithstanding the many . difficulties encountered, the farmers planted the largest acreages in the history of the nation, harvested record crops of most things except wheat, and succeeded in greatly increasing in-creasing the. number of live stock." "The situation is such that chief emphasis em-phasis should be given to the production produc-tion of the great staple food 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 its live titoek and then to plant as much cotton as can well be cultivated and harvested. harvest-ed. To raisers of hogs and beef animals 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 discusses the farm labor la-bor problem, points out the lines of effort ef-fort for relief, and outlines the activities activi-ties of the federal and state agencies to furnish assistance. Spring Wheat. In dealing with the question of spring wheat, the program states: The acreage o.' 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 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 produc-tion of only 510,000.000 bushels. Whether the actual production will be greater or less than the estimate will depend upon conditions prevailing between be-tween 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 In each spring wheat state within the last ten years, there would be sown approximately ap-proximately 23,300,000 acres. If there should he planted an acreage equal to the sum of tiio record planting for each state within the last five years there would be sown approximately 21,000.-000 21,000.-000 acres. The record planting for any year was 20,3S1,000. In 1911. The acreage acre-age for 1917 whs 18,1511,000. "The department of agriculture has carefully studied all these records and other data in connection with the present pres-ent war conditions and needs, and believes be-lieves that it will he possible this year to secure an acreage in excess of the record acreage which was planted in 1911. It is believed that increased acreages can be secured in states anil sections where spring-wheat production is known to he reasonably promisin-and promisin-and that such increases can be imido without upsetting farm plans. It Is hoped that many farmers, especially espe-cially in the northern part of the corn belt, Ull 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 eastern aaj central portions of the country wher, spring wheat has not been grown t recent years, the crop is now being ri. established and it is recommended that this movement be encouraged. To a small extent the acreage , oats, if necessary, could be reduced it the interest of wheat. Likewise, , very small portion of the acreage which normally would be planted to corn in the northern part of the corn belt might be sown to spring wheat. If the acreage of spring wheat inil. rated for some of the states cannot b planted, the barley acreage, which ii known to grow better in some local, ties, might be increased. The use o; barley for food is increasing in thi, country and it is a welcome food u Kurope. Summary of Other Recommendatloni Following is a summary of other a. portant recommendations regardinj cereals, meat, poultry, and perishable!. Hogs. The number of hogs should be increased by at least 15 per cen: during the year 1918. Sugar. Effort should be mad t maintain the acreage of sugar cane ani sugar beets, and to Increase thest' areas in so far as these crops are well established or are necessary to sound agricultural practice. Production of satisfactory substi-tutes substi-tutes for sugar, including sorghum, corn and cane sirup, maple product! and honey can and should be in-creased. in-creased. Sorghum sirup, it is pointed out, ma; be produced in nearly every state ic the Union, and increased production o! sorghum sweets would enable the puh- i ....r.m ct-ill further iha cr. 11C LO UHii "- supply in the form most available for transportation to our soldiers. Dairy Products. The supply of dahv products should be maintained to mee-j the needs of this country and to he!;' supply the Increasing demands of ft! allies. Poultry. Poultry production shoul: be increased greatly, especially in bae yards and on farms where waste mat'i rial is available and the purchase expensive grains and other material fci not required. Corn. An acreage of corn approii mately equal to that of 1917 should b-planted, b-planted, with possible slight reduction in certain sections to free areas fo: spring wheat. Oat3, Barley, Rice, Buckwheat ant Flaxseed. The area in oats should t maintained, especially in regions aDii on soils which are not so well adapte: to other grains, but with a small rednc-tion rednc-tion to provide for increasing thi wheat acreage. Barley production; should be Increased in regions where it grows best, especially in the northern north-ern edge of the corn belt and in sec tions north and west of the belt; anc rice, buckwheat and flaxseed produc tlon should be maintained and, if pos sible, increased. Grain Sorghums. The production o! grain sorghums (kafir, milo. feterits etc.) should be increased great!;' throughout the drier portion of the Plains region. Kafirs are the mos:; certain grain crops in this section sci they can be made to supplement whes: as human food and to replace corn u animal food. Potatoes. The normal acreage Irish and sweet potatoes should bj maintained in 191S. notwithstandit.j the large crops In 1917. ' I Hay, Forage and Pastures. Wht: ever feasible, the area devoted to ha;j forage and silage crops should be rq creased and these products should b used to a greater extent in place c grains and other concentrates. ! Beef Animals. The number of he animals should be maintained and, t areas where it is clearly the best rant and farm practice, should be increase Beans, Peas and Peanuts. The p: duetion of beans and peas should increased in regions to which they t" adapted, because of their high fw value, keeping qualities, and avaihih lty for domestic or export trade. S beans and peanuts should be increas; in order to supplement beans and pa as human food, as a source of mu' needed oil. and as animal feeds. I PSrishables. (a) Market gard near large consuming centers shoiii be Increased so as to meet, as nearl! as possible, the needs of the community, communi-ty, and in order to obviate the mw-sity mw-sity of transporting such product' from distant points. It is important to do all that is po sible to relieve the strain upon trao portation facilities. (b) The planting of home garden-especially garden-especially for family needs and tf preserving food for future use, sp': should be emphasized. (c) The commercial production -: perishables generally should be H creased above normal wherever It IS reasonably clear that transportatW and marketing facilities will he avi able. |