Farm management field studies and demonstration, first annual report of the county agriculturist, 1914: Morgan County

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Farm Management Field Studies

and emonstrations

The

First Annue.l Report

of the

County Agriculturist

for

Morgan County, Colorado

from

Date of Beginning

April 20,

1914

to

Close of the Fiscal

June

30, 1914

by

c.

G. Me Cord

1914

the Work

Year

Fort Morgan, Colorado

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Organiz~tion

for

Farm Management Field Studies

and Demonstration

in

Morgan County, Colorado

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The Bureau of Plant Industry

of the

United States Department of Agriculture

The Colorado Agricultural College

The Morgan County Commissioners

Federation of Agrt.cultural Associations of' Morgan County

and the

~hicago,

Burlington and Quincy Railroad Co.

Cooperating

D. w.

Frear

State Leader of Colorado

c.

G. Me Cord

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U. S. GOVERNMENT, COLORADO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND OTHERS COOPERATING

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL ·CLUBS

OF MORGAN COUNTY, COLORADO

FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1914

A Prosperous Year. Institute Tour for Dry Land Settlers.

The year 1914 has been one with Lo·cal organizations are not yet ccnditions unusually favorable to the effected in all the dry land sections farming interests of Mcrgan County. but plans are already made for a As a result of an abundan.t w:ater sup- series of farmers' institutes that will pl,y in the irrigated districts and more bring this about. H. W. Campbell, than average n.infall. g.ood crops of the well known Soil Culture Special-all kinds were produced, both on lands ist. now in the employ of the Burling-under irrigation •and jn the up-lands.

A County Orgc:.nization of Farmers.

During the pr2sent year the farmers of this county have become effectively

ton Railroad, is expected soon to as-sist the County Agriculturist in a s-cho·ol hous·e oampaign in which it is hoped that all the settlers in the dry-orgmizE:d into an association known la.r.d sections of the County will re as the F ~ d r rat · on of Agricultural ceive help and inspiration for better C~ubs of Mcr .nm Ccunty. Each c om- farming methods.

mun:ty of farmers that so desires is More Live Stock on Dry Lands.

organiz-d for local work and h:ts two It may not be out of place to state m '-' mbers to r7present it on the Board here, that the only hope of successful

cf Directors of the County Federation. agriculture in the up-lands Of this part T'hi:; bo1rd org1anizes and chooses its of Colorado which depends on the own officers. The organization came natural moisture condition of this into being through the concerted ef- semi-arid region, is to combine it with forts of the memb2rs ·and officers of stock raising. A Jar:ge part of the the Fort Morgan Farmers' Institute natural grass lands should be left for and the co-operating~ agencies above gnazing and only enough broken up ram ~ d. Aside from the able assist- and farmed to supply grain and

for-?nce of Dr. Frear and Mr. Lamson the 3Jg<e for the stock which is kept. The in. ~ piring a ddre·sses of D~ C. Bascom, p·rincipal crops that can be grown suc-H. W. Camp-hell. Kurt Grunwald and cessfuly are corn, cane, milo, feter-George Scott, contributed much to- ita. and other crops of this character. ward making the organization p.os- Sweet clover and sudan grass are new

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alfalfa will generally make at least Beginning October 1, 1914, the funds one good crop where a stand can be from the United States Government

secured. under the provisions of the

Smith-Dry Lands Not a Grain Country. Lever Bill, have been available. One Every settler should understand thousand dollars a year has been ap-that this is not a grain country and pro.priated to Morgan County. To ob-tbat he who attempts to raise wheat tain this a County Agriculturist must and other small grains without irriga· be employed.

t:on is taking the gambler's chance Government Money Is Used But

with a good pros'!)ect of losing all his Tied Up.

seed, time, and labor. However, with 'I his Government money is handled good cultural methods in favorable entirely by the officials of the Depart-seasons .g1ood grain c!'ops are some- ment of .Algriculture at Washington. times grown. It is tied up so that local people have Every one should know the risk and very little to say as to how it shall only seed a limited acreage in grain be used in the work.

as a side line, and then either farm H Of course the montY can be used well or not at all. to advantage but it could be

ad::nin-Silos Must Be Built. istered much more economically if In connection with stock raising the local people could have at least scme silo must soon become a part of the voice in its distribution. As it is equipment of every farmer in all parts now, all of it must be used as an ex-of the country-the elevated silo is to pense fund ex-of the County Agricultur-be preferred-but the pit silo is muc:h ist. None of it can Agricultur-be applied on his c'heraper to C·Onstruct and will answer

until the farmer is able to build one of the other type. About 80 pit silos and 15 of other types were construct-ed in the County during the season of 1914.

salary; none of it for expenses of in-stitutes, short courses or other means of P gricultural education; none of it

for office rent or perrr.anent fixtures.

How It !s Used.

Among the things this fund is used

A County Agriculturist at Work. for are the tl'avelill!g1 expenses of the One of the forward moves made by County Agriculturist including the up-the County Federation was up-the em- keep Of up-the automob'le, postage, office ployment of a Oounty Agriculturist. equipment and help, and the like. Prof. C. G. McCord of Fort Collins This equipment inc\udes a magic was selected as the best man avail- lantern and slides, a s·oil testing out-able for this important work. It is fit, library books, etc.

stating a fact very conservatively to The Agriculturist Is a Busy Man.

say that he has proven himself very To tell in detail how Mr. McCord efficient in every respect. He has emplnys his time \vould be to ex-had the up-lift of agriculture at heart tend this report beyond reasonable and has been one of the busiest men bounds. Only some of the more im-in Morgan County sim-ince he began portant thim-ings can even be mentioned. work last April. Quoting from Mr. McCord's annual

Support of the Work. report the following is suggestive: This work is maintained by a sub- Summary o"" Work in Morgan County.

scription of about $1.500 among the In any attempt at a summary of business men and farmers of Fort

Mongoan, Brush and vicinity; the County Commissioners contributed $1,000 from the County funds and the Burlington Railroad $150.

work done by the co'l!nty agent I feel much more will be left out than can be put in. There is the pers-onal ele-ment, the meeting on the street, on the country road, and in the countey

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store and a hundred other places that tion but we are trying~ it and if it does

can never be counted nor its influence not succeed we will be the -first to

measured. say so. I know I can not give more

In the eight months of the calendar time to it than I am now giving. year I have been here I have done Records of Farm Visits.

some very definite thil:gs. The one part of my work which I

A Co-operative Creamery. feel has not been efficient is the mat· The -first place where my leadership ter- of rec-ord of farm visits; our was called for was in the 'building of weekly reports do not show what we a co-operative creamery at Brush; the find• on the farms we visit, nor what plan had been talked before I came we accomplish by that_ visit. I have a but no definite action taken; I went memorandum book which shows in into the thing, held meetings, talked :part, but it is not complete and in the with the leaders, assisted the pro- event of my leaving this county and a moters, and today we have a $10,000 successor coming to take up the work plant in operation and every one feels he would pretty nearly have to begin success is assured. This plant, with where I began; my idea is there all it means to our community, would should be something on file in this not have been built with out my work. office that will enable a stranger to

Hog Cholera. come in and take up the work where My next problem was hog cholera; I now have it; With 1915 I am going an outbreak in July has oontinued to begin a record of that kind and I with more or less regularity to the hope to work out something that will present time. I found farmers com- meet our needs and perhaps be good pletely ignorant of the disease and enough to pass on to ot'!:lers.

of the proper sanitary measures to Respectfully, take in its presence; I went from C. G. McCORD. farm to farm giving the methods of Some of the Work He Does.

prevention and care as laid down by Selected from a great number of our State Veterinarian and while a other items that deserve more than good many hogs were lost we did this passintgl mention, the following in-check the spread of the disease. formation is gleaned from the report

Boys' and Girls' Club. now on file in the office of the County The Boys' and Girls' Club is the Agriculturist:

most promising feature of our work Total number of -Darms visited .... 512 now. We have thirty clubs with a Business calls at the office ... 315 membership of 350; being familiar Letters written ... 550 with school supervision, and having Meetings addressed ... 16 the co-operation of the County Super- Articles published in County intendent. I am working the clubs papers ... 18 through the schools entirely. I am Farmers selecting seed corn ... 100

g~etting the country teachers inter- Dairy cattle purchased (carloads) 2

ested and most of them .are enthu- Farmers influenced to feed more siastic and willing to do a lot of work live stock ... 25 under my direction. Most of the sup- Balanced ftations :figured and ervision I am giving from the office adopted ... 35 and as I pass the schools in my other Farmers assisted in poultry man-tr-ps. I feel that I am getting a large agement ... 10 amount of work done with a small Laborers supplied farmers thru relative amount of my own time. labor exchange ... 150 Whether successful club work can be Farmers conducting demonstra· done_ in this way may be open to questions ... 11

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Questions for the Agriculturist. answer ready. H e !"1Ust make g·ood

If any one is presumed to be a in every answer o.r move he mak ~ s or

walking encyclopedia of information his influence suffers. Verily, his task 1:1he County Agriculturist is that iildi- is not an easy one.

vidual. Anywhere, at anytime, on the County Co-Operative Work. street, at the postoffice, on the high- Aside from the work already accom-way, at social functions, at any hour plished, plans are on foot to organ·ze of the d1a.y or night he is likely to associations amo.ng f2.r~-.:JerG who have meet face to face such questions as like interests, in order that they may

these: • co-operate in ways that will be of

How can you tell the age of a ma terial advantage to all concerned. horse?

How can I kill prairie dogs? _ Why did my neighbor raise good potatoes when I failed?

Give me the formaldehyde treat·

Among those to be sugeested are:

1. A Crop. Growers' Association. 2. A Livestock Association.

Both of tlJ.ese should be Coun'Y· wide so that all farmerl:l interested in ment for seed wheat. either indust ,..y can act 1[1 8 a unit. For

Wh!8.1t can I do to kill cabbage the present th e-se two organization' worms or squash bugs? could have se-ct;ons or bureaus und er How can I interest my boy in the '"hich committ'2cs interested in par

farm! tkular crops or t vp?s of th 3 livest ~ ck

Give me a balanced ration with the business could gronp ttemselves to feeds I have on my own farm. more effectively wvrk togeth "r.

Oan you help me stn.rt my auto· ~ For Grain and Beet-Growers

mo·bile?; I've been stuck for an hour. The following divisions are sug-How can I make a living on 5 acres? geste,d:

Is Mr. , the real estate 1. A Grain and Produce Bureau.

man, reliable? (Under this farmers could

co-op·er-Is Bijou land a good investment? ate in buying seed a n~" in finding a

Where shall I send my hoy to col- market for crops and oth·er productq lege? '

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of tJhe farm such as cg~~s, butter.

How many pounds of milk in a fruit, etc.

gallon? 2. A Beet Growers' Bureau.

Can we develop permanent p·a.sture (T·he effect of a combination of in this country? farmers in the beet-growing districts

How much shall I feed my steers of the county i'3 apparPnt to all.) nnd how much should they· gla•in? With the Stockmen.

What is. the best treatment for ho<?; Un d·er the Livestock Ass•ochtfon

cholera? eould be groupe·d the following:

What books should I .cet for my 14- 1. A Feeders' Bureau.

year-old boy? (Throu1g!h this t~Jl feeders of sheep.

ATe hogs allowed to run out in thi ~ cattle or swine could buy stock for

quarantined district? tlJe feed lot, and se·cure feed in large Shall I build a silo? qua.ntities t·o 1a great advantage in Is a pit silo dangClrous? prices.)

Ho·w ooes sil::-ge comp1are in fePd- 2. A Pure-bred Livestock Bnreau. ing value to alfn.lfa hav? (Tbe owners :1nd breeders of

pure-T pure-T~'" much protein in cottonseed bred horflefl, cattlP, s~e8!), ::-nd RwinP

meal? would r:nd mqny things of comm"n

--And so on, often with spicv i"tRrest if 0nce thev begin workin«: variation from day to day. But th~ to<?"ethe,.. Co-nperativP R~les and

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3. A Cow-testing Bureau. be attestad by the continued increas·ed (Dair:ymen in other states have,attendance each year. The problem found that co-operation of this kind now is to find a room in Fort Mor-is very profitable, as .t

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to accommodate all farmer to detect and quickly dispose who desire to attend. A good aug-of many c.ows which have been kept gestion has been made that, when the at a loss.) proposed Carnegie Library building, is

Educating the Farmers.

Plans for educating the farmers are already under way in this series of institutes designed to help. the farm-ers in the irrigated districts, an.d an-other seri-es already mentioned for those in the dry laude. Asl.de from this may, he mentioned farmers' short cour:;.es ·of one week each in co-opera-tion with the high schools of Brush and Fort Morgan.

Rural Life and Country Clubs.

In order th·at rur:allife may be made

erected in Fort Morgan a large room be luilt in connection that would be suitable for functions of this kind, a rest room, or an auditorium in which lectures, institutes and other gathel"-ings might be ac·commodated without excessive rental fees.

There Must Be a Man in the Field.

In all Of these co-operative move-ments to make farming more profit-a,ble and rural life more pleasant a salaried official like the County Agri-culturist is absolutely necessary if

more attractive and the farm be made progress he made. With a man in the a more pleasant place to live, our field such as we now bave all may organization is hoping to co-operate look for a great change for the better with several Country Clubs already on the farms of Morgan County. existing, and assist in orgamzmg "Thank You.''

similar clubs in other localities. One In behalf of the officers of the

Fed-thing~ suggested is a contest with suit- eration of Agricultural Clubs of

Mor-a ble supervision Mor-and prizes offered to gMor-an County•, I wish to express our Mor- ap-the owners Ol" renters of ap-the most p·reciation o.f ap-the fin.anoial and oap-ther attractive homes in the County. assistance reeeived from all the

co-Farmers Banquets Are Popular. operating ~encies connected in the

In the loc.al Fort Morgan Agricul- great work of making agriculture tural organization of farmers an more profitable and the farm the best annual farmers banquet has been held place in the world to live. We can in connection with the farmers' insti- turn to the future, with confidence tute during the past four years. that there are still better things in This gathering haJs p.romoted store for the people of Morgan acquaintance among farmers and their County.