In spite of the fact that “farm relief” has been a slogan and political
football for the last few years, the fact remains that the government
is already extending a tremendous lot of help to the farmer.
A slight idea of the activities of the Department of Agriculture may
be gained by a glance at some of its principal divisions and bureaus.
We find, for instance, an administration of packers and stockyards,
the weather bureau, the bureau of animal industry, the bureau of plant
industry, the bureau of chemistry, the bureau of soils, the bureau of
entomology, the bureau of agricultural economics, and the insecticide
and fungicide board.
This department, therefore, renders innumerable kinds of service to
those engaged in agriculture. The service begins before ever a seed is
planted and continues until the product is marketed.
Take, for instance, the Bureau of Plant Industry. It ascertains what
kind of crops may be produced in a particular section of the country,
it searches the world for useful grains, fruits, vegetables, grasses
and legumes, it secures new varieties and it tests seeds on demand.
The value to the agriculturists and to the country in general of the
work done in introducing new crop plants and fruit cannot be estimated.
Rice, adapted to conditions in southern Louisiana, was found only after
extensive explorations in Japan, China and India. Wheat, adapted to our
semi-arid regions, was brought from Russia. And the seedless grapes of
Italy and Greece gave to California its raisin industry.
The Bureau continues to bring in new seeds and plants each year.
The Bureau also tests seeds and reports on the results of the tests.
This work and the educational work done through schools and experiment
stations, has been of tremendous value.
Soil information, of a general nature or of a specific nature, is
available for any one who calls on the Bureau of Soils for help. So is
information regarding fertilizers.
The Bureau of Crop Estimates sends out monthly reports regarding
acreage, conditions, yields, qualities, prices, etc. There are also
weekly reports covering truck crops. And, finally there is a Year Book.
The need of organized action to control insect pests must be apparent
to any one who has actually seen the destruction wrought by some
species like the Japanese beetle or the boll weevil. The Bureau of
Entomology has as its task the controlling of insects destructive to
agriculture and harmful to man or beast.
Extensive experiments are conducted in fields, gardens and orchards;
and laboratory tests are made and checked with the field work.
The Bureau will furnish at any time the latest scientific information
regarding any phase of this subject; and it cooperates with state
bureaus and with the public health service in the fight against insects
destructive to crops and injurious to health.
The Bureau of Animal Industry has as its duty the fostering of the
live stock industry of the country. Its work includes the making
of investigations, experiments dealing with the broad problems of
the industry, and education. It also carries on extensive work
regarding animal diseases and cooperates with state authorities in the
enforcement of federal and state quarantine laws.
The Bureau has a division devoted entirely to dairying. It has a
research laboratory where investigations are made regarding milk,
cheese, ice cream, etc. It has a department engaged in field research
work and another engaged in extension work in cooperation with the
state agricultural colleges.
The Department of Agriculture, deeming it important that the business
efficiency of the farmer should be brought up to the highest possible
standards, maintains a division called the Office of Farm Management,
which gathers information directly from farms in practical operation
and puts it in shape for the use of the individual farmer in any part
of the country.
The Bureau of Markets is concerned with every phase of marketing
and makes investigations and demonstrations, furnishes reports and
assists to enforce such laws as The Grain Standards Act and The
Standard Container Act. Cooperative marketing has received special
study and is encouraged and helped by this Bureau wherever possible.
Standardization, of such tremendous importance to the industry, is
enforced with reference to grades, packages and containers so far as
the law permits; and when there is no law, the Bureau nevertheless
recommends standards and encourages their adoption.
This Bureau also makes daily reports regarding perishable fruits and
vegetables, and other reports regarding other subjects.
The government also extends financial help to the agricultural industry
through The Federal Land Banks, twelve in number, established since
1916.
In the matter of public health the government is doing important work
with regard to diseases prevalent in rural districts, such as malaria
and pellagra.
To sum it all up, the government makes available to the farmer
information and help regarding nearly every phase of the industry in
which he is engaged, and, not satisfied with that, assists him and
his family so far as their health, education and general welfare are
concerned. The farmer is coming more and more to make use of these
facilities; and it may be that a still more extensive use of them will
prove the salvation of the agricultural industry.