Ixxviii Extension Department 



tain and increase production, in spite of the added handicaps of scarcity 

 of labor and uncertainty of prices. 



The plan of organization has remained essentially the same as last 

 year. Much attention has been given to the organization of community 

 committees, the total number of committeemen now being about 7000. 

 These men are considering agricultural problems from the viewpoint of 

 the community and are making community programs at conferences 

 after careful thought and deliberation. They are learning to think in 

 terms of the community and its interests, rather than in terms of their 

 own farms and as individuals. 



The ntmiber of farmers in each county, the membership in the farm 

 bureaus, the number of communities, and the number of committeemen 

 on July I, 191 7, as compared with that on June 30, 1918, are shown in 

 the accompanying table. It is significant to note the increase in the 

 mmiber and percentage of farmers who are members of the various farm 

 bureau associations. 



An increase in financial support has made possible the added volimie 

 of work here noted. During the fiscal year from July i, 191 7, to June 

 30, 191 8, war emergency funds to the amount of $41,556 were made 

 available by the federal emergency agricultural appropriation bill. These 

 funds were used in paying part salaries of regiilar agents, making it pos- 

 sible to give the new counties the equivalent of regular state and federal 

 funds which had not been provided. Also, all salaries of assistants to a 

 maximum of $100 a month were paid from these funds. During the 

 year $101,723.31 was appropriated by the boards of supervisors in the 

 coimties. Diiring the coming year $134,625 will be received from boards 

 of supervisors, and it is expected that $63,210 will be made available 

 from federal war emergency fundS'. Aside from the special items men- 

 tioned, $119,314.25 was provided from membership funds, regular state 

 and federal funds, contributions, and other sources, making a total amount 

 of $262,593.56 available for carrying on the work of the farm bureaus 

 during the year. 



Office of the Home Demonstration Agent Leader 



At the beginning of the year, on or about July i, 191 7, there were five 

 counties organized with home demonstration agents. There are now 

 fifty-seven agents in the State, including the five agents in permanently 

 organized counties, thirty-two emergency county agents, and twenty 

 assistants. 



On May 15, 191 8, all the county agents 'in the State, together with 

 representatives from their executive committees, met with the state 

 leaders at Ithaca for a week's conference and outlined a scheme for a 



