Farm Bureau Work in New York State for 1914 2 115 



Projects 



During the latter part of the year much consideration has been given 

 to the project plan of work, which has been adopted. It is simply a plan 

 for making not only the county but the State supervisory work more 

 definite and hence of more value. The plan is simply to outline definitely 

 on paper the work proposed for the succeeding 3'ear. Consideration is 

 given to the comparatively most important matters, and stress is laid 

 on these. A well-organized effort is then made to keep the work in these 

 channels that have been outlined, and to avoid too miscellaneous and 

 purposeless eft'ort, particiilarly ^^Hith individuals. The objects and the 

 methods of procedure and the cooperation involved in the State farm 

 bureau project have been given on page 2107, under the section on " Or- 

 ganization and Functions," in this report. 



The general plan for the counties involves three kinds of projects. The 

 first is called a state- wide project, because it applies in a large percentage 

 of the counties in the State, and is regarded as the most important which 

 can be undertaken by an}^ bureau manager. The primar}^ purpose for 

 the existence of the farm bureau is to increase the profitableness of farm- 

 ing. There are three possible ways of doing this: (i) improving the 

 organization and management of the farm by careful analysis and study 

 of the problem; (2) by sa\dng money in the purchase of supplies in quantity 

 for cash instead of at retail and on time; and (3) by securing an increased 

 price through improved quality, standardization, and cooperative ad- 

 vertising of products. A state-wide project should be one that falls 

 under one of these three heads. For the coming year in New York State 

 the farm management survey, or business analysis of a farm, has been 

 adopted as perhaps the most important single thing to be done by the 

 farm bureau manager in his county. 



A second, or regional, project is one which may apply to a group of coun- 

 ties ha\'ing a similar type of farming, due to similar chmate, soil, or topog- 

 raphy. Such a project should also come under one of the three important 

 means of increasing the profitableness of farming. In one section of the 

 State for example, namely, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua 

 Counties, such a project has been drawn to cover the demonstration of 

 lime and acid phosphate on the hill soils of these counties. Both lime 

 and acid phosphate seem to be limiting factors in crop production, and 

 hence in animal raising in this whole section. 



Both the state- wide and the regional projects are usually suggested 

 to the counties by the central office, since they involve cooperation be- 

 tween counties. Supplementing these projects, however, are from one to 

 four local projects, which are drawn by the farm bureau committees and 

 managers in each county. Good examples of these projects are: orchard 

 management; animal husbandr}', with the object of encouraging the 

 breeding of pure-bred live-stock and the producing of cheaper milk through 

 better feeding and the elimination of unprofitable cows ; meadow improve- 

 ment bv selection and fertilization; boys' and girls' club work; and the 

 Hke. 



Even after four or five important fines of work have been outlined in 

 the county, there frequently remain a number of important pieces of 

 work to be done, which are both needed and demanded in the county. 



