164 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



IJEPOKT OF EXTEN8I0JS WOKK IN FAKM C1{U1\S. 



Mr. R. J. Baldwin, M. A. C. 



Dear Mr. Baldwin: — I herewith present report of the Extension Work 

 in Farm Crops for the past year. 



As yon are aware the work in crops extension lias been greatly in- 

 flnenced by new developments in the agricnltural Held, such as the for- 

 mation of the county and state organization of the Farm Bureau, and 

 the great movement from country to city of farmers and farm help, 

 amounting to ai)proximately *.)% in one year. 



On the other hand, the extension work in crops has had considerable 

 influence on the development of the departments of the Farm Bureau, 

 notably the department for the safe handling of steeds. 



Mr. J. W. Nicolson, Extension Specialist in Crops and Secretary of the 

 Crop Improvement Association was i)laced in charge of the seed depart- 

 ment of the Farm Bureau and resigned as Exteusion Specialist March 

 1st. In his new ca])acity he continues as ouc of the directors of the 

 Crop Improvement Association. The coo}»ei'ation of the Crop Tm]»rove- 

 ment Association and llie seed de]>artment of (he Farm Bureau Avill 

 greatly aid in the wide spread distribution of sound seed of improved 

 crops varieties. 



Such work as the purchase from the Xorlliwest, under ins]»ection, 

 of Grimm and other northern grown varielics ol' alfalfa seed begun 

 by Mr. Nicolson, Avhile lOxtension Specialist and Secretary of the Mich- 

 igan Crop Imi>rovement Association, will be continued by the seed depart- 

 ment of the Farm Bureau on a much more extensive scale. The seed 

 department of the Farm Bureau will also cooj^erate with the Crop Im- 

 provement Association in the distribution of '-egistered and certilied 

 seed of Rosen rye. Red Rock wheat, Wolverine, Worthy, and College 

 Success oats, improved varieties of barley and corn. Robust beans, etc. 



As Extension Specialist, Mr. Xicolson rendered great service to the 

 State of Michigan in forAvarding the use of im|)roved varieties and en- 

 couraging better methods of crop production. Ills co-workers take pride 

 in the fact that he has been selected for the important work of accom- 

 plishing the development of the newly established Farm Bureau seed 

 department. 



Briefly stated, the main lines of Farm Crops Extension are as follows: 



1. — Improvement in the yield and quality of crops through the wide 

 spread introduction of improved crops varieties. 



2. — Cooperation with the county agricultural agents and farm bureaus 

 in the development of crops projects, fair exhibits, etc. 

 ,.... 3. — Cooperative demonstrations of best production methods, variety 

 adaptions, etc. 



•1. — General extension coriespondence, news letteis, addi esses, clc. 



The first of these projects is made particularly etiective through the 

 coopej-ation of the Michigan Crop Improvement Af;sociation, an organ- 

 ization of ^lichigan farmers Avho are interested in tlic groAA'ing of the 

 highest yielding vaiielics, using best methods of cullivaiion and fertil- 

 ization. 



