214 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Another project that deserves special mention is the grasshopper con- 

 trol work. As a result of the very successful control work done in Kalkaska 

 county last year, the visits of farmers in nearby counties to see these 

 demonstrations, and the explanation by the County Agent and the De- 

 partment of Entomology of the methods used, twelve counties in that 

 section of the State made appropriations this year for the purchase of 

 poison to control grasshoppers. Methods of Farm Bureau organization 

 for use of the poison and making the control work thorough, were dis- 

 cussed at two of the district conferences. These plans were put into 

 effect and the savings to the farmers of that section of their State have 

 reached several hundred thousand dollars. 



LIVE STOCK. 



There are several important live stock projects that form a part of 

 almost every Farm Bureau program ; among these are the effort to elimin- 

 ate scrub sires and substitute the best pedigreed ones that can be ob- 

 tained; the organization of cow-testing, live stock shipping, sheep and 

 wool growing, and breeders' associations; the more economical purchase 

 and use of feeds; the control of disease and the improvement of marketing 

 conditions and of credit facilities for the purchase of better live stock. 



In addition to the work referred to under the live stock standardization 

 project, nine cow-testing associations were formed and 2,506 cows tested 

 through such organizations; also 1,454 were tested by the agents or at 

 their suggestion, and as a result of the testing work there were reported 298 

 cows as discarded. Balanced rations were figured for 503 farmers and 

 adopted by them; 637 animals were tested for tuberculosis by the agents 

 or on their suggestion and 25 treated for blackleg; 214 hogs were vaccinated 

 by the agents and 9,333 by veterinarians or farmers on the suggestion of 

 the agents or as a result of the cooperation of farm bureau members in 

 carrying out this project. 249 silos were secured and assistance given 

 in planning barns and other farm buildings. 



POULTRY. 



A large amount of work has been done on the poultry project in coopera" 

 tion with the Poultry Department. More than 200 culling demonstrations 

 were reported for 1918. They have been the means of eliminating a large 

 number of unprofitable hens and of greatly increasing the interest in 

 better poultry. The other poultry projects have been continued as out- 

 lined in last year's report. 



FARM MECHANICS. 



Several tractor demonstrations have been conducted under the auspices 

 of the Farm Bureau; these have been conducted on an educational basis 

 and the large attendance even in a very busy season is evidence of the 

 value the farmers attach to such demonstrations and of their interest in 

 knowing more about the merits of this new source of power. In cooperation 

 with the Department of Farm Mechanics, assistance was given in the in- 

 stallation of 133 water supply and sewage disposal systems. The rapidly 

 growing use of machinerj'' on farms and in farm homes tends to increase 

 the amount of work on projects in Farm Mechanics. The assistance given 

 in planning buildings and other farm structures continues as outhned iq 

 previx)us reports. 



