16 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



has had representatives in Argentina and in the Balkan countries, 

 both of which compete with us to some extent, and in England and 

 some of the other countries which buy from us. In addition to main- 

 taining these representatives, two specialists were sent to Europe to 

 make an economic survey of agricultural reconstruction there and to 

 arrange for the interchange of information as to production and de- 

 mand in those countries. * 



CROP AND LIVE-STOCK REPORTING SERVICE. 



Plans have been made to greatly improve and broaden the sta- 

 tistical work of the department, especially as it relates to crop and 

 live-stock production. A committee of experienced statisticians of 

 national standing was called in and asked to consider carefully our 

 statistical methods and make recommendations. This committee 

 spent some time here and made recommendations of value, which 

 are being adopted as rapidly as possible. 



For many years the department's statistics on acreage and pro- 

 duction of the principal farm crops have been regarded as very 

 accurate. Live-stock statistics have not been so satisfactory, due in 

 large part to inadequate funds. Congress gave larger appropria- 

 tions for the current year, and in cooperation with leading live-stock 

 producers a program has been worked out which should result in 

 much more reliable and complete live-stock statistics in the future. 

 This program provides for the elaboration of the annual estimates 

 of numbers of live stock on farms to show age and sex ; preliminary 

 and final estimates yearly of the calf and lamb crops of the range 

 States; periodical estimates of the supply and probable movement 

 of feeder cattle, sheep, and lambs in the range States; periodical 

 reports of the numbers of cattle, sheep, and lambs on feed for 

 market; periodical surveys of special live-stock producing areas; 

 reports of the seasonal movement of cattle, sheep, and lambs from 

 the range to the feed lots and from feed lots to market ; semi- 

 annual reports of the spring and fall pig crop, gathered through 

 rural mail carriers and field representatives of the department; 

 monthly reports of feed and pasture conditions. The Postmaster 

 General has taken a personal interest in the success of these pig 

 surveys made through the cooperation of his department, and they 

 have been quite successful. The information with regard to the 



