REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 11 



In the main, the Department of Agriculture deals with all the 

 processes of farming and follows the products through the markets 

 to the point where they are available, and are in requisite form, for 

 actual consumption. It aids in these processes through investigation, 

 advice, and demonstration; only in the case of certain products and 

 processes has it regulatory authority. The Food Administration, 

 however, has wide powers of regulation and direction of food mate- 

 rials and food products. Where the Food Administration through 

 its powers can be of assistance to the Department of Agriculture in 

 its field, it is at liberty freely to make suggestions, and, when neces- 

 sary, to cooperate in execution; and the same relation obtains as to 

 the Department's participation in Food Administration matters in 

 which it has a vital interest and toward the promotion of which it 

 can be of assistance. 



ADDITIONAL MACHINERY DEVELOPED. 



It early became apparent that there would be no little delay in 

 framing and passing the necessary legislation. Time was the essence 

 of the situation. Prompt action was necessary. It was essential 

 that many of the recommendations included in the St. Louis pro- 

 gram should be put into effect. Farmers already were in the field 

 or had made their plans for the season. The Department and the 

 State agencies therefore speeded up their work along the most promis- 

 ing lines with the forces and funds at their command. Projects not 

 having an immediate bearing on the emergency were set aside in 

 order that the energies of the workers might be concentrated on the 

 main problems. 



Assuming that Congress would enact, in part at least, the legisla- 

 tion desired to stimulate production and to promote conservation, 

 the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the land-grant 

 colleges, undertook the preliminary work of developing additional 

 machinery and agencies ; and, in a number of States, these additional 

 agencies, including especially an extension of the farm demonstra- 

 tion force, actually were put into operation. 



It was recognized that the Cooperative Extension System, with its 

 combination of Federal and State administrative officers and special- 

 ists, county agents, home-demonstration agents, farm bureaus, and 

 other local organizations, furnished a ready and effective means for 

 the Nation-wide dissemination of the needed facts, as well as for prac- 



