OFFICE OF FARM MANAGEMENT. 479 



crops in the Soutli. It has been c<;nckisively shown that the yields 

 of crops are the determining factors in the profitableness of the 

 {southern farm. With the boll weevil gradually extending over more 

 and more of the cotton belt, it is imperative that systems of farming 

 be developed which will, in a measure, replace the income lost through 

 the decreased returns from the cotton crop. Very substantial 

 l)rogress has been made by our workers with respect to, first, systems 

 of live-stock farming whicli may be developed with corn and forage 

 crops; second, the development of the soy bean as a cash crop for 

 seed, feed, or oil. Investigations have been carried on to determine 

 bow the soy bean may be fitted into a rotation with cotton and corn 

 and its place in southern agriculture. Attention has also been given 

 to peanuts and other leguminous crops with respect to their place on 

 these farms. 



Corn belt. — Corn belt agriculture is based primarily on live stock, 

 mainly beef cattle and hogs, and the production of corn and small 

 grains. With the increasing scarcity of all food products, it is im- 

 perative that as much grain as possible be saved. Our studies in the 

 corn-belt States have been along the lines of developing systems of 

 live-stock farming wliich will maintain maximum production of 

 hogs and cattle with the minimum use of corn and other concen- 

 trates. This is accomplished largely by the introduction of alfalfa 

 and other forage crops in the rotation, and so arranging these as not 

 Appreciably to upset the labor requirements of the average corn-belt 

 farm. Very substantial progress has been made on this problem. 



Great Plains Region. — Probably one of the greatest problems in 

 building up a permanent agriculture in the plains region is the un- 

 certainty of rainfall and consequent crop production. Our attention, 

 therefore, has been turned to finding and developing systems of farm- 

 ing which are as permanent as possible under the conditions in those 

 regions. This permanency is particularly desirable from the stand- 

 point of maintaining a supply of roughage so that the live stock may 

 not be sacrificed in scant crop years. The second important problem 

 is that of maintaining crop yields, particularly with reference to 

 grains. The third ]-)roblem is that of systems of farming which will 

 maintain the fertility of the soil, especiall-j^ with reference to the 

 supply of humus. 



Facifc Coast and Mountain Region. — The agriculture in these 

 States is so varied that there are innumerable farm-management 

 problems, many of which bear very little relation to each other. One 

 of the most prominent is the development of profitable systems of 

 farming in the irrigated districts. Unfortunately, in the develop- 

 ment of these irrigated areas the farms were made altogether too 

 small in area for profitable operation, except under the most inten- 

 sive forms of agriculture. There being no extended markets for 

 these intensive crops, a readjustment has been necessary, and this re- 

 adjustment has not come about without appreciable loss to many of 

 the earlier settlers on these irrigated projects. With this readjust- 

 ment the introduction of live stock and accompanying forage crops 

 has been of prime importance. Our activities have been centered 

 largely around this problem of worlnng out suitable systems of live- 

 stock management for irrigated farms. Coupled with this is the 

 problem of the alfalfa weevil, and studies have been inaugurated 



