208 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



county agent work this year amount to $89,000. Appropriations by boards 

 of supervisors aggregated $174,906, as compared to $129,948 the pre\dous 

 year. In addition to these amounts, State and federal funds provide for 

 $1,200 per county, which is paid direct!}^ to the county agent by the College. 

 More adequate funds have made it possible to pay better salaries to agents, 

 resulting in fewer changes in the staff and the attracting of more experienced 

 men to the work. 



The problems of organization during the year have been exceedingly com- 

 plex. The desire on the part of the farmers for strong, economic institutions 

 through Avhich they could combine their efforts for marketing purposes was 

 greatly stimulated by the organization of the farm bureaus. Inasmuch as 

 marketing was the fundamental purpose of these organizations, the efforts 

 of the county agents along these lines were directed by the marketing special- 

 ists of the College, and the summary of these results is given under that 

 heading. In all organization work, however, the County Agricultural Agent 

 is the active leader in his county ^Aith a constant first-hancl, personal knowledge 

 of local situations in each marketing center. When cooperative institutions 

 are in need of help during their formation or later, the agent brings to them the 

 best available information regarding required A^olume of business, equipment, 

 constitutions, by-laws, financing, contracts, affiliations with commodity 

 exchanges, etc., and gives the membership a full acquaintance with the local 

 and state-wide situation regarding cooperative concerns. During the year 

 material assistance was given in the formation of 321 such organizations. 



The cooperative marketing associations are proving to be a strong factor 

 not only in marketing but also in promoting production projects. Through 

 these institutions large groups of members can be reached in supplying better 

 seeds, in standardizing produce, in promoting better live stock, and in fact, 

 in carrying out any economic, educational effort. 



The county agent cooperates with all forpas of organizations which can, 

 be used to effect his purpose. These include granges, gleaners, farmers 

 clubs and farm bureau locals. The agents report that their work has ex- 

 tended into 928 communities, and of this number 871 have some form of 

 local organization, with committees assisting in carrjdng out a program of 

 work. 

 Soils: 



Reports for the last calendar year from 48 counties indicate that there 

 were 15.802 farmers who used fertilizers, either in demonstrational work or 

 through the assistance of the agents. Forty-one counties show that lime 

 was used on 3,609 farms totaling 198,574 tons; soil was tested for acidity on 

 988 farms; 27 agents report that 27,060 acres of clover or other legumes 

 were plowed under for green manure; in 22 counties there were 51 drainage 

 systems planned and adopted on an area of 5,855 acres. 



It should be remembered that high freight rates and decreasing prices of 

 farm products has kept many farmers from undertaking an>i;hing of this 

 kind. 



Crops: 



The work done by the agents wath grain and forage crops has been in 

 close cooperation with the Farm Crops department and the Seed Depart- 

 ment of the Farm Bureau. Through this cooperation a general plan for 

 the State and counties is made and carried out, based on variety tests and 

 demonstrations well distributed over the grain area. All demonstrations are 

 located in places where they can be readily observed by other farmers. 



