176 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



It is a fitting acknowledgment of the importance of the sessions of this 

 organization that, in the fact of the unusual pressing condition of farm 

 work, so great a number of the members are present. Ours is a work the 

 importance of which is second to no other branch of agricultural pursuits of 

 our Nation, and it is a matter of no little pride to us to know that the hog 

 raisers of Iowa last year produced hogs whose value equaled one-sixth of 

 the hog product of the entire United States; that on January 1st of this year 

 the farmers of Iowa owned 7,364,268 hogs, or almost double the number 

 owned in any other State. Illinois follows with 3,700,000, then Nebraska 

 with 2,800,000, and Ohio with 2,700,000, while Rhode Island winds up the 

 list with but 12,000 head. It has been my pleasure to witness the great 

 advancement of the swine breeding industry from almost an insignificant 

 beginning to the principal money making feature of the great corn belt. 

 You all know how great has been the influence of the hog on the progress, 

 development and improvement of the country. 



The high place which the hog now holds as an element in public pros- 

 perity is, however, no evidence that the work of the Iowa Swine Breeders' 

 Association and kindred organizations has been completed. It should, on 

 the contrary, spur us on to still further improvement, and the production 

 of an animal which shall still more nearly approach the ideal hog— the one 

 that brings the top price at the stock yards. 



Market reports show that a discouragingly small per cent of hogs sent to 

 market bring the high figure. While of course we as breeders can not be 

 held to account for the great number of hogs, we are in a great measure 

 responsible. The best hogs can only be raised by using good blood. If we 

 fail to provide good blood the pork raiser who depends upon us for his seed 

 will meet with disappointment. The proper selection of breeding stock is 

 the most important point in the breeder's business and I trust that subject 

 may receive some discussion at this meeting. 



The season just past has in many respects been a most trying and unsatis- 

 factory one to farmers, yet I believe the breeder of pure-bred hogs has felt 

 the depression less than any other. The outlook for the coming season 

 seems an encouraging one. Owing to the scarcity of feed fewer brood sows 

 than usual were kept, and the pig crop was still further reduced by the 

 unfavorable spring. These facts, with the probability of a good corn crop, 

 justify the expectation of a good demand for pigs of both sexes and at fair 

 prices. The intimate connection of good corn crops with the welfare of the 

 hog raiser, gives especial interest to that portion of our program devoted to 

 corn culture, which Professor Holden has kindly consented to talk upon. 



As usual we are under obligations to the National Association of Expert 

 Swine Judges, whose meeting will take place tomorrow. Their work is all 

 of the practical and instructive character, and I am sure that everyone in 

 attendance today may learn something to his advantage by attending. 



