jg PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



As a result of this drive much new land was opened to 

 agricultural use which today will not produce a fair return 

 to the farmer for the capital and labor he has expended 

 on it. In addition to increasing the acreage under cultiva- 

 tion, this movement has, through the research work of fed- 

 eral and state agencies, increased the yield per acre for 

 agricultural crops. The net result was to greatly stimulate 

 production. 



Effect of Agricultural Research on Production: Not only 

 has the acreage under cultivation increased but the yield per 

 acre has also increased, in large measure due to the research 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture and of 

 various state agencies. Since 1880, for example, there has 

 been an increase in the average production per acre of 4.3 

 bushels of corn, 2 bushels of wheat, 3.9 bushels of oats, and 

 about 30 bushels of potatoes. 5 The greater part of this in- 

 crease has taken place since 1900. 



The increased yield is partly due to reduction of the dam- 

 age caused by plants and animal pests. Great strides for- 

 ward in the control of such pests have been made in the last 

 twenty years, 6 and it can be expected that the future will 

 bring increased control of pests with a further increase in 

 the yield. 



Not only has there been increased yield per acre, but ex- 

 tensive research in animal husbandry has also resulted in a 

 more efficient use of the grain and hay crops when fed to 

 animals. For example, there were only 4 per cent more 

 dairy cows in 1922-26 than in 1917-21 but probably 20 per 

 cent more milk was produced. In other words, with the 



5 Wietz, B. O., The Trend Toward More Efficient Use of Land, 

 Bulletin No. 1458, Department of Agriculture. American farms are still 

 less productive per acre than European ones. 



6 Gates, H. R., " The Weed Problem," Yearbook of the Department of 

 Agriculture (1917), pp. 205-10. 



