ORGANIZATION 133 



Neither in community, county, state or nation had there 

 been a consistent food production program; but 

 within a few weeks after war was declared, there came 

 into being a multitude of food production committees. 

 In nearly every state in the Union, probably in a very 

 large proportion of the agricultural counties of the 

 country and in thousands of local communities, these 

 committees appeared. This organization by regions, 

 illustrated in the war emergency plans, is perhaps the 

 most important phase of rural organization and should 

 be made permanent. The idea of regional organiza- 

 tion has wide applications. 



1. The Individual Farmer. No one needs to argue 

 with the good farmer about the importance of organiz- 

 ing his business. Skillful farm management is the acid 

 test of good farming and is probably to-day the big out- 

 standing need of our agriculture as it relates to the effi- 

 ciency of the individual farmer. American agriculture 

 will be fully efficient only when every one of our seven 

 millions of farmers becomes a good manager. Organ- 

 ization is the secret of farm management; it secures a 

 union of forces in the most effective way to get the re- 

 sults the farmer wants. 



2. The Farm Home. All that has been said in re- 

 gard to the farm applies to the home. To those who 

 have given the matter little thought, an argument for 

 organizing the home may seem to be impracticable. It 

 is not only practicable, but vitally important that each 

 home shall do its share, serve its purpose, in the best 

 way. This is not a mere private matter as some sup- 

 pose, but one of the utmost consequence to the welfare 

 of farmers and of the nation. The secret of a fine 

 home is the right spirit and atmosphere; without these 

 organization is futile. But in the best sense, organiza- 



