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ARM AND F I ANCH F I ULLETIN Vol. 17, No. 5 May 15, 1962 CEN TENNIAL O F AGRICULTURE May 15 marks the 100th anniversary of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Centennial of Agriculture begins officially on this date with a World Food Forum in Washing ton, D. C., and Centennial activities will con tinue throughout the remainder of the current year, with events ranging from the local to the international level. Business, industry, and civic and other groups will join with farmers and farm organizations in the observance. For this celebration, the focus is being placed on the role of agri culture and the farmers in our national economy, our living standards, and our relationship to other countries. President Lincoln signed the bill creating the Department of Agriculture on May 15, 1862. Since that time, agriculture has achieved one of the Nation’s most impressive production records in comparison with other industries. In 1862, one farmer produced food and fiber for 5 people; today, he produces enough for 26. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the United States, according to the USDA. Its assets exceed $206 billion, and its annual cash sales total about $34 billion. More than 7 mil lion people are employed on the Nation’s farms and ranches; 4 out of every 10 jobs in private employment are in agriculture or related areas. Farmers and their families have a buying power FEDERAL RESERVE DALLAS, of $40 billion to $41 billion annually. They use nearly one-half as much steel as the automobile and truck industry and more petroleum prod ucts than any other industry. In addition, farmers are major purchasers of rubber, chemi cals, electricity, and countless other products. United States agriculture is also interna tional; this country is the world’s largest exporter of farm products. One out of every 6 acres harvested in the United States produces food and fiber for shipment abroad. Largely because of agriculture, our food and other farm products are help ing to relieve hunger and to promote economic growth in the newly developing countries of the world. Research by government and industry is continually improving plants and animals, providing better management of soil and water, discovering new uses for farm products, and devising new and better methods of marketing, transporting, storing, and merchandising farm commodities. Educational services quickly carry the new knowledge to farmers and nonfarmers alike. Centennial dinners in Washington, D. C., and throughout the country will begin the observ ance on May 15. A World Food Forum, to be held in Washington on May 15-17, will present a vital world food program in which speakers from many nations will participate. BANK TEXAS OF DALLAS Field days will be held at agricultural labora tories, experiment stations, and watershed pro tection and flood prevention projects, as well as on farms and ranches, throughout the United States during the remainder of 1962. These events will interpret research and service de velopments and the present relationship of people to agriculture and the resources with which it works — soil, water, grassland, forests, and wildlife. Centennial planning chairmen in individual counties are coordinating local programs and events. Many observances will emphasize the centennial of the land-grant colleges and uni versities, which have worked cooperatively with the United States Department of Agriculture since their founding. Source of Lamb Flavor Lamb meat gets its characteristic flavor from the fat — probably from minor constituents called carbonyls — according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Continuing research to isolate and identify these flavor com ponents may point the way to methods of en hancing or modifying the taste of lamb in order to increase its acceptance by more consumers. A lamb flavor study conducted by the USDA confirms previous findings with beef and pork that fat contains the compounds responsible for the characteristic flavors of different meats. The lean contributes a flavor that apparently is common to all meats. Dry-land Crop Rotations on the Southern High Plains of Texas Dry-land crop rotation studies, consisting of 25 treatments, were conducted at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Substation No. 8, at Lubbock, during 1914-40; and a modified study of 11 treatments was continued through 1949. Results of these studies show that — ® Higher average output of continuous cot ton and continuous grain sorghums during 1941-49 than in 1914-40 suggests no seri ous effect on soil productivity. • Chemical evaluation of soil samples col lected in 1928 indicates a greater deple tion of nitrogen from soils under continu ous grain sorghums than under continuous cotton. • In general, total rainfall may limit out turns of cotton and grain sorghums; but date of planting, rainfall distribution, and frost dates are almost equally important in determining yields. • Grain sorghums are affected more by moisture distribution than is cotton. • Climatic factors have a greater influence on crop production than fertilization and crop rotation procedures. This fact sug gests more fruitful results from efforts to conserve moisture and control erosion than from procedures to improve soil fertility. • Fallow, green manure or barnyard ma nure has some beneficial effects on yields of cotton and grain sorghums. However, their use is not justified because of the costs of material and application, together with loss of alternate production years. • Crop yields are not the only factors to consider in evaluating rotations for dry land farming areas. Other pertinent fac tors include distribution of labor, control of wind and water erosion, influence of physical properties of the soil, reduced risk of crop losses, and better control of diseases, weeds, and insects. Cathode Rays Kill Insects In Stored W h eat A further step toward the effective use of radiant energy for the control of insects infesting • Continuous cotton produces better eco stored wheat is described in a recent report of nomic returns than any of the other crop the United States Department of Agriculture. ping systems. In laboratory tests conducted by the USDA’s • Cotton in rotation with grain sorghums produces slightly less than cotton grown continuously. Agricultural Marketing Service, adult weevils exposed to high-voltage cathode rays of 100,000 r.e.p. (roentgen equivalent physical) were killed instantly. In additional tests, adult rice weevils irradiated at 20,000 to 30,000 r.e.p. died within a week, without reproducing. When exposed to 10,000 r.e.p., the weevils lived 7 or 8 weeks; however, nearly all of them failed to reproduce. Control weevils, which were not exposed, lived 6 to 8 months. Weevil eggs were quite susceptible to damage; a dosage of 10,000 roentgens prevented eggs from hatching. New Linseed Oil Emulsion Paints when the eggs are ordinarily larger and are bringing optimum prices, this practice reduces egg size. Both the rate of production and feed efficiency were maintained at a comparatively high level by following this practice. The Texas A. & M. study also shows that starting birds on the higher protein level and gradually lowering the level as the laying period progresses will result in a lower feed cost per dozen 24-ounce eggs. During the tests, feed costs per dozen 24-ounce eggs was lowered to 10.64 cents. Mr. Cawley points out that considerable Linseed oil emulsion paints research will be necessary in order to determine have the high protective val the exact composition of the diet that will result ues of conventional linseed oil in maximum performance, at a minimum cost, paints and the rapid drying for a particular variety of bird in a specific and convenience of waterenvironment. based paints, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. These new exte Pasture Partial Substitute for Dry Lot rior surface paints — developed in a USDAThe combination of dry-lot feeding and industry program to expand the market for grain-pasture grazing is better for fattening flaxseed — adhere to chalky surfaces, dry steers under conditions in the South than dryquickly, resist blistering, and may be washed lot feeding alone, according to results of from brushes or rollers with water. experiments by the United States Department The fast-drying, blister-resisting character of Agriculture. The combination feeding pro istics of the new linseed emulsion paints result gram results in lower feed costs and equal or from their porous film, which permits water better weight gains and market grades. vapor to escape from the paint. The paints can In one of the more successful combinations, be recoated within 30 to 60 minutes after the steers were fattened in a dry lot for 76 days and first application. Emulsifying linseed oil does then transferred to oat pasture for 71 days. The not impair its ability to cling to old, chalky average daily gain was 2.4 pounds, compared paint surfaces; yet the linseed emulsion can be with 2.1 pounds for steers kept in the dry lot thinned with water. the entire time. Estimated feed costs per 100 pounds of gain were $20.25 for the steers fed Poultry Need New Type of Ration and grazed and $24 for those kept in the dry lot. The average slaughter grade for both groups Recent research at Texas A. & M. College was Good. indicates that laying hens need starter, devel oper, and finisher types of ration during the The dry-lot feed consisted of 70 percent production period, according to Bill Cawley, ground snapped corn, 10 percent cottonseed Assistant Poultry Husbandman with the State meal, and 20 percent Coastal Bermuda grass. Agricultural Extension Service. Each of the steers grazing oats was fed about 10 pounds of ground snapped corn daily. At the beginning of the laying period, the Cattle which were started on pasture and birds used in the Texas A. & M. tests were fed then switched to dry-lot feeding also made an 18-percent protein ration, which was good progress. One group of steers grazed oat gradually reduced as the production period pasture for 112 days and then was kept in the progressed. This practice increases the size of dry lot for 35 days. The other group spent 98 eggs which are produced early in the laying period of the young pullets. Later in the period, days in rye pasture and then was kept in the dry lot for 49 days. Both groups received Coastal Bermuda grass hay while they were on pasture. The average daily gain of steers in both groups was 2.4 pounds, and all of the animals graded Good. Feed costs were approximately $18.50 per 100 pounds of gain for steers that had grazed oats and $22 per 100 pounds for those that had grazed rye. Oats furnished better grazing than rye in the studies. However, USDA researchers sug gest an oat-rye crop rotation system for pastures rather than continuous oat plantings, inasmuch as rotation planting reduces the likelihood of plant diseases ruining the oats. In all of the experiments, cattle utilized the complete growth of forage in the pastures, leaving no grain to be harvested. turkeys can no longer be raised successfully. Although antibiotics can control these diseases in a salvage operation, flockowners must decide whether they are content with merely control ling the diseases or whether they think it feasi ble to start a pullorum testing program to reduce the incidence of the outbreaks. The history of pullorum testing shows that flock owners need not suffer the losses incurred from fowl typhoid or paratyphoid, according to Dr. Meinecke. Lymphomatosis, commonly called leucosis, is a relatively new problem facing turkey breed ers. Indications are that this disease could be eliminated by selection of nonsusceptible breeders. Recent Research Pallet-Box Handling of Oranges Cuts Costs Handling of oranges in pallet boxes — using forklift-equipped tractors in the grove and fork lift trucks at the packing house — reduces operating costs and results in minimum injury to the fruit, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. This method is faster and less expensive than the traditional method of handling, in 2-bushel field boxes. The handler of an annual volume of 200,000 field boxes could save an estimated $9,640 by using the pallet-box system. Turkey Diseases Major Problem Results ★ Tests with 3,4-dichloropropionilide (DPA) herbicide were conducted at the Rice-Pasture Experiment Station at Beaumont, Texas, in 1960-61. The studies indicate that 3 pounds of active material per acre combined with 8 gallons of water for aircraft application or 10 to 40 gallons of water for ground sprayer appli cation will control barnyard grass, millet, purple stem, baronet grass, and crab grass. According to the Texas Agricultural Experi ment Station, the best time to apply the chemical is when most of the grass is in the one- to threeleaf stage. ★ Where soil tests have indicated a need, use of lime has proved profitable in grain sorghum silage production. Tests over a 2-year period indicate that 1 ton of lime per acre has resulted in the most profitable return per dollar invested, according to the Texas Agricultural Experi ment Station. The use of magnesium in combi nation with lime, either as dolomite or as The major diseases affecting the State’s magnesium sulfate, has resulted in some in turkey industry are the Salmonella infections crease in yields. and lymphomatosis. Of the Salmonella infec ★ When used as a soil treatment, Di-Syston was tions, pullorum has been reduced to a relatively effective in controlling green bugs on springlow level. planted barley, points out the Texas Agricul The Texas turkey industry has suffered some serious setbacks because of diseases, points out Dr. C. F. Meinecke of the Texas A. & M. College of Veterinary Medicine. Flockowners face the challenge of keeping their birds healthy, as disease outbreaks can be financially disastrous. On the other hand, typhoid and paratyphoid are taking over entire areas to the extent that tural Experiment Station. The use of the insec ticide substantially increased grain yields.
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