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ARM AND Q anch Q u l l e t in April 1966 Vol. 21, No. 4 R U SS IA 'S A G R IC U L T U R A L PRO BLEM Most Americans are curious about what goes on behind the Iron Curtain, and farm people are no exception, especially since agri cultural conditions in Russia during the past few years have created a market for U.S. wheat. Harry E. Walters of the Economic Research Service says that a glimpse behind the curtain is provided by a recent study of Russian agricultural production since 1953. Such a study is significant at this time be cause 1966 is a potential turning point in Russian agricultural trade. Production has been stagnant for 7 years, much wheat is being imported, Khrushchev is no longer in power, agricultural policy has shifted, and a new Russian farm program is under way. Whether 1966 will mark a substantial change depends largely upon the success of the new program. This situation, in turn, will deter mine whether past production trends continue or change. In any event, it is difficult to de termine how much confidence should be placed in the information available on Rus sian agriculture. U.S. Department of Agricul ture estimates of Russian conditions are, of necessity, based upon sketchy information. It is evident that the Soviets have experi enced difficulty in providing proper food and clothing for their people. The urban popula tion in Russia has increased rapidly since 1959. Although these people consume less grain than do rural residents, they still use large quantities. They have not had enough potatoes, meat, and vegetables to replace part of the grain in their diets. F E D E R A L R E S E R V E DALLAS, After 1957, the transfer of capital, labor, land, machinery, and fertilizer into Russian agriculture was reduced considerably. The de velopment of additional land in Russia was the principal reason for increased production of wheat from 1953 to 1958, as per acre yields were little changed. Mr. Walters says that the newly developed lands now have been exploited beyond their production capacity. Although it required land needed for wheat and other food crops, a corn program was boosted in Russia during 1953-58. The policy of increasing livestock numbers was empha sized, even though feed supplies were limited. Moreover, the use of scientific techniques in agriculture was discouraged. In 1962, the tide in Russian agriculture began to turn to some degree. The use of capital, machinery, and fertilizer increased; meat prices were raised; and some other costs were reduced. However, many undesirable fea tures of Russian farm policy were continued. These features included the downgrading of oats, grasses, and fallow; considerable party interference in agriculture; and unrelentingly high quotas on production. In March 1965, a new agricultural program was announced for Russia. The program was designed to provide more fertilizer, increased investment, faster delivery of machinery and parts, and higher prices for milk. Also, there were more liberal private agricultural policies, such as provision for the financing of livestock purchases by individuals and permission for B A N K TEXAS OF D A L L A S them to obtain feed for their animals. In addi tion, most quotas for farm products were re duced to more realistic levels. Family Credit Union Mrs. Doris Myers, Ex tension Home Manage Soviet farm records since 1953 compare ment Specialist at Texas favorably with agricultural progress in most A&M University, says other countries, according to the ERS special that the family credit ist. However, the Russians have fallen far union may be a new way short, both in the goals they set for themselves for families to finance and in their needs for farm commodities. The various projects without borrowing from out impact of the 1964 crop failure upon the bread side sources. In a family credit union, some supply, livestock production, and farm imports one (usually the father) puts money into a indicated to the free world the precariousness central family treasury. The members of the of Russia’s situation during 1961-64. family can then borrow from this fund. From 1953 through 1958, agricultural pro This type of credit union has proved to be duction in Russia advanced very rapidly — successful for one family in which there were perhaps 40 to 50 percent, according to the a number of children. The family credit union Soviet index of gross agricultural output and was used to finance the higher education of its similar indexes. Since 1958, farm output has re members. In June, each member of the family mained relatively stable. Although the Soviets who had enrolled in college signed an interesthad planned a 70-percent net increase, the cur bearing note covering the outlay for the past rent situation suggests that the 7-year plan academic year. Upon graduation, the member (1958-64) ended with a level of gross produc began to pay back money into the treasury. tion which was about even with that of 1958. At the same time, the younger children were After sparking gross production in 1953-58, drawing on the family credit union for their grain output lagged the most during the fol educations. As a result, the entire family was lowing 5-year period. This situation caused able to receive college educations. Russia, which was previously a major grain In subsequent years, the members have con exporter, to become a leading importer of tinued to use the family credit union to finance grain. Russian grain imports — largely of automobiles, make down payments on homes, wheat— totaled approximately 11 million tons and underwrite graduate educational pro in 1963-64, 3 million tons in 1964-65, and grams. Throughout the years, the interest has over 9 million tons in 1965-66. accrued to the family as a whole. It is the Mr. Walters says that, all in all, Russia’s father’s judgment that the plan has served to system of socialized agriculture is unlikely to strengthen the relationship between family be altered substantially in the near future. members. However, the Russian leaders apparently have a clearer picture of the problems involved now, Sound Pollution Poses New Threat and they are likely to continue the existing programs in an effort to increase agricultural Sound pollution may soon take its place output, at least until reasonable results are along with air and water pollution as a danger obtained. to the health and well-being of our citizens, says Busy bees slow down in the winter when they Dr. Lee Farr, Professor of Nuclear and E n hibernate through the flowerless period of the vironmental Medicine at The University of year, reports Texas A&M University. The aver Texas. Dr. Farr is located at the Texas Medical age life of a worker bee during the busy season Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston. when bees are gathering honey is about 6 He defines sound pollution as “unwanted noise weeks. On the other hand, the average life span which has increased in volume as our mecha of the insect during hibernation may be from 90 nized urbanized society uses more and more to 120 days. machines in closer and closer quarters.” Light Affects Crop Yields "Make-Believe" Meat Farmers soon may be timing plants so that the crops will be “heading out” on the longest day of the year — June 21. J. W. Stansel, Geneticist at Texas A&M University’s RicePasture Research and Extension Center at Beaumont, is doing extensive research which shows that the amount and the intensity of light during the critical heading stage are a determining factor in yields of rice. The find ings can well apply to yields of other grains. Consequently, if the crop heads out on the longest day of the year, it should receive the maximum amount of light possible. “Make-believe” meat— a substitute for red meat and poultry — could have a substantial impact upon the Texas economy, points out Ed Uvacek, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist at Texas A&M University. Recent research in the use of spun fibers of soybean protein as a substitute for almost any food with natural fiber texture may bring this new development closer to farmers and ranchers in the foreseeable future. Mr. Stansel uses instruments to record the amount of light each day during the growing season and then relates the amount of light to the rice yield for that year. He says that the intensity of light influences the plant’s ability to use nitrogen. Photosynthetic activity is also related directly to light conditions. Together, these factors can result in either an increase or a decrease in yield, depending upon whether light conditions are good or bad. Light becomes critical to rice from about 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after it heads out. Cloud cover is one of the most variable factors in light conditions, according to the specialist. The density of clouds governs the amount of light passing through to reach the crop. Mr. Stansel says that there are several things a grower can do to adapt to light conditions. With advances in weather predictions, a rice producer will be able to use the cloudy weather forecast during the growing season to adjust nitrogen applications accordingly. In a fore casted cloudy period, he would apply less ni trogen; for a forecasted clear growing season, he would apply extra nitrogen. The grower can alter seeding dates so that the rice plants will be heading out on the longest day of the year. In addition, he can plant varieties that have narrow, erect leaves in order to reduce “mutual shading.” Since 1962, Mr. Stansel has kept records of the light intensity, by day, for the entire rice-growing season. Each year the rice yield has related closely to the amount of light which was available. The soybean fiber can be treated to resemble the taste of meat, dried fruits, potato chips, nut kernels, and many vegetables. Since it has no taste, the fiber may be given any flavor desired. Research is being continued, and con sumer acceptance and many product develop ments still have to be tested. Guar Meal for Feeder Cattle Guar meal is proving to be a valuable pro tein supplement for feeder cattle. In tests at Texas A&M University’s Coastal Bend Experi ment Station at Beeville, guar meal has given results comparable with those achieved with cottonseed meal as a supplement for cattle on feed. Bill Conrad, an A&M researcher con ducting the tests, says that net returns, daily gain, and amount of feed required to make 100 pounds of gain are similar to those for cattle receiving cottonseed meal. Guar meal is a high-protein (35 to 45 per cent content) by-product of guar seed process ing. In order to compare its performance with that of cottonseed meal, guar has been fed to fattening steers at the Beeville station for the past 3 years. Steers on guar meal ate slightly less per day, had a somewhat lower daily gain, and required a little more feed to make 100 pounds of gain. Since guar meal costs less, the steers fed the product had a lower cost per 100 pounds of gain than did the cattle receiving cottonseed meal. However, the net return for the steers fed cottonseed meal was $13.51 per head, com pared with $13.18 per head for those fed guar meal. There was no significant difference in the performance figures of the steers, whether they were fed guar or cottonseed meal. Present indications are that guar meal may furnish another source of protein supplement for growing and fattening cattle, as well as pro vide an outlet for a new product, according to the A&M researcher. to reduce food consumption at the other two meals.) Families who produce their own eggs consume larger quantities than do families in similar economic circumstances who must buy their eggs. Breakfast or Coffee Break? Operating Efficiency Important on Today's Farms A cup of coffee “to get the heart started” or an occa sional glass of orange juice “for nutrition’s sake” is the extent of breakfast for many modern American adults, points out the Economic Research Serv ice. Others skip breakfast entirely and rely upon the office coffee break. One result of the rush to work without breakfast has been a steady decrease in egg consumption since the early 1950’s. The average U.S. consumption of eggs in 1951 was 393; the estimated per capita total for 1965 was 307. Most fresh eggs are eaten for breakfast; however, homemakers also add them to cake mixes and use them in recipes for other meals. A few eggs (an average of 29 per person in 1962-64) are consumed in processed form. W. S. Allen, Extension Agricultural Engi neer at Texas A&M University, says that “op erating efficiency” is a term that is growing in importance on today’s farms and ranches. H e offers several suggestions for improving effi ciency. Locate and arrange facilities for feed storage and supplies as conveniently as possi ble to their place of use. If these facilities must be moved, the distances should be short. Plan the movement of materials from the point of origin to the place of use in an orderly manner to eliminate work and travel. Avoid back tracking and duplication of effort. Make every trip count by handling large amounts of material. The specialist recommends the use of con veying equipment, since electric energy is fa r less costly than labor. Augers and chain con veyers can move large amounts of material in According to the ERS, price is not the pri short periods of time, and they are especially mary factor in the decline in egg consumption. adapted to moving grain and ground feed. There has been a 27-percent reduction in the Mercury switches that are properly placed in retail price of grade A large eggs since the storage bins will stop the system automatically early 1950’s. Per capita disposable income dur when the bins are full. ing the same period rose 53 percent, and retail Electric feed grinders and mixers can be food prices in general advanced 12 percent. installed to operate automatically. An atten The problem of the decrease in egg con dant is needed only to change adjustments fo r sumption stems from the pace of American liv the different rations that may be required. ing. About one-third of all wives are now When new facilities are being planned, careful working outside the home. This situation has attention should be given to the selection and discouraged home baking and large breakfasts use of the equipment, location of each build and has encouraged the use of prepared cereals. ing or facility relative to other elements in the Moreover, fewer persons are now engaged in system, building materials, and construction strenuous work and, therefore, do not feel the methods. need for big breakfasts. Mr. Allen says that the use of sketches an d Other probable factors in the decline in egg plans makes possible the working out of th e consumption include calorie miscounting and best arrangement for an individual farm. the vanishing backyard flocks. Some people Errors made on paper can be corrected easily, think that they can lose weight by skipping but those made during the construction and breakfast or limiting it to a cup of black coffee. installation of equipment can be expensive an d (The ERS says that it would be more desirable trouble sources for years to come.
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