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Citation |
- Permanent Link:
- http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00075773/00006
Material Information
- Title:
- Report Florida agricultural extension service
- Running title:
- Annual report
- Creator:
- University of Florida -- Agricultural Extension Division
University of Florida -- Agricultural Extension Service
Florida States College for Women
United States -- Dept. of Agriculture
- Place of Publication:
- Gainesville Fla. The Service
- Publisher:
- [s.n.]
- Creation Date:
- 1944
- Publication Date:
- 1939-
- Frequency:
- Annual
regular
- Language:
- English
- Physical Description:
- v. : ill. ; 23 cm.
Subjects
- Subjects / Keywords:
- Agricultural extension work -- Periodicals -- Florida ( lcsh )
Home economics, Rural -- Periodicals -- Florida ( lcsh )
- Genre:
- serial ( sobekcm )
Notes
- Dates or Sequential Designation:
- 1939-
- Numbering Peculiarities:
- Report of general activities for ...with financial statement for the fiscal year ended June 30; report for 1939 called also: Silver anniversary report.
- Issuing Body:
- Issued by: Division of Agricultural Extension and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1917-1922; Agricultural Extension Division, Florida State College for women, and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture 1929- .
- General Note:
- At head of title: Cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics.
- Statement of Responsibility:
- University of Florida, Agricultural Extension Service, Florida State College for Women and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating.
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- University of Florida
- Holding Location:
- University of Florida
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Board of Trustees of the University of Florida
- Resource Identifier:
- 46387223 ( OCLC )
2001229382 ( LCCN )
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS
(Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914)
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY Or FLORIDA
FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATING
A. P. SPENCER, Director
1944 REPORT
FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL
EXTENSION SERVICE
REPORT OF GENERAL ACTIVITIES FOR 1944 WITH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
JUNE 30, 1944
BOARD OF CONTROL
H. P. ADAIR, Chairman, Jacksonville N. B. JORDAN, Quincy THOSE. W. BRYANT, Lakeland T. T. SCOTT, Live Oak
M. L. MERSHON, Miami J. T. DIAMOND, Secretary, Tallahassee
STAFF, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE
JOHN J. TIGERT, M.A., LL.D., President of the University H. HAROLD HUME, D.Sc., Provost for Agriculture A. P. SPENCER, M.S., Director of Extension
Agricultural Demonstration Work, Gainesville
J. FRANCIS COOPER, M.S.A., Editor' CLYDE BEALE, A.B.J., Assistant Editor' JEFFERSON THOMAS, Assistant Editor' RUBY NEWHALL, Administrative Manager' W. T. NETTLES, B.S., District Agent J. LEE SMITH, District Agent and Agronomist C. V. NOBLE, PH.D., Agricultural Economist' CHARLES M. HAMPSON, M.S., Agricultural Economist, Farm Management D. E. TIMMONS, M.S.A., Economist in Marketing ZACH SAVAGE, M.S., Economist' JOSEPH C. BEDSOLE, B.S.A., Assistant in Land-Use Planning' K. S. MCMULLEN, B.S.A., Soil Conservationist R. W. BLACKLOCK, A.B., Boys' Club Agent W. W. BASSETT, JR., B.S.A., Assistant Boys' Club Agent' A. L. SHEALY, D.V.M., Animal Industrialist' HAMLIN L. BROWN, B.S., Dairy Husbandman N. R. MEHRHOF, M.AGR., Poultry Husbandman' WALTER J. SHEELY, B.S., Animal Husbandman A. W. O'STEEN, B.S.A., Poultryman FRANK M. DENNIS, B.S.A., Supervisor, Egg-Laying Test L. T. NIELAND, Farm Forester E. F. DEBUSK, B.S., State Supervisor, Emergency Farm Labor H. S. MCLENDON, B. A., Asst. State Supervisor, Emergency Farm Labor MRS. BONNIE J. CARTER, B.S., Assistant WLA Leader HANS 0. ANDERSEN, B.S.A., Asst. State Supervisor, EFL G. NORMAN ROSE, B.S., Asst. State Supervisor, EFL P. L. PEADEN, M.A., Asst. State Supervisor, EFL H. G. CLAYTON, M.S.A., Coordinator with AAA' R. S. DENNIS, B.S.A., Assistant Coordinator with AAA1
Home Demonstration Work, Tallahassee
MARY E. KEOWN, M.S., State Agent RUBY MCDAVID, District Agent ETHYL HOLLOWAY, B.S., District Agent MRS. EDITH Y. BARRUS, District Agent ANNA MAE SIKES, M.S., Specialist in Nutrition VIRGINIA P. MOORE, Home Improvement Agent ISABELLE S. THURSBY, Economist in Food Conservation JOYCE BEVIS, M.A., Clothing Specialist
Negro Extension Work, Tallahassee
A. A. TURNER, Local District Agent FLOY BRITT, B.S.H.E., Local District Agent
' Part-time.
2 On leave.
CONTENTS
Page
Report of the Director . . . . . 7
Financial Statement . . _ . _ 9
Statistical Report . --_-_------------------ ----_----_------------- . 10
Agricultural Conservation . . __ . 14
Editorial and Mailing . . . . . . 17
County Agents' Activities . --- _ . __ . . . 20
Agricultural Economics . . . 23
Farm Management . . . . 23
Marketing Activities . 24
Citrus Grove Management ------------------_------- . _ . 25
Agronomy Accomplishments ------- . . 28
Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Poultry ----------------- . . 31
Animal Husbandry . . 31
Dairying . _ . . 34
Poultry Keeping . . . 37
Boys' 4-H Club W ork . . - . . 40
Farm Forestry . . . 43
Soil and W ater Conservation --------------------------------- . . . _ . ___ 46
Home Demonstration W ork . . . . . 49
Clothing and Textiles . . 57
Food, Nutrition and Health . . 59
Gardening and Food Conservation . 62
Home Improvement . . . 65
Activities with Negro Farmers . . . 67
Negro Home Demonstration W ork . 70
Negro Statistical Report . 71
Hon. Millard Caldwell
Governor of Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of. the Agricultural Extension Service, College of Agriculture, University of Florida, for the calendar year 1944, including a fiscal report for the year ending June 30, 1944.
Respectfully,
H. P. ADAIR,
Chairman, Board of Control
Hon. H. P. Adair,
Chairman, Board of Control
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report of the director of the Agricultural Extension Service, College of Agriculture, University of Florida, and request that you transmit the same, in accordance with law, to His Excellency, the Governor of Florida.
Respectfully,
JOHN J. TIGERS
President, University of Florida
131
WILMON NEWELL
March 4, 1878 - October 25, 1943
Dr. Newell was Director of the Florida Agricultural Extension Service from early in 1921 until his death. He also headed the State Plant Board from 1915 to 1943, the Agricultural Experiment Station from 1921 to 1943, and was Dean of the College of Agriculture from 1921 to 1938; Provost for Agriculture from 1938 to 1943.
4 1
COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS (As of December 31, 1944)
HOME DEMONSTRATION
COUNTY COUNTY AGENT ADDRESS AGENT
Alachua.Loonis Buitch.---.-----Gainesville-.Mrs. Grace F. Warren
Baker---.D. H. Ward. Macdlenny. Bay . J. A. Sorenson . Panama City . Bradford.L. T. Dyer . Starke . Brevard . Cocoa.--------Mrs. Eunice F. Gay
Broward .B. E. Lawton. Ft. Lauderdale.----Miss Louise Taylor Calhoun.W. W. Brown.-----.----Blountstown.-----Miss Evalena Rader
Charlotte.-----N. H. McQueen.-------Punta Gorda.-------.
Citrus. 0. M. Maines . Inverness .Mrs. Doris R. Turner Clay --------. .Gn. Cve. Spg . Mrs. Elizabeth Starbird
Columbia .Guy Cox.-------.-----Lake City .Miss Elizabeth Tyler
Dade.------C. H. Steffani.---_. Miami . Miss Eunice Grady
Dade (Asst.) . J. L. Edwards.------Miami . Miss Edna L. Sims
DeSoto .W. L. Woods . Arcadia.--------------------------.--Dixie. C. L. Dickinson.Cross City . Duval. A. S. Lawton.-------Jacksonville .Miss Pearl Laffitte
Duval (Asst.).-G. B. Ellis.--------Jacksonville.---Miss Mildred J. Taylor
Escambia .E. H. Finlayson .Pensacola .Miss Ethel Atkinson Gadsden .Henry Hudson.--- _Quincy. . Miss Elise Laffitte Gilchrist.A. S. Laird .Trenton . Glades. F. D. Yaun. Moore Haven . Gulf.-------------------Wewahitchka .Mrs. Pearl Whitfield
Hardee .E. H. Vance .Wauchula .Hendry .H. L. Johnson.------LaBelle.-------.
Hernando .H. J. Brinkley . Brooksville. Highlands.V. T. Oxer . Sebring.-------------------------------.--Hillsborough . Alec White.-------Tampa . Hillsborough .J. 0. Armor (Asst.) . Plant City.-------------Hillsborough ----( West). ---------Tampa.----Mrs. Caroline M. Boogher
Hillsborough . (East) . Plant City .Mrs. Irene R. Harvey Holmes .A. G. Hutchinson.-----Bonifay.-------Mrs. Bettie A. Caudle
Indian River . M. A. Boudet . Vero Beach.------.----------Jackson.J. W. Malone. Marianna .Mrs. Alyne C. Heath Jefferson.E. N. Stephens.------Monticello . Mrs. Ella Loeb
Lafayette.J. T. Oxford. Mayo . Lake.----_-R. E. Norris . . Tavares .Mrs. Lucie K. Miller
Lee . C. P. Heuck . Ft. Myers . Leon.------J. G. Kelley.-------.Tallahassee .Miss Wilma Smith
Levy .T D. Rickenbaker .Bronson .Miss Lila Woodard Liberty.-------J. S. Alexander.Bristol .
Madison.------W. W. Glenn ._.Madison .Miss Bennie F. Wilder
Manatee .---C. D. Newbern .Bradenton. .Miss Margaret Cobb Marion.-------Carl Hendricks. Ocala.-------Miss Allie Lee Rush
Martin.---*----L. M. Johnson . Stuart . Miss Edna L. Shuler
Nassau .J. D. Coleman, Jr.Hilliard . Okeechobee .C. A. Fulford.-------Okeechobee.
Okaloosa.F. W. Barber. ---Crestview . Orange .K. C. Moore.------.---.-Orlando .Miss Elizabeth Dickenson
Osceola .J. R. Gunn. Kissimmee. Miss Albina Smith Palm Beach.---M. U. Mounts . W. Palm Beach.Miss Bertha Hausman Miss Mildred Johnson, Asst.
Pasco.------J. F. Higgins . .Dade City .Mrs. Essa D. Shaw
Pinellas.-------J. H. Logan . Clearwater. Miss Tillie Roesel
Polk.-------W. P. Hayman. Bartow . Miss Lois Godbey
Putnam.H. E. Westbury .Palatka .Mrs. Opal W. Middleton St. Johns .H. E. Maltby.------St. Augustine .Miss Anna E. Heist
St. Lucie.C. D. Kime. Fort Pierce.------Miss Mary Dixon
Santa Rosa .E. D. McCall.------.Milton.-------Miss Eleanor Barton
Seminole.C. R. Dawson .Sanford._. Mrs. Ouida Wilson Sarasota.W. E. Evans. Sarasota.
[5 ]
COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS-(Continued)
HOME DEMONSTRATION
COUNTY COUNTY AGENT ADDRESS AGENT
Sumter-.J. M. Kennedy .-------- Bushnell ._. .
Suwannee-.S. C. Kierce---------.Live Oak--------.Miss Jeanette Rish
Taylor-.D. D. McCloud ----------Perry ------------- .Mrs. Ruth Elkins
Union-------.J. T. Holloway-------.Lake Butler .
Volusia-.F. E. Baetzman---------DeLand--------.Mrs. Gladys Kendall
Wakulla-.N. J. Albritton-------.Crawfordville. .
Walton-.Mitchell Wilkins-.DeFuniak Springs---------------.
Washington-.H. 0. Harrison-------.Chipley-------- . .
NEGRO COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS
COUNTY LOCAL COUNTY AGENT ADDRESS
Alachua.-----------------.Otha W. Nealy--------------. .Gainesville
Columbia------------------.McKinley Jeffers ---------------------- Lake City
Gadsden --------.-.-.Russell Stephens----------------.Quincy
Hamilton------------------.N. H. Bennett------------.White Springs
Jackson-------------------.Thomas A. Harris-------------.Manianna
Jefferson------------------.M. E. Groover---------------. .Monticello
Leon---------------------.Rolley Wyer, Jr------------.Tallahassee
Marion ----------------------- .Eugene P. Smith-----------------.Ocala
Sumter-----------------.----Alonzo A. Young------------ ---------- Bushnell
Suwannee,.__------ --_-------------------------------------------.Live Oak
COUNTY LOCAL HOME DEM. AGENT ADDRESS
Alachua---. ----------------.Leontine Williams------------.Gainesville
Columbia-------------._.-------Ozella Sansome--------------.Lake City
Duval---------------------.Ethel M. Powell------------.Jacksonville
Gadsden---------------.Diana H. Spencer---------------.Quincy
Hillsborough ------.-.-.Sudella Ford-------------------. .Tampa
Jackson-------------------.Doris Groover Herring----._ .------Marianna
Leon ----- ---.-.-. -. Tallahasseeah sse
Madison------------------- .Althea Ayer-------------------.Madison
Marion--------------------.Idella R, Kelly ----------------- .Reddick
Putnam-------------------.Lee Ella Gamble---------------.Palatka
[6)
PART I-GENERAL
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR
A. P. Spencer, Director
For the third successive year every effort of the Florida Extension Service was bent toward wartime food production to help meet the Nation's calls. Goals for 1944 were established late in 1943, at a session directed by the Agricultural Adjustment Agency and participated in by representatives of all major State and Federal agricultural agencies and farm organizations. The Extension Service, through both its State staff and its county and home demonstration agents, publicized the goals and at timely intervals throughout the year promulgated suggestions to farm families on meeting them. Goals committees checked progress from time to time and made suggestions where desirable.
Emergency war food assistants to work with county and home demonstration agents, and in some instances in counties where no agents were regularly employed, were named in 24 counties for part of the year. They included both white and colored personnel. Employed with funds supplied by the War Food Administration they rendered valuable assistance in helping to step up food production. Many of them worked especially with 4-H club girls and boys, since no 4-H club assistants are regularly employed.
A new Emergency Production and Conservation Series of )publications printed during the year presented wartime suggestions on 10 principal commodities and on the utilization of income from 4 principal commodities.
Through untiring and sometimes what appeared to be almost superhuman efforts on the part of Florida farm families, aided and encouraged by county and home demonstration agents, these families were able to attain the highest production record in the history of the State. Three counties-Jackson, Alachua and Polk-were awarded the War Food Administration's A pennant for outstanding production.
SUPERVISION AND ADJUSTMENTS
Supervision continued very much as in the 'past, with 3 district agents supervising the 38 county home agents and 2 supervising the 62 county agents. Wartime conditions naturally induced numerous changes in personnel, particularly among the men agents, but fortunately the staff was kept manned with trained personnel.
County and home agents' salaries continue to be paid in part from State and Federal I in part from county sources. Sixty-three of the State's 67 counties are cooperating in financing the work-62 for 'men agents, and 08 for women agents. Uniform rates of pay exist from State and Federal funds, but there is considerable variation in amounts paid by the counties. . : The annual conference of county and home demonstration agents was held in Gainesville in October, after having been abandoned in 1943. During this week the agents were given picture of the situation and sugge�tions for future work by State and Federal specialists and others, thu� enabling-.them to plan, and conduct their work more',efficiently. District conferences were held from time.to.time, as:.situations arose which -made them advisable.
Florida Cooperative Extension
COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
Cooperation was continued with other State and Federal agencies dealing with rural families and their problems. These included the Agricultural Adjustment Agency, Farm Security Administration, Soil Conservation Service, vocational agriculture teachers, State Board of Health, State Live Stock Sanitary Board, State Department of Agriculture, State Defense Council, War Food Administration, USDA Radio Service and others.
Cooperation was extended The Institute of Inter-American Affairs in its plan of placing selected representatives of South American countries on farms for studying agriculture, after they had studied at the state university and in Washington. Two young men from Brazil were placed in Volusia County, after they had spent some time at the University of Florida.
I Farmers' organizations assisted included the Florida Farm Bureau,
State Council of Farmer Cooperatives, State Dairymen's Association, State Cattlemen's Association, State Poultrymen's Association and others.
County agents' offices in all but a few instances continued to be headquarters for administration of county AAA programs, the agents serving as secretaries of county AAA committees.
County and home agents continued to lead campaigns for salvage, particularly of used household fats, and for the sale of War Bonds and Stamps among rural families.
Principal headquarters of the Agricultural Extension Service are at the University of Florida in Gainesville, but the State Home Demonstration Office is at State College for Women in Tallahassee and supervision of negro work is from the Florida A. & M. College in Tallahassee, both of which institutions extended their usual helpful cooperation.
ASSISTANCE TO RETURNING VETERANS
Since discharged veterans were already returning to the State during 1944, many of whom were interested in farming, veterans' advisory committees were set up for the State and in all cooperating counties, under the direction of the Extension Service. Membership is composed of county agents, AAA representatives, farmers and others capable of giving sound suggestions to returning veterans and others who wish to farm.
A number of the committees already have rendered advisory assistance to veterans, and all of the groups will be ready when the demand arises.
EMERGENCY FARM LABOR
The farm labor situation continued to increase in seriousness during 1944, and the emergency farm labor program of the Extension Service and the War Food Administration supplied needed labor wherever 'Possible., The State Extension Service recruited local labor and helped to place war prisoners and imported (Bahaman and Jamaican) labor from camps operated by the Way Food Administration. The program was able to supply almost all the labor needed when it was needed, and only a very small percentage of crops produced remained in the field for lack of harvest labor.
The emergency farm labor 'program was financed entirely by Federal funds allotted by the War Food Administration.
A full report of this program is contained in Miscellaneous Publication 32, a supplement to this report.
Annual Report, 1944
CHANGES IN STAFF
A number of changes occurred in the personnel of county agents, fewer shifts being registered in the staff of home demonstration agents. , The following changes occurred in the state staff during the year 1944:
R. H. Howard, former agricultural economist and more recently assistant state supervisor, emergency farm labor, resigned May 31.
P. H. Senn resigned as assistant State supervisor, emergency farm labor, September 30.
Norman G. Rose was appointed assistant State supervisor, emergency farm labor, July 15.
P. L. Peaden was appointed assistant State supervisor, emergency farm labor, December 11.
Mrs. Jo Spivey was appointed assistant agricultural editor September 16 and resigned November 14.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1944 RECEIPTS
Smith-Lever and Bankhead Jones, Federal . $200,645.82 Capper-Ketcham, Federal . . . 27,417.72 Clarke-M cNary, Federal . . ------------------- 1,620.00
State- Salaries . _ . ------ _ 67,980.00
Operating ---------------- ----_-----------_ -_----- _ --- . 40,820.00
Continuing Appropriations . ------- ---------- 25,000.00
Commissioner of Agriculture . __ . 5,000.00 County Appropriations ------------_ . . 152,504.99
$520,988.53
EXPENDITURES
Smith-Lever and Bankhead Jones, Federal . $200,645.82 Capper-Ketcham, Federal ----- . ------ __ . 27,417.72
Clarke-McNary, Federal _. ---- _ . . _ . 1,620.00 State- Salaries ------------------------------------ . . . 67,980.00
Operating -_---------------- _ . . _ . __ . 35,233.58
Continuing Appropriations . . -----_-------- 12,834.85
Commissioner of Agriculture . . . 5,000.00 County Appropriations . _ 152,504.99 Funds reverted-continuing funds . _ . 12,165.15 Balance carried over . . . 5,586.42
$520,988.53
EMERGENCY FARM LABOR
(Year Ending December 31, 1944)
Receipts
Emergency Farm Labor Funds, Federal . . . . $115,000.00
T otal . . $115,000.00 Expenditures
Emergency Farm Labor Funds . . . --- $112,569.84 Unexpended balance . __ _---------_-- _ . ___ . ------- - 2,430.16
Total . _ _ __ . _ . $115,000.00
10 Florida Cooperative Extension
EMERGENCY WAR FOOD AND CONSERVATION
(For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1944)
Receipts
Emergency War Food and Conservation, Federal . . . $25,000.00
T otal ----------------------------------------- . $25,000.00
Expenditures
Emergency War Food and Conservation . $20,039.66 Returned to W ashington ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4,960.34
T otal . - ------------------------------------------------ $25,000.00
STATISTICAL REPORT, MEN AND WOMEN
Data from County and Home Demonstration Agents' Reports
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
Months of service (agents and assistants) . . 1,295,/2 Days of service: In office-15,645; In field-16,355 . 32,000 Farm or hom e visits made . 50,955 Different farms or homes visited . 29,504 Calls relating to extension work: Office-305,710; Telephone . 163,464 Days devoted to work with 4-H clubs and older youth . 7,118
News articles or stories published . 5,717 Bulletins distributed . 182,991 Radio talks broadcast or prepared . 605 Training meetings held for local leaders or committeemen:
N um ber . 915 Total attendance of men and women . 7,446 Method demonstration meetings:
N um ber . 8,143 Total attendance . 132,360 Meetings held at result demonstrations:
N um ber . 1,712 A ttendance . . . 12,720 T ours . 298 Achievement days held for 4-H, older youth and adult work . 300
Encampments, leader meetings and other meetings . 6,231
SUMMARY OF EXTENSION INFLUENCE
Total number of farm s . 61,017 Farms on which changes in practices have resulted from agricultural program . 29,512 Farm homes in which changes in practices have resulted from home
demonstration program . 17,130 Farms in which changes in practices resulted from agricultural
'program for the first time this year . . * . -*- . 4,785 Farm homes in which changes in practices resulted from home
demonstration program for the first time this year . 4,102
Farm homes with 4-H club members enrolled . . 8,255
Annual Report, 1944
Non-farm families making changes in practices as a result of the
agricultural program --- . . 12,815
Non-farm families making changes in practices as a result of
home demonstration program . 16,291
Non-farm families with 4-H club members enrolled . 4,122
Different farm families influenced by some phase of extension
program . 36,771
Other families influenced by some phase of extension program . 26,211
CONTRIBUTION TO WAR EFFORT
Communities conducting war work . 520 Voluntary local leaders or committeemen in program ---------------------- 1,224
Days devoted to food supplies and critical war problems, civilian
defense, and other war work ------------------------------------------------------------ 3,526
COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PLANNING
Members in agricultural 'planning group . ------------ ---------------------------- . 608
U npaid ----------------------------------------------------- ----_ ---------------------- ------------- . 507
P aid ---- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - --- 101
Communities in agricultural planning ---------------------------------------------------- 97
Members in community agricultural planning . 401 Planning m eetings held ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 884
Days devoted to planning work by county and home demonstration
w orkers . 1,841 Unpaid voluntary leaders or committeemen ---------------------------------------- 2,898
Days of assistance rendered by voluntary leaders or committeemen 5,939
CROP PRODUCTION
Days devoted to w ork . 5,646 Communities in which work was conducted . 3,031 Voluntary leaders and committeemen .
LIVESTOCK, DAIRYING, POULTRY
Days devoted to w ork -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,773
Communities in which work was conducted . 2,262 Voluntary committeemen and leaders . 922 Breeding and improvement organizations ---------------------------------------------- 32
Farm ers assisted . 31,846
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Days devoted to w ork . 12209 Communities in which work was conducted . 884 Voluntary local leaders and committeemen . 740 Farmers assisted in soil management . 26,887 Soil management associations assisted during the year -------------------- 34
Farmers assisted in forestry and wild life conservation -------------------- 2,034
FARM MANAGEMENT
Days devoted to w ork ---------------------------- - -------------- - ------- __ . 1,174
Farm ers assisted ------------------------------------------------- _ --------- ---------------------------- 27,681
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Days devoted to w ork . . -------------- . 287
Communities in which work was conducted . 423 Voluntary leaders and committeemen --------------------------------------- - ----------- 459
Agricultural and non-agricultural groups assisted . 604
12 Florida Cooperative Extension
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Days devoted to w ork -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,512
Communities in which work was conducted . 2,606 Established cooperatives assisted ----- : --------------- * -------------------------------------- 70
New cooperatives assisted in organizing . __ ------- . _ 8 Value of products sold or purchased by cooperatives assisted dur,ing the year (established and new) ---------------------------------------------- $13,157,420
Value of products sold or 'purchased by farmers or families (not
members of cooperatives) assisted during the year ---------------- :.$29,797,290
HOUSING, FARMSTEAD IMPROVEMENT
D ays devoted to w ork . _ ---------------------- _ 1,812
Communities in which work was conducted _. --------------------------------------- 1,417
Voluntary leaders and committeemen ------- --------- _ ----- . 667
Families assisted in house furnishing, surroundings, mechanical
equipment, rural electrification ------------------------------------------- . 30,089
NUTRITION AND HEALTH
Days devoted to w ork . __ . ------ 4,916 Communities in which work was done -------------- _ . 2,256
Families assisted: In improving diets-15,303; food preparation11,999; Total . . . . _ . _ 27,302 Families assisted with food preservation problems . . 27,006
HOME MANAGEMENT-FAMILY ECONOMICS
D ays devoted to w ork -------------------. - . 380
Communities in which work was done . ----- _ . -------------------- 370
Voluntary leaders assisting . . . 164 Fam ilies assisted -------------------------------------------- _ . . 2,795
Clubs or groups assisted in buying food, clothing, household supplies . ------------ --- _ . --_ ---------- . 673
Families assisted in buying food, clothing, household supplies . 7,584
Families assisted with consumer-buying problems --------------------------_ 12,611
CLOTHING AND TEXTILES
Days devoted to work . -------------------_- . ___ ---- . 1,442
Communities in which work was done ----- ----------- __ . . 504
Voluntary leaders assisting . _ --------------------------------- __ . 442
Fam ilies assisted --- . --- __ ---- -------------- _ . --- 22,799
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS-CHILD DEVELOPMENT
D ays devoted to w ork . . 200 Communities in which work was done . 312 Voluntary leaders assisting . _._ ----- . __ . 167
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY LIFE
Days devoted to w ork ----- -------------- ---------------_-----------_ __ . ------- --------- 524
Communities in which work was done . ----------------------------------- 387
Voluntary leaders assisting -------- _ --- ---- . ------ . . 432
Families assisted in improving home recreation . 3,363 Communities assisted in improving community recreational facilities . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 191
Community groups assisted with organizational problems, programs of activities, or meeting programs . . . 14 Communities assisted in providing library facilities . ___ . 54
Annual Report, 1944
SUMMARY OF 4-H CLUB PROJECTS
Projects com pleted by boys . . 5,516 Projects com pleted by girls . . 23,011 Boys completing corn and 'peanut projects ---- . 851 Boys completing fruit projects ---------------------------------------------------------------- 40
Boys completing garden projects . 1,525 Boys completing market gardens, truck and canning crops . 123
Boys completing dairy projects . 577 Boys completing poultry projects . 720 Boys completing cotton and tobacco projects . 39 Boys completing potato (Irish and sweet) projects --------_----------------- 245
Boys completing beef cattle and swine projects ---------------------------------- 1,396
Girls com pleting fruit projects ------------------------ . 712
Girls completing garden projects . 2,832 Girls completing market gardens, truck and canning crops . 18
Girls completing dairy projects . 490 Girls completing poultry projects . 1,526 Girls completing food selection and preparation projects . 3,784
Girls completing health, home nursing and first aid projects . 1,037
Girls completing clothing, home management, home furnishings
and room improvement projects -------------------------------------------------------- 6,872
Girls completing food preservation projects . 2,177 4-H Membership
Boys: Farm-4,278; non-farm-1,081; total . 5,359 Girls: Farm-6,188; non-farm-3,368; total . 9,556 4-H club members having health examinations because of 'participation in extension program . 1,604
4-H clubs engaging in community activities such as improving
school grounds and conducting local fairs . 363
Florida Cooperative Extension
AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION
H, G. Clayton, Administrative Officer in Charge R. S. Dennis, Assistant Administrative Officer
In Florida the agricultural conservation and wartime emergency programs carried on by the AAA are closely coordinated with the work of the Agricultural Extension Service. The State AAA Committeemen are:
James J. Love, Chairman, Gadsden County; C. S. Lee, Seminole County; W. B. Anderson, Jackson County; H. C. Brown, Lake County; and A. P. Spencer, ex-officio member. In each county, with few exceptions, there is carried on in 1 office the work of the county agent, the county agricultural conservation association and the county USDA war board. The agricultural conservation associations are under the direction of county committees composed of farmers elected by those participating in the program. The USDA war boards are composed of representatives of all federal agencies active in the county. The county agent is secretary of the conservation association and of the war board.
AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Approximately 35,000 farms participated in the 1944 conservation prograin. Their operators received cash assistance amounting to approximately $2,900,000 for carrying out practices on the farm, designed to increase food and feed production and further improve and conserve soil resources. The major practices carried out and the estimated extent of each are: Application of phosphate materials to soil-conserving crops and pastures, 54,000 tons of 20 percent equivalent material, 2,500 tons of
Fig. 1-The Agricultural Adjustment Agency assisted Florida farmers in the construction of 4,600,000 feet of surface water control ditches such as this during 1944.
Annual Report, 1944
basic slag, 7,500 tons of raw rock and colloidal phosphate; application of liming materials, 45,000 tons; new pastures established, 61,000 acres; seed used in reseeding pastures, 68,000 pounds; pastures mowed to control weeds and noxious growth, 202,000 acres; summer non-legume cover crops, 382,000 acres; cover crops of crotalaria and other summer legumes, 462,000 acres; cover of small grains seeded in the fall of 1943, 87,500 acres; surface water control ditches on pastures, 4,600,000 feet; cover of winter legumes seeded in the fall of 1943, 14,000 acres; winter legumes seeded in the fall of 1944, 22,500 acres; terraces constructed, 4,400,000 feet; legume and grass seed harvested, 12,500 acres.
To encourage and assist farm operators in carrying out these practices, certain needed materials and services were furnished by the AAA. The costs of the materials or services furnished were deducted from the 'Payments earned by the farmers. The kinds and amounts of the materials and services furnished in 1944 were: Superphosphate, 4,232 tons; basic slag, 1,559 tons; liming materials, 5,154 tons; blue lupine seed, 340,614 pounds; Austrian winter peas, 143,781 pounds; vetch, 21,750 pounds; ryegrass seed, 53,250 pounds; seed oats and -rye, 10,909 bushels; kudzu, 37,500 crowns; terracing, 2,895,397 feet.
Marketing quotas were in effect for flue-cured tobacco. In 1944 the acreage allotted to 5,984 farms was 19,911 acres. There were 18,952 acres planted on 5,682 farms. Farms planting in excess of the farm allotment or planting tobacco without an allotment numbered 1,058. The acreage planted in excess of the allotment by these farms was 1,459 acres. The 1944 production of flue-cured tobacco in the State was approximately 17,100,000 pounds. Marketing quotas were not in effect for any other crop.
The sugar program was continued with 29 growers planting approximately 28,640 acres of sugarcane for sugar. Exact figures on the acreage harvested for sugar are not available at this time.
EMERGENCY PROGRAMS
War crop goals for crops, livestock, poultry and dairy products called for the highest level of agricultural production in the history of the State. These goals were: Commercial vegetables, 212,000 acres; peanuts picked and threshed, 150,000 acres; oats, 40,000 acres; hay, 160,000 acres; cotton, 46,000 acres; Irish 'potatoes, 35,000 acres; sweet potatoes, 30,000 acres; flue-cured tobacco, 17,300 acres; sugarcane for sugar, 33,000 acres; milk, 347 million pounds; eggs, 19 million dozen; chickens produced, 5.3 million; broilers produced, 4.5 million; turkeys, 110,000; sows to farrow, 191,000; cattle on farms 1,050,000 head. While these goals were not quite accomplished for some crops, they were substantially exceeded for others. For the Nation as a whole, the increase in the overall 1944 crop production as compared with 1943 was approximately 7 percent, while for Florida the increase in the overall 1944 crop production was approximately 15 percent. All the livestock, poultry, and dairy goals were substantially exceeded.
Dairy Feed Payment Program.-Under this program dairy feed subsidy payments were made to 817 dairymen in Florida during the year. These payments were based on sales of whole milk and butterfat at rates which varied with seasonal conditions. Payments amounting to $2,451,635 were made on 341,425,800 pounds of milk and 36,800 pounds of butterfat. These payments enabled the dairymen to continue a high rate of production under ceiling prices.
,Farm Machinery and Supplies.-Many items of farm machinery were rationed during the period through September. Rationing was done by county farm rationing committees working in cooperation with AAA com-
Florida Cooperative Extension
mittees. These committees reviewed farmers' applications for rationed items and, if approved, issued purchase certificates to the extent that machinery was available in the county quotas. Every effort was made by the county committees to see that available farm machinery was placed where its use would contribute most to production. These committees also furnished information regarding machinery needs in their respective counties. Under this program the State committee was able to request and aid in securing additional farm machinery for use of farmers in the State. Crawler-type tractor quotas and applications from farmers for these tractors are processed through county and State AAA committees before transmittal to the War Food Administration. Crawler-ty'pe tractors are still rationed.
Farm Lumber Program Tbis program became effective in Florida in July 1944. It was made necessary by the critical national lumber situation. The program was handled in the county offices by the AAA committees. A State farm lumber quota was established for each quarter by the War Food Administration. These quotas earmarked a definite quantity of lumber for use on farms and provided AA-2 and AA-3 priority ratings for farm lumber. The State committee established county limitations for each rating against which the county committees issued certificates for approved applications.
Copper Wire.-Copper wire quotas for farmstead use were in effect throughout the year. This program was operated in the same manner as the farm lumber 'program.
Farm Transportation.-County farm transportation committees working under the supervision of the AAA committees recommended cases where it was necessary to convert tractors from steel wheels to rubber; assisted farmers with their appeals, applications for certificates of war necessity, and allocations of gasoline for farm trucks; assisted farmers in making applications for the purchase of farm trucks; reviewed and placed their recommendations on such applications; made recommendations to OPA regarding off-the-highway gasoline for farm use and furnished letters of recommendation to farmers for the purchase of surplus Army trucks and other equipment.
Farm Building Permits and Priority Assistance.-Farm operators were given aid in the preparation of their applications to WPB for permits for the construction of farm buildings and for priority assistance for securing scarce materials and machinery. These applications were reviewed by county committees and recommendations were made and transmitted to the State committee. The State committee affixed its recommendations and forwarded them to WPB for final action.
Miscellaneous emergency activities included giving information to farmers regarding government price support, purchase and loan programs; certification of vegetable canners in connection with the canner subsidy payments;. operation of the feed wheat, oilseed meal, and molasses for feeders program whereby feed mixers and feeders were enabled to obtain these items from government stocks or stocks resulting from government set-aside orders; the distribution of surplus government- owned grain bins for use in labor housing, farm storage, etc.; and cooperation with other agencies in matters such as production capacity studies, securing data for farm production estimates, and other matters -relating to agriculture.
Annual Report, 1944
EDITORIAL AND MAILING
J. Francis Cooper, Editor
Clyde Beale, Assistant Editor
Jefferson Thomas, Assistant Editor
Wartime activities of farmers and their families again dominated the planning and operation of the information work conducted by the Extensoin Service. Every effort was made to supply information needed by both farm and urban families in their efforts to step up production of food, fiber and other agricultural commodities.
PRINTED MATERIALS
Three new bulletins totaling 144 pages were printed and one old one was reprinted. Other printed materials included 10 ne* circulars and 11 folders in a new Emergency Production and Conservation Series, nearly 225,000 copies of the two series being printed and distributed.
The following printed materials were issued during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1944:
Pages Edition
Bul. 121 Can Surplus Fruits and Vegetables-------------. 56 15,000
Bul. 122 Household Pests ------ ------. 56 10,000
Bul. 123 Screwworms in Florida------._------------------- 32 10,000
Bul. 96 Citrus Propagation (reprint)-------------------. 56 10,000
Circ. 70 A Simple Farm Brooder and Finisher-----------. 12 15,000
Circ. 71 Suggested Wartime Feeds for Chickens-----------. 4 5,000
Circ. 72 Oats on Florida Farms_.------------------------- . 8 3,500
Circ. 73 Producing Quantity and Quality Flue-Cured Tobacco in Florida---------------------------. 12 7,500
Circ. 74 Put Conservation Farming Behind War Food
Production---------------------------------------------- 20 11,500
Circ. 75 Producing Peanuts in Florida------------------------- 8 15,000
Circ. 76 Growing Corn in Florida Under Wartime Conditions ------------------------------------------------------ 8 15,000
Circ. 77 Sweet Potatoes-------------------------------. 8 7,500
Circ. 78 Oats on Florida Farms------------------------. 8 15,000
Circ. 79 Growing "Manure" with Blue Lupines in Florida 8 8,000
EPCS 1 Wood for War-------------------------------. 4 7,500
EPCS 2 Adjust Poultry and Egg Production to Feed
Supplies----------------------------------. 6 10,000
EPCS 3 Florida Turkey Talk--------------------------. 6 5,000
EPCS 4 Raise Healthy Pigs for Wartime Needs------------. 6 10,000
EPCS 5 Wartime Beef Suggestions---------------------. 6 7,500
EPCS 6 Successful Meat Canning ------------------------------ 6 15,000
EPCS 7 Food for Your Family in Wartime---------------. 8 20,000
EPCS 8 Wartime Clothing and Textiles Guide------------. 8 10,000
EPCS 9 Eat from All the Basic 7 Food Groups Daily . 8 15,000 EPCS 10 Conserve Health Through Home Sanitation ----- 8 15,000
EPCS 11 Your Tobacco Money-How Will You Use It? . 6 5,000
M. P. 10 4-H Livestock Club Record (reprint)------------. 12 10,000
Agent's Monthly Report and Certificate of
Service-----------------------------------. 2 5,000
Emergency War Food Agent's Weekly ReportL. 2 2,500
Announcement and Rules, 19th Florida National
Egg-Laying Test--------------------------. 5 200
Florida Cooperative Extension
Pages Edition
Final Report, 17th Florida National Egg-Laying Test . 24 1,250
Window Cards, Peanut Dusting . 300 Florida Victory Garden Record Book . 16 13,000
Record Book for the Secretary, 4-H Clubs for
Florida Girls . 36 3,000
4-H Club News Letter . 4 20,000
Wartime Goals and Records in Home Improvement for Florida 4-H Club Girls . 4 10,000
Florida Clothing Program for 4-H Club Girls . 4 10,000 Secretary's Record Book, Florida 4-H Clubs . 28 2,500
Agricultural News Service (weekly clipsheet),
42 issues, each . 1 900
Bulletins, circulars, record books, charts, window cards and other supplies are distributed from the Mailing Room, the bulletins and circulars going to all county and home agents and to others on request. Ninety-eight agents in 62 counties reported that they distributed 182,991 bulletins of all kinds.
NEWS AND FARM PAPER ITEMS
Despite demands for space by various wartime agencies of the government and decreasing supplies of paper, both newspapers and farm journals circulating in Florida continued to make wide use of information supplied by the Extension Service editorial office and by county and home agents.
The clipsheet, Agricultural News Service, carrying from 8 to 15 items each week, was printed and distributed to weekly newspapers, farm journals and a few dailies. Many of them were generous in the amount of material they clipped and reprinted, thus carrying information of considerable importance and timeliness to their readers. Associated Press and United Press wire services released in condensed form the most important items each week, in addition to carrying stories filed especially for them.
In addition to the items contained in the clipsheet the editors sent 51 special stories to the wire services and 124 to I or more weekly and daily papers. The stories related not only to the Extension Service but also to the College of Agriculture, Experiment Station, State Plant Board, Agricultural Adjustment Agency, Soil Conservation Service and other agencies.
The Editors prepared 16 skeleton stories and sent to county and home demonstration agents to be filled in and released locally. Ninety-eight agents in 62 counties report 5,717 news stories of theirs published in local papers.
Farm journals, both local and national, also were generous in their use of material written by the Extension Editors, 10 of them-1 Florida, 4 Southern and 5 national---carrying 32 articles amounting to 585 column inches of space.
BROADCASTING ACTIVITIES
The Florida Farm Hour at noon each day, reduced during the year to slightly less than 45 minutes, continued to be the principal radio outlet for the Extension Service, but farm flashes in cooperation with the USDA were sent for 5 days each week to 14 county agents for passing on to their local radio stations and for use in their own broadcasts.
A review of the year's work reveals that 944 talks and other features
Annual Report, 1944
were given on the Florida Farm Hour, in addition to market and weather reports. Experiment Station staff members made 159 of these, the Dean of the College of Agriculture appeared 10 times and other teachers also were heard 10 times, the head of the Florida USDA War Board spoke once each month, 4 USDA transcriptions were used, a State Plant Board worker made 1 talk, and 165 USDA farm flashes were read. The 3 Editors )prepared 23 special talks and 463 daily and other regular features.
Special programs featured food production goals, Boy Scouts, Christmas, a dairy field day, child health, annual county agents' conference, State Home Demonstration Council meeting, and interviews with 4-H club boys, farmers and visiting agricultural workers from this country and Honduras and the Bahamas.
Sixty-nine Extension service talks were reworked into farm flashes and forwarded to other stations.
The Editors in May began sending a regularweekly roundup of agricultural news to Press Association for distribution to its client stations.
Around 100 of the WRUF talks by College of Agriculture, Experiment Station and Extension Service workers were revised and. forwarded to Florida farm papers, where they were used extensively.
Twenty-eight county and home agents in 21 counties reported making 605 radio talks during the year, a tremendous increase over previous years. In addition to the farm flashes, agents were sent I basic radio talk on 4-H mobilization, the manuscript for which was prepared by the Editors.
MISCELLANEOUS WORK
As usual, the Editors and Mailing Clerks gave a good )portion of their time to work for the Experiment Station, under the terms of their cooperative employment.
The State Plant Board, as has been its custom, paid for the printing of 10 issues of the weekly clipsheet.
The Editor continued to make a large number of pictures, with a camera supplied by the Agricultural Adjustment Agency. A good portion of the pictures were used in various ways shortly after they were made.
The Editor, in conjunction with the Extension Forester, made up one filmstrip for use by county agents in training their club members and farmers to set pine trees. A filmstrip library was established during the year, with more than 50 strips available for loan.
Florida Cooperative Extension
PART 11 'MEN'S WORK
COUNTY AGENTS' ACTIVITIES
A. P. Spencer, Director
W. T. Nettles, District Agent
J. Lee Smith, District Agent
As is natural in wartime, personnel problems were of considerable importance during the year. The Extension Service has been fortunate, however, in securing satisfactory replacements for agents who have entered the armed services or resigned to go into private business. Emergency war food assistant agents were appointed in a number of counties and rendered very satisfactory service.
Training given -new and untrained agents was largely on the job and through visits made by them to the State office of the Extension Service and Experiment Station and to other counties having problems similar to those in the county where they planned to work. The District Agents go into the philosophy and history of Extension work and methods the new agent may use in accomplishing the most good. Plans for professional improvement of the agents in service, through college training, have had to be held in abeyance during the war.
The war, with its attendant emergency agricultural programs, has forced the county agent to organize his office and his work for best efficiency to accomplish the numerous duties heaped upon him.
County agents were assisted in planning their programs of work for the year through group and district conferences, attended by representatives of the State office and other organizations. After being given the facts of the situation, the agents could evolve and adopt their own programs, in cooperation with their county agricultural leaders.
FOODFOR THE HUNGRY
Agents joined farm families in striving to do everything possible to produce the maximum amount of food to meet the demands of war. Goals recommended by the War Food Administration and adopted by Florida agricultural agencies in a conference called by the Agricultural Adjustment Agency served as the basis for recommendations by county agents.
Peanuts have been the'number I war crop in counties where they are grown, and Florida farmers have tripled their production of harvested nuts. Since harvested peanuts are quite soil-depleting, farmers have been interested in planting winter cover of legumes to follow peanuts, and county agents have encouraged and assisted them in this.
County agents staged a number of demonstrations on the value of dusting peanut vines with sulphur to control leafspot disease, and results were so astounding-40 percent increase in yield in some cases-that the dusting is expected to be widely used next year.
Cotton-Acreage devoted to cotton in western Florida has steadily declined, making way for the production of more essential crops such as peanuts. However, quality and length of staple have been materially improved in recent years through county crop improvement associations sponsored by county agents and through the establishment of 1-variety cotton communities.
Cotton classification records show that in 1939 over 80 percent of Florida's upland cotton was less than I inch in length, while in 1944 at
Annual Report, 1944
Fig. 2-This Jackson County farmer is planting peanuts on the contour, a
fine practice on sloping land. (SCS photo.)
least 85 percent was 1 inch or longer. Improved varieties and production methods accounted for the increase.
Commercial Vegetables.-Florida's truck crop farmers have increased their production of vegetables to help keep the country well fed. Fertilizer could be obtained more readily during 1944 than during the previous season, but labor has remained scarce. Through the cooperation of the AAA, the Extension farm labor program and the best efforts of the farm families themselves, there was practically no loss of produce.
Home Gardens While the home garden fever was not as intense this year as last, the efficient producers went right ahead with good garden programs, while the inefficient ones dropped by the wayside. Better quality gardens were in evidence, and there were sufficient vegetables for everyone.
Citrus.-Tbe problem of handling the ever-growing amount of citrus produced has turned county agents' thoughts to lines other than production. Citrus concentrates, frozen citrus juice and citrus pulp as a dairy feed are believed to hold a good part of the answer.
The county agents, by giving out information on its value and breaking down prejudice against something entirely new, have helped materially in popularizing dried citrus pulp as a feed.
The Dairy Situation.-Many small dairymen have been forced out of business by wartime conditions, and, agents have rendered them every assistance in closing out their operations where it was necessary for them to quit dairying. Most of the cows, however, were purchased by large dairymen, who increased their output to help meet the unprecedented demand for milk.
The farm labor setup of the Extension Service assisted dairymen to obtain some much-needed additional labor, but most dairies operated shorthanded.
22 Florida Cooperative Extension
Livestock and Pastures The fine work of Extension agents in the establishing of improved pastures did not abate this year, and the livestock industry is forging steadily ahead. Better animals and more feed are being combined.
Water control and conservation are receiving intense consideration in the southern part of the State, as it is realized that water conservation is essential to a successful future livestock program. The agents have cooperated with soil conservation districts in this and other activities.
Local Leaders-The necessities of war have brought a great increase in the use of volunteer local leaders. They have assisted the agents in setting goals and then conducting an educational program to encourage farm families of the counties to attain those goals.
Annual Report, 1944
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
C. V. Noble, Agricultural Economist
FARM MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
C. M. Hampson, Extension Economist
WAR WORK
Economic Information and Outlook.-The agricultural situation was influenced rather frequently by regulations of the Office of Price Administration, by changes in war situations and adverse weather. The general publicity given by the radio and press to all such changes usually made it appear futile for a State Extension Economist to issue any statements regarding economic situations or outlook. However, in cooperation with the Marketing Specialist, files of all OPA regulations received by this office were kept and the best available information was supplied on request. More than 4,000 farmers were given assistance in outlook and other information.
Assistance was given by the Specialist in the preparation of a -report on postwar agricultural production adjustments in Florida under assumed conditions, and much time was given to postwar planning for the State of Florida. Assistance was given also to the )production goals committee of the Florida State War Board in the 'preparation of State goals.
Services to Veterans-In keeping with Federal and State programs for veterans, considerable data have been collected in preparation for meeting the needs not only of returning veterans but also of war workers when they wish to take up agriculture. The same data will be valuable also in older youth programs and for thousands who may migrate to Florida.
Committees to aid veterans have been named in most counties, some of which have been active for months. One, in a beef cattle county, is a group of 5 men selected from the livestock association. In another county there is an agricultural committee composed of chairmen of 7 sub-committees and 3 business men with agricultural interests. The agricultural committee serves with 6 other committees in an effort to build a complete economic and social program for a whole trade area. Most of the active committees are setting up standards and recommendations which are intended to guide prospective farmers who wish to make a good living by farming.
Emphasis is being placed on the need of starting with a farm business large enough to pay well. Ownership of small units is being discouraged, except with those who will have non-farm income.
Agents are encouraged to use active existing organizations rather than to set up new and overlapping committees. Outlines of items for discussion at committee meetings are being sent to agents. Some counties will have only brief reports; others will be rather complete, including statistics and maps.
Various specialists are asked to assist in county committee meetings. They also review manuscripts for publication. Officials of the Veterans Administration have been consulted from time to time for the purpose of coordinating efforts.
Miscellaneous Activities.-Assistance was rendered in various war bond and scrap drives. Help was also given to Emergency Extension Agents with their food production and conservation programs and to the Victory Garden Committee in its efforts to secure a maximum number of gardens
24 Florida Cooperative Extension
in the State. Four hundred victory garden pledge cards and 1,500 window stickers were furnished to negro agents.
A series of 4 folders was published containing suggestions to farmers for using their incomes. The leading suggestions are to get debts in shape, secure needed land if farm is too small, make necessary improvements, and save by buying war bonds.
REGULAR PROGRAM
Individual Farm Planning.-Twelve county agents were instructed in methods of analyzing the business of low-income farmers and making acceptable recommendations for changes which would increase the farm income. Individual instructions were given to 8 white agents and a 2-day school was held for instructing negro agents. Those agents have visited 113 low-income farmers and made 761 recommendations, of which 553 were carried out in a creditable manner.
Two neighborhoods were organized for educational meetings to save the agent's time in making follow-up contacts. Other cooperators were visited from 2 to 4 times during the year to give further assistance and to measure progress. Timely circular letters and applicable publications of the Extension Service and Experiment Station were sent to all cooperators.
Farm Records.-Farm record books have been supplied to more than 2,000 farmers and assistance has been given to many of them in entering inventories and otherwise posting their books. Noted improvement has been made by farmers in their record keeping during 1944 as a result of their realization of the advantages to be obtained from accurate records when they compute income tax, returns.
Federal Income Tax.-Approximately 6,000 copies-of "Farm Bookkeeping and the Federal Income Tax" were distributed to farmers. More than 1,100 farmers have been personally assisted with their income tax returns by county agents and the Farm Management Specialist.
Forest Farming Study.-Farm and woodland records have been secured from 19 cooperating farmers for the third consecutive year of a 5-year project which is being conducted in cooperation with the Florida State Forest and Park Service. Visits are made by both the Farm Management Specialist and the Farm Forester to the farms several times each year. Management recommendations fitting war conditions are offered in regard to both the farm and the woodland.
Miscellaneous Classcs in principles of farm management were conducted for a total of 320 4-H club boys and girls at 3 camps. Interest in the subject was greater than in any other agricultural subject ever presented to club members by the Specialist.
MARKETING ACTIVITIES
D. E. Timmons, Marketing Economist
Adjusting Production to Wartime Needs.-All Extension specialists, the AAA and many other State and Federal agencies cooperated in determining what crops were needed most, what areas might be expected to increase production, the quantity of labor and materials needed and the marketing facilities necessary in obtaining the increased food needs for this country and its allies.
In advising increased production, caution was taken to see that crops were not planted until facilities for marketing were assured. Growers
Annual Report, 1944
were urged to avoid over-expansion and especially to avoid trying to produce large quantities of crops on land not suited or with labor and management not experienced in their production.
Results of the production effort may be seen in the following figures: During the 1939-40 season Florida produced 185,000 carloads of fruits and vegetables; 1942-43 production was 225,000; 1943-44 season production was 261,000. Tomatoes, 'pepper, snap beans, celery and citrus accounted for a large proportion of this increase.
Farm Labor.-Camp managers, local placement men and the farm labor office were contacted relative to labor needs. The economist spent 2 weeks at 1 of the labor camps, which consisted of labor recruits mostly from adjoining states, to determine the psychology of the workers, type of workers being recruited and how they might be utilized to best advantage. A report was made to the farm labor office and a survey was made throughout the State to determine just how serious the labor situation was. Diseases and insects, adverse weather, shortages of marketing and transportation facilities, price and many other factors were of paramount importance.
Using the years 1936-40 as 100, the index of cost of farm labor was 116 in 1941, 150 in 1942, 211 in 1943 and 281 in 1944.
Florida Council of Farmer Cooperatives The Florida Council of Farmer Cooperatives, an educational trade association composed of bona fide cooperative marketing, purchasing and service organizations as active members and Extension Service, Production Credit Associations, and the like, as associate members, consists of 28 cooperatives, including the Florida Citrus Exchange.
The tonnage represented by council members is approximately 75 percent of that of farmer cooperative tonnage in Florida. Citrus, vegetables, sugar, dairy and livestock cooperatives are all represented in the council.
Community Canning Centers.-War conditions have created a considerable demand for home preservation of food and in a -number of Florida communities it is felt that canning centers are the most practical approach to the satisfaction of this demand. Specialists from commercial organizations assisted county agents in making surveys to determine -needs for canning centers, holding schools and locating equipment.
Organized Food Distributors.-In many states there are organized trade associations which promote the interests of chain distributors, including food stores. The Florida Chain Store Association, with headquarters in Orlando, has added to its personnel a specialist in agriculture whose duty it is to work with agricultural groups and with the facilities of its membership assemble and distribute agricultural products. He was supplied with information on goals, outlook and other educational data for his use.
Three conferences between food distributor representatives and production specialists were held where specialists referred to production roblems and commodities that could be produced in commercial quantities if distributors had the facilities to serve those producing areas. Distributor representatives stated the type of commodity most in demand and the form, grade, size, etc., which met best consumer acceptance.
Civic Organizations Civic organizations have long been interested in agriculture. Price ceilings, fear of food shortages and possibly agriculture's being better organized have resulted in an intensified effort on the part of civic groups to have a greater part in the agricultural program. More requests than usual were made for outlook material, appearances on programs and for participation in conferences on agriculture. Determining and bringing to the attention of these groups those things that have
Florida Cooperative Extension
been found more practical in a research way and preventing the use of misinformation have been important phases of this project. ,
Farmer Cooperatives.-More interest has been shown by groups in the formation of farmer cooperatives during the last year than ever before, not only by groups interested in organizing local associations, but by local groups interested in federating and by a number of interstate cooperatives interested in working with Florida farmers.
In forming a cooperative the procedure followed is to survey the local situation with reference to volume of business that a prospective cooperative might be expected to have, the type of facilities that would be needed, personnel and qualifications needed, number of farmers interested and whether or not they have the spirit of working together in a group. If a cooperative does not seem practical, those who originally made the request will decide against its organization.
Shortages of feed and supplies are factors explaining the demand for a purchasing type of cooperative. Dairymen and poultrymen have found it quite difficult to obtain the right kind and quantity of feeds. Some of the larger producers have found it necessary to go to feed-producing areas and try to purchase direct. Needless to say, this involves considerable expense and time, the result being a demand on the part of producers to form cooperatives and hire personnel to go to these areas and get their feed, fertilizer and supplies.
Agricultural Trade AssQciations.-The Florida Citrus Commission, made possible by special acts of the State Legislature; the Florida Farm Bureau, a branch of the American Farm Bureau Federation; the Producers' Trade Association, composed primarily of citrus grower-shippers and farmer cooperatives; the United Growers and Shippers, a citrus group composed largely of on-tree buyers with some cooperative groups as members; the Hillsborough Economic Development Committee; the Florida Citrus Marketing Agreement Committees; the Florida Canners' Association; and the Florida Vegetable Committee are agricultural trade associations, most of which are organized as cooperatives.
MISCELLANEOUS
Pecans-The State Marketing Bureau, Department of Markets and the Extension Service have cooperated for 3 seasons in assisting in marketing pecans. A committee of these groups meets prior to the pecan season and makes plans for holding cooperative pecan sales which are usually held at State markets. The Extension Service announces opening dates for the markets, time of opening, who will be in charge and such market information as is available on supply and demand for pecans. County agents are assisted in making up notices of these markets and their openings and as many as possible of the sales are attended.
Grades, Standards and Packages.-The war situation has so upset grades, standards and packages that it may take years to regain the progress previously made in their improvement.
CITRUS GROVE MANAGEMENT
Zach Savage, Economist in Farm Management
An economic study of grove management has been carried on by the Extension Service since 1930-31, during which period Florida citrus growers have experienced widely varying conditions as to fertilizer and spray recommendations, rainfall, labor and material costs, availability of labor,
Annual Report, 1944 27
machinery and equipment, other production problems, fruit prices and general price level. Under such conditions accurate records are valuable to the individual grower in forming a basis for future management. These grove records collectively have supplied excellent data for planning in the war effort.
A summary of costs and returns for 12 seasons was prepared and a copy supplied to the Citrus Industry for publication.
Two hundred sixty grove records were obtained during the year. One hundred forty-four were supplied by the grower and 116 were obtained by the project leader through visitation and taking the record from the cooperator's own records.
The project leader was appointed 1 of the advisers to the committee on education and research, citrus department, Florida Farm Bureau, which is interested in grower grove records, their interpretation, and getting the results in the hands of citrus growers who do not cooperate in the citrus record work as well as those who do cooperate.
Florida Cooperative Extension
AGRONOMY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
J. Lee Smith, Extension Agronomist
Approximately 83 percent of the farms of the State are operated by white people and 17 percent by negroes; 72 percent are operated by owners. The average size of the farms is 83 acres. The cultivated areas of many farms are generally too small to be most economically operated. The smallest farm which produces general farm crops does not supply sufficient income to provide an adequate standard of living for the family, even when most efficiently operated and prices are reasonably good, as they were this last year.
Soil conservation districts are now organized in about one-half of the State. The Florida Crop Improvement Association has been organized to handle programs that will assist in improving the agriculture of northern Florida.
It has been estimated that 500,000 acres of the 725,000 acres of crop land in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Calhoun, Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson and Madison counties are subject to surface erosion.
It has been shown that improved grasses such as carpet, Bahia, Dallis, Napier and white and other clover plants established on I)astures increase the carrying capacity of the land from 5 to 20 times that of the native grasses.
Objectives The Extension agronomy work was aimed at, first, persuading ana assisting the farmers of Florida in doing their part in meeting the war food and feed needs; second, informing them of the most economical agronomic production practices known; third, explaining how they can make the best out of the fertilizers which they can secure; and fourth, informing them as to how they can best maintain their soil fertility during the war period.
Goals and Accomplishments The radio, newspapers, circular letters and brief circulars, meetings and personal contacts were used extensively by Extension workers in getting the production goals and improved practices before the farmers this year.
The 1944 field crop production goals and accomplishments for Florida were as follows: Peanuts, goal 305,000 acres grown alone and 150,000 to be dug, accomplished 256,000 acres grown and 120,000 acres dug; upland cotton, goal 46,000 acres of longer staples, accomplished 35,000 acres, 86 percent of which was 1 inch staple and better; flue-cured tobacco, 16,200 acres, accomplished 15,000 acres; corn 775,000, accomplished 752,000; oats 52,000, accomplished 80,000; hay 160,000, accomplished 150,000; sugarcane 33,000, accomplished 30,000; sweet potatoes 30,000, accomplished 20,000; gardens, goal all possible accomplished.
Winter Cover and Manure Crops.-Since 1926 there has been some interest in producing winter-growing legume cover and manure crops in Florida. This early interest reached its peak in 1931. Austrian peas and hairy vetch were the crops used then. Interest subsided because of fall droughts, ravages of disease, distance of seed supply and the fact that inoculation was not always good.
The Florida Experiment Station distributed the first commercial quantity of blue lupine seed, another winter-growing legume. It has several advantages over the vetches and Austrian peas in that it produces a heavier crop of seed, can be planted earlier than the peas or vetches and will produce a larger tonnage of green manure within a given time. In 1942-43 there were 637 farms that grew 14,032 acres of winter legumes in 21 coun-
Fig. 3.-New varieties of oats, such as Florida 167 (left) and Quincy White (right) are enabling this crop to stage a
strong comeback in Florida. It produces cheap feed, requiring comparatively small amounts of labor.
30 Florida Cooperative Extension
ties, most of which was blue lupine. There were approximately 11/ million pounds of seed 'produced. This was enough to plant approximately 20,000 acres in 1943. About 1,600,000 pounds of seed were produced in 1944. There were 883,865 pounds of blue lupine seed planted, on between 12,000 and 16,000 acres this fall, and 219,000 pounds of Austrians peas and 92,810 pounds of vetch seed were distributed and planted on 11,967 acres. These were generally higher quality than last year.
Preparing for this year's planting 'program, the Extension Agronomist published and distributed 7,500 copies of circular 79 entitled "Growing Manure With Blue Lupine in Florida" and secured and distributed 5,000 copies of a USDA Farmers' Bulletin on lupines.
Developing a Farm Program for the White-Fringed Beetle Area.-Okaloosa, Walton and Escambia counties are infested with the white-fringed beetle, a pest destructive to all spring-planted crops. Research has shown certain outstanding facts, among which are these: The beetle does most damage to crops when it is in the larval stage; it is in the soils for 10 months in this stage and is very active in the spring; 'peanuts, velvet beaus and certain weeds and vegetables commonly grown in the area are the most desirable food plants and the beetle is capable of laying an abundance of eggs when feeding on such crops, but very few when feeding on grass and like crops; and, where peanuts, velvet beans and such crops grow, a heavy "build up" of larvae occurs sufficient to destroy almost any spring-planted crop.
With counsel of the Research and Quarantine Divisions of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, the Florida Experiment Station, Soil Conservation Service, Farm Security Administration and Plant Board employees, the Extension Service developed a farm Program which called for the following: Peanuts to be grown on the same area not more often than once in 3 or 4 years; interplanting of corn with velvet beans to be eliminated, or, either or both of these crops removed as far from the infested area as possible; and oats and winter legumes added to the list of crops grown-these crops to be grown on the areas of the farm where the heaviest infestation would be expected to appear the next spring.
The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine inspected and checked every farm and reported in the spring of 1944 that 26.7 'percent of the crop land was grown to these crops in the 1943-44 season in the Florida area. Satisfactory progress was made and inspection of fields showed that no damage was done these winter-growing crops by the larvae in heavily infested fields.
Annual Report, 1944
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND POULTRY
A. L. Shealy, Animal Industrialist
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
W. J. Sheely, Animal Husbandman
The objective of the meat animal work has been to produce meat for the war effort and to keep the livestock industry on a healthy, sound, profitable and economical basis to meet postwar conditions.
Wartime Beef and Hog Suggestions.-To meet emergency needs and aid in meat animal production, folders entitled "Raise Healthy Pigs for War Needs" and "Wartime Beef Suggestions" were prepared and sent all over the State.
Extension livestock work was accomplished through close cooperation with county agents and existing agencies and through the use of circular letters, news articles, radio talks, meetings, tours and personal visits.
Negro agents were specifically instructed in hog and beef cattle production with special attention being placed on home meat supply for farms and succession of feed crops to prevent the starving period of hogs in the spring. During the year all negro agents and members of the A. & M. College staff were furnished with copies of the 1944 meat animal goals and current information, and were instructed in war needs.
Early Marketing of Livestock.-In accordance with instructions from the Federal office, 3 conferences of county agents and producers were called in the State at which the meat animal goals and livestock situation were discussed. As a result of these conferences the July, August, September and October sales of cattle and calves were larger than for the same period of 1943, with hog sales in August and September 25 percent higher than the same period a year earlier.
BEEF CATTLE
Bulls for Herd Replacement Good breeding bulls are the foundation on which herd improvement is based. In cooperation with county agents, breeders and dealers, bulls were located for cattlemen. Gas and tire shortage curtailed the shipping in of many bulls. Nevertheless more than 1,400 purebred bulls were placed in the State, many of which were raised here. Florida breeders were assisted in growing out and placing their bulls. One cattleman sold around 300 high grade and 80 purebred Brahma bulls. One Polled Hereford breeder sold 60 home-raised bulls and a number of other Florida breeders produced and sold various numbers of good bulls. This home bull supply is a boon to beef production during wartime.
Ten years ago there were practically no breeders of purebred beef cattle in the State. Today there are more than 100 good herds of Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford and Brahmas, some of which are on a sound, economical basis while a few have been established under high prices and the urge to own purebred animals.
Selecting and Developing Heifers for Herd Replacement.-Growing out "select" heifers for herd replacement and culling cows to increase the "calf crop" are becoming common practices with cattlemen. One cattleman has 1,000 2-year old heifers to add to his herd next spring, and is sending 1,000 cull cows to market in addition to selling 500 heifers and cows for breeding purposes. The quality of the grade herds has been improved by selection and growing out of heifers and using good bulls to such an
Florida Cooperative Extension
extent that more than 1,500 heifers and cows have been sold for herd replacement. Breeding heifers to calve at 21/2 to 3 years of age has cut down on death rate at calving time and 'produced heavier calves at weaning and heavier, stronger breeding cows.
Winter Feeding.-Controlled breeding and winter feeding go together for the betterment of the cattleman. Bulls were separated from the herd on many pastures and put on winter pastures or feed. Throughout the beef-producing areas cattlemen are making arrangements for winter feeding as a business investment.
Feeding the cow herd is growing in popularity. Formerly, great quantities of citrus pulp from canning plants were dumped in groves or on waste land. Now much of this pulp is manufactured into dry cow feed. Still there are large quantities of pulp in excess of the capacity of the drying plants.
Many cattlemen near the canning plants are feeding the fresh pulp to their breeding herds with good results. Cattle wintered on wet pulp last year were fat in the spring and dropped and raised good calves that averaged $46.50 on the market.
Sugarcane for winter feeding has become popular, due to heavy tonnage of growth per acre and results of feeding tests.
Scarcity of protein feeds has helped to increase the acreage of oats for winter grazing. The new rust-resistant varieties of oats have been of great value to the livestock men.
Pasture Development Pasture improvement work has been curtailed by labor shortage. More than a dozen counties report harvesting grass seed for local plantings.
Fertilizing and liming pasture land greatly increased this season, with county agents reporting 955 farmers fertilizing pastures and 626 farmers putting lime on pastures.
Cutting briers, weeds and bushes increases the efficiency of the pasture. Cattle gain and produce more pounds of beef where grass can grow in the sunshine.
Brahma Breeders' Asseei'ation.-The Florida breeders of Brahmas organized the Florida Brahma Breeders' Association, affiliating with the National Brahma Breeders' Association. The purpose of the association is to fur ther Brahma cattle breeding and improve beef cattle in the State. The first purebred show and sale was scheduled for February 1, 2 and 3, 1945, in Ocala.
Florida breeders were urged to assume the responsibility for producing bulls for herd improvement. War needs for meat in 1944 called for an increase over 1943. Slaughter and marketing regulations caused some confusion and uneasiness with both producers and processors and slowed up the work. Regardless of regulations and market conditions, indications are that Florida cattlemen will reach their goals.
Cattle and Horse Shows Three cattle shows and 2 horse shows were held this year. At the Fat Stock Show in Ocala 180 steers were shown and sold for .$32,737.54, an average of $23.51 per hundred pounds.
Ten herds of purebred cattle and 21 grade herds were shown at the Range Cattle and Horse Show at Kissimmee. At the horse show 42 animals competed in the ring. Seventy-five cow horses were in the workout, showing cutting and herding ability of both horse and rider. At Arcadia there were 155 purebred cattle and 55 head of excellent cow horses in the show.
Annual Report, 1944 33
HOG WORK
Since hog production in Florida depends on field crops that can be gathered by the hogs-peanuts, corn, cowpeas, chufas and oats-and since the number of pigs raised per litter affects the feed costs per hog, our main work this year has been feed production and raising healthy pigs.
Beginning in the fall of 1943 county agents were urged to advise farmers to plant feed for early spring pigs. Circular letters were sent out to county agents, farmers and to the press on finishing hogs for early market.
Reports show that 25 percent more hogs went to Florida markets in August and September, 1944, than in the same months of 1943. A Gadsden County farmer sent 300 No. 1 hogs to market in August, which had been grown during the spring on oats with little other feed.
Raise Healthy Pigs.-Controlling parasites and growing crops for pigs, together, will fit into hog production in Florida. County agents reported 1,966 farmers practicing control of external parasites and 6,300 farmers controlling internal parasites in bogs.
Mineral supplements were used by more farmers during this year than formerly, due to the fact that these minerals can be put out where hogs can get them at will. Minerals and feed help to raise healthy pigs and prevent a starving 'period inspiring.
Farm Families' Meat Supply.-Farmers were urged to produce, process and store sufficient meat for home use in order that transportation and marketing facilities, labor shortage and cold-storage space at packinghouses might be relieved.
Cold-storage meat curing plants have served a purpose -_ in - this-State and aided in the war effort. Information on-curing meat was furnished to all county and home agents, to all negro agents and to every meat curing plant in the State. Last season more than 8,000,000 pounds of meat were cured by the meat curing houses.
WORK STOCK
County, agents' reports still show an interest in work stock, especially on small farms in western Florida and on cattle outfits in central and southern Florida. Information on feeding and care of the work animals, with special reference to keeping the animals healthy, was furnished. County agents report more than 300 farmers were instructed in better feeding of animals, over 200 farmers instructed in controlling external parasites and more than 400 instructed in controlling internal parasites in horses. Throughout the cattle country animals have been inoculated against "sleeping sickness."
During the year 14 farmers secured stallions and 38 more secured mares for colt production.
4-H CLUB WORK
Material on selecting, feeding and growing out of calves, pigs and colts was furnished to county agents for club members.
Twenty 4-H club members showed well-finished steers at Ocala. These evidenced the results of instruction and close attention to the business of feeding out animals. A 4-H club calf, reserve champion of the show and champion 4-H club calf, brought 610 a pound.
County agents report 368 4-H club boys and girls completed beef projects, 1,082 completed swine projects and 97 completed horse and mule projects.
Alachua and Hillsborough boys entered the National Polled Hereford Judging Contest at Atlanta.
Florida Cooperative Extension
DAIRYING
Hamlin L. Brown, Extension Dairyman
Methods of doing dairy work in 1944 differed from those used in previous years. The 8-point dairy program was featured and dairy work, as much as possible, was built around the goals program. The 8-point program is as follows: Grow more forage as pasture, silage, and hay; fertilize all forage to increase quality and quantity; provide supplementary annual grazing crops; give cows at least 6 weeks dry period; feed concentrates according to production; keep as many cows as feed and labor will permit; breed for better herd replacements-use safety bull pens; produce good quality milk and avoid waste.
The dairy organizations, including the Florida State Dairymen's Association, the Florida Dairy Products Association, the Florida Jersey Cattle Club and the Guernsey Cattle Club, with the various dairy associations, cooperated as best they could under wartime conditions.
The feed situation improved steadily from January 1. Timely rains, which were above normal, increased grazing and saved money and work spent in fertilizing pastures. Grazing crops were helpful in reducing the amount of feed consumed and greatly increased the supply of protein available.
Probably no 1 thing contributed more to helping the Florida dairy production program in 1944 than the subsidy payments* made available through the AAA, which amounted to $2,228,767.59.
THR 19-POINT DAIRY PROGRAM
Grow More Forage as Pasture, Silage, and Hay During 1944 some 13,000 acres of pasture were set with sod or root cuttings or seeded. The great value of the pasture program was the large number of small farmers owning family cows and smaller market milk dairymen who made. plantings of the special varieties of grass, including Coastal Berniuda, Pangola, Pensacola Bahia, common Bahia and other grasses. These varietip-- - -cre spread over some 640 dairy farms in Florida where commonly grown carpet grass and other kinds of grass that' grow better on the moist lands have not been adapted.
Seventy-four new farmers planted some forage cane to be fed green in the fall. Some was converted into silage and some stacked to be chopped and fed during the winter months. It was estimated that some 15,000 acres were planted to sorghum in 1944 for silage purposes.
Fertilize All Forage to Increase Quality and Quantity.-The 15,000 acres that have been fertilized through the AAA grant of aid allotment of phosphate and limestone have served to spread the use of fertilizers and increase forage production among some 650 new farms that did not fertilize in previous years.
Provide Supplementary Annual Grazing Crops.-Cattail millet can be planted by the first of the year in southern Florida and may be seeded anywhere from February to March in northern and western Florida. It fits in well in the early fall on farms where it is seeded in late July or early August as a grazing crop to come on after the regular pasture grasses are retarded on account of limited rainfall and the end of season growth.
The seeding of oats has more than doubled in the last 2 years, with an estimate of something over 100,000 acres having been seeded. Fertilization of oats, together with the improved rust-resistant varieties, has practically revolutionized the growing of this crop.
IM
p~- ~
Fig. 4.-Despite drastic shortages of labor, Florida dairymen have kept their herds producing at top speed to help supply critically needed dairy products.
If
Florida Cooperative Extension
The seeding of rye has been reduced, due to increased interest in improved varieties of oats. However, rye is a valuable winter crop for small farms in counties where there are large numbers of small farmers.
Large acreages of rye grass were seeded in some counties through grant of aid payments under the AAA. In Broward County 22,000 acres were seeded, a large amount of which were used in grazing dairy animals.
Give Cows at Least 6 Weeks Dry Period.-During normal pre-war times market milk farmers of Florida had a marked reduction in the consumption of milk during the summer months, which usually provided at least 2 to 3 months dry 'period for all their cows. However, in wartime when there is year-round demand for milk, there has been a tendency for some dairymen to overlook the allotted 2 months' dry period recommended in most states.
Feed Concentrates According to Production-Practically all of our county agents use this point to get dairymen interested in estimating the amounts of concentrate feed for high-producing cows. During the year there was a radical change in the feed situation. The State AAA office was very helpful in getting an improved distribution of feeds. In addition to high-content protein feeds now available, steamed bone meal is available in most areas in Florida.
Keep as Many Cows as Feed and Labor Will Permit.-Extensive construction of air bases and all kinds of building and preparations for the housing, and maintenance of the armed forces now training in Florida and employment of labor in the shipyards in Florida, to say nothing of drafted dairy laborers, have caused labor to be the biggest problem confronting Florida dairy farms. Most dairymen have been able to get necessary milking machines and modern equipment for carrying on dairy operations through the State War Board office. Probably the most important factor is that dairymen are finally reducing their herds rather than attempting to peak the production beyond practical means.
Breed for Better Herd Replacements-Use Safety Bull Pens.-This program was enlarged through the 4-H club work. The programs put on by the dairy breed associations, through the cooperation of the State Dairymen's Association, have been helpful in creating wide interest in improving the dairy animals on the farm. There is greater demand in all areas of the State for Dairy Herd Improvement Association and official testing than in previous years.
Produce Good Quality Milk and Avoid Waste.-This program has become more important each year with the extensive use of milking machines. Among all the dairy cow diseases and ailments, mastitis has become the most serious problem now prevailing on dairy farms throughout the State and dairymen in general are looking for something to cure it. The successful control of mastitis through systematic handling of infected animals, segregating thediseased animals from the herd, and more careful manangement of the milking operations are the only successful measures now in use.
Bangs' disease is more critical now than it has been in the last 10 years. The program of testing and slaughter has been badly disrupted by the drafting of veterinarians into the armed services. Frequent changes of veterinarians, with serious labor shortage on dairy farms, have left many herds with infected cows among them that are getting no immediate relief. The Florida Dairymen's Association and the State Dairy Products Association are both concerned about the bangs' disease program and it is hoped that some practical solution will be worked out in the near future.
Annual Report, 1944 37
THE FAMILY COW
Number of Farms in Florida Having Dairy Cows The U. S. Census Bureau in 1940 listed 27,159 Florida farms reporting 1 or more milk cows. There are probably 33,000 farms with dairy cows now, according to the Florida office of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. About 90 percent of the farms reporting are keeping dairy animals largely for the milk they produce as a part of the family living.
Milk is the No. 1 Food.-Because of the importance of milk as a nearly perfect food, with the vitamins and minerals that make it a protective food for children and adults, great emphasis has been given to the family cow program by all agricultural workers for the last 10 years. It is estimated by the Department of Agriculture that 60,000 family cows produced 193,500,000 pounds of milk during the period from October 31, 1943, to November 1, 1944, against an approximate 347 million pounds produced by the market milk dairies of the State.
POULTRY KEEPING
Norman R. Mehrhof, Extension Poultryman A. Woodrow O'Steen, Extension Poultryman F. M. Dennis, Supervisor Egg-Laying Test
The 1944 goals program requested a reduction instead of an expansion in poultry production. During 1943 increases were registered in egg production, chickens raised, turkeys raised and pounds of poultry meat produced, while the 1944 goals requested the same egg production as in 1943, 9 percent fewer chickens raised, a 22 percent decrease in commercial broilers and an 8 percent decrease in turkeys raised.
Florida's Poultry Industry.-The number of hens and pullets on farms January 1, 1944, was 2,304,000, compared with an indicated 1,843,000 for January 1, 1945, which is 461,000 fewer.
There was considerable reduction in commercial broiler production
Fig 5-Commercial production of eggs and poultry meat at a heavy rate
in Florida has helped to meet the Nation's food supply situation.
4-
Florida Cooperative Extension
during the year-an estimated 20 to 40 percent-due to high feed, chick and labor costs and low ceiling prices. However, broiler production continues above the pre-war level.
Chicks hatched by commercial hatcheries during the first 10 months of 1944 were approximately 2Y4 million less than for the same period in 1943-a decrease of about 25 percent. Likewise, fewer chicks were shipped into the State in 1944.
Egg prices dropped below ceiling level during the spring of 1944, while poultry meat prices remained at ceiling level throughout the year.
Egg Quality Program-The inspection bureau of the State Department of Agriculture and the State Marketing Bureau cooperated in the development of Florida's egg quality program, resulting in an improved quality of egg offered to the consumers. The Florida Poultry Council and State and county agricultural workers promoted the program so as to develop and improve the quality of the egg.
Egg Purchase Program-The War Food Administration's surplus eggbuying program, which continued until the month of July and through which approximately 50,000 cases of eggs were purchased in the State, played an important part in making the producers and egg dealers gradeconscious. The ceiling prices placed on eggs by the Office of Price Administration were of considerable value in aiding the housewife to buy eggs according to grade. WFA and OPA, together with State agencies working on egg quality, improved the quality of Florida eggs.
Egg candling and grading demonstrations were given at egg-buying stations set up by the War Food Administration, at which the producer was able to see the value of producing and selling eggs on a graded basis.
Information on how to produce and maintain egg quality was furnished the public by means of radio, letters, pamphlets and at group meetings.
Florida National Egg-Laying Test.-The 18th Florida National EggLaying Test at Chipley started October 1, 1943, and ended September 22, 1944, with a larger number of heavy breed pens entered than in previous tests. The plant's capacity of 96 pens of 13 pullets each was filled with entries from 21 different states. Fourteen pens were entered by Florida breeders from 6 different counties.
There were 46 pens of Single Comb White Leghorns, 24 of New Hampshire, 13 of Single Comb Rhode Island Reds, 8 of White Plymouth Rocks and 5 of Barred Plymouth Rocks.
Average production per bird was 209.8 eggs for the 357-day period. These eggs were given a credit of 217.8 points, indicating that the egg size averaged above 24 ounces to the dozen.
The high pen for the year was a pen of 13 S. C. White Leghorn pullets owned by the Foreman Poultry Farm, Lowell, Michigan, which produced a total of 3,630 eggs for a value of 3,765.55 points, or an average of 279.2 eggs and 289.66 points per bird.
The high bird was a White Plymouth Rock owned by the Colonial Poultry Farm, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, which produced 326 eggs at a value of 354.90 points. This bird was the high White Plymouth Rock entered in all standard laying tests for the year 1943-44. The record is also a new high for the breed.
Produce Healthy Pullets.-Strong, healthy pullets from a high-producing strain are necessary if eggs are to be !produced profitably. During the year the value of good stock properly raised was stressed at group meetings and kept before the public at all times by means of radio, news articles, bulletins and letters and by personal visits.
Extension recommendations were followed by 1,503 families in obtaining better strains of baby chicks, 2,742 families in improving methods of
Annual Report, 1944
feeding, and 5,551 families in controlling disease and parasites. These recommendations were carried into 531 local communities throughout the State.
Grow Green Feed The value of green feed for poultry has been stressed in Florida for years, but during 1944 special emphasis was placed on growing green feed to supplement the mash and grain ration. Where J)lenty of land is available and the all-purpose portable poultry house is used, green feed is best furnished from a permanent pasture of carpet or bermuda grass or white clover. The portable house, which is a 10' x 12' even-span house built on skids, makes it possible to move the birds to a -new location before the sod is destroyed near the house. The Improved Coastal Bermuda grass is very popular for grazing in this manner.
Culling Demonstrations Due to high cost and scarcity of feed and the necessity of reducing the number of chickens, considerable emphasis was placed upon culling during 1944. Culling demonstrations were given in different counties throughout the State and local leaders and flock owners were furnished information on culling practices by radio, bulletins, group meetings and personal visits.
Control of Diseases and Parasites Losses due to diseases and parasites run into thousands of dollars each year. These losses may be reduced to a minimum through good management practices. The use of clean land, range rotation, absorbent litters, chicken pox vaccination and the control of lice and mites were given consideration during the year.
Flock Recards To insure reasonable success in the poultry business, a record of expenses and receipts must be kept over a Y)eriod of a year so that the poultryman will know what his financial condition is at regular intervals. Florida poultrymen were encouraged and assisted in keeping records.
Junior Poultry Work-During the year 1,298 boys and 2,351 girls were enrolled in 4-H poultry club work. From this enrollment 720 boys and 1,526 girls completed their projects, with 98,578 'birds involved in completed projects.
Poultry Organizations.-The 3 State poultry associations-Florida Poultry Council, Florida State Poultry Producers' Association and Florida Breeders and Hatchery Association-continued their policy of assisting in the development of the Extension 'poultry program. The local poultry associations held regular monthly meetings at which various timely subjects were discussed. During the year these associations approved the following programs: 1944 production goals, surplus egg buying program, egg quality program and the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
Turkeys Turkey management, including breeding, brooding, housing, feeding and sanitation, was emphasized during the year. The 1944 crop of turkeys was reduced from the record crop of 1943, in line with the reduction called for in the 1944 goals. The crop is selling at ceiling level and the, supply is short of demand.
Florida Cooperative Extension
BOYS' 4-H CLUB WORK
R. W. Blacklock, State Boys' Club Agent
The 1944 club staff was reduced to 1 full-time agent and I part-time district assistant. N. H. McQueen, county agent in Charlotte, has been devoting about 16 percent of his time to promoting club work in DeSoto, Highlands, Hardee, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, Glades and Hendry counties and has been particularly interested and active in promoting the dairy calf program in this area.
FOOD PRODUCTION UPPERMOST
Under wartime conditions with limited personnel there was but I job for boys' 4-H club work-production of food. Labor shortage was just as serious in Extension work as on the farm. The time found for working with farm boys could contribute most to the war effort if used in helping to get more crops and animals grown.
The 10 district 4-H chairmen met and set state-wide and district 4-H production goals. Then the agents in each district met and decided on county goals.
I A comparison of 1944 production with 1943 shows: Corn, 388 acres increase; other cereals, 14 acres decrease; peanuts, 12 acres increase; soybeans, etc., 18 acres decrease; soil conservation, 1,464 acres increase; potatoes, 16 acres increase; cotton, 15 acres increase; tobacco, 4 acres increase; home gardens, 44 acres increase; truck crops, 274 acres decrease; other crops, 109 increase; poultry, 28,887 decrease; dairy cattle, 5 increase; beef cattle, 1,121 decrease; swine, 705 increase; horses and mules, 68 increase; other livestock, 1,784 increase; bees, 96 colonies decrease; forestry, 523,acres increase.
Corn Production.r--The use of a new hybrid corn-Florida W-1-was stressed, with results none too satisfactory, due to bad corn-growing weather. Yields were low but were above those secured with ordinary seed corn. In Holmes County, where 4-H boys planted 200 acres to Florida W-1, the yield averaged 17.5 bushels per acre, about 50 percent above average yield.
Poultry There was not the great need for poultry products in 1944 and production of broilers was not stressed. There was an increase in number of poultry club members and in number of laying hens cared for by club members. Duval County had an exceptionally fine egg production project which combined business training with J)oultry management.
Dairy Emphasis placed on the purchase of day-old heifer calves in 1943 continued through 1944. The calves placed in 1942 came into production and added to the milk supply, as none of the animals left the StaVe and many of the freshened heifers were sold to dairymen at attractive prices. When the 2,500 heifer calves placed with club boys in the last 3 years become producers there will be a measurable increase in the milk production in the State. In most instances the calves would have been used for meat had the boys not bought them.
Swine No attempt was made to increase production in the goals for 1944.
Beef Cattle Although a smaller goal for number of club members enrolled in beef 'projects was set, the total poundage of beef produced was higher and of better quality than for 1943.
Corn, Peanuts and Potatoes.-More emphasis was placed on these crops
Annual Report, 1944
with an average goal of 60 percent increase, due to requests by the government for increased production.
Home Gardens.-A slightly higher goa I was set for home gardens, but this was not reached, since most farm families had gardens in 1943.
Forestry Goals were set in this for the first time. This was perhaps the only postwar problem attacked in our club program for 1944. The rapid cutting of our timber for war purposes was so great that it seemed advisable to start replanting some of the land. There were 2 phases emphasized-school demonstration plantings and replanting for future commercial production. Thirty-seven school plantings were planned and 200,000 pine seedlings set as goal for commercial plantings.
CLUB ORGANIZATIONS
Club organizations went by default in many instances, due to lack of time on the part of county agents. Agents were urged to try to keep their local clubs alive, but work with organization was not stressed. Some agents carried on even better clubs than before but most reported that it was impossible to do the necessary work.
SUMMER CAMPS
Here is where an effort was made to do more than before. The club camp is the best opportunity we have found to date to instill 4-H loyalty and enthusiasm. It is planned to increase and enlarge the summer camp.
The summer 4-H camp has become an institution in Florida. There were 390 boys and 370 girls at Camp Timpoochee. Cherry Lake had 109 boys and 134 girls. Camp McQuarrie was open for 10 weeks with 979 boys and girls attending.
. There were 1,135 boys and 847 girls from Florida who had the opportunity to get a weeks' vacation of instruction and recreation. This was an increase of 340 over 1943.
A special wildlife camp for white 4-H boys and 2 for negro 4-H boys were sponsored by a large cartridge manufacturing concern. The I for white 4-H boys was held at Camp Cherry Lake.
No short courses were planned. All out-of-State trips were discontinued for 1944, and with the exception of a fat steer exhibit at Ocala, all State exhibits are off for the duration.
SUPERVISORY PROBLEMS, METHODS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
There are 3 counties where a special man is employed to devote most of his time to 4-H club work. The county agents and assistant agents spent on an average of I day out of 9 in work with youth. Seven of the 61 counties reported no time spent in youth work. Two agents had 4-H club work in their program this year who had no youth work in 1943. With the let-up in special war work on the part of county agents there should be an opportunity for more time to be given to 4-H club work. The State Boys' Club Agent attempted to contact every county agent in his county at least once during the year.
A beef cattle judging contest was run in connection with the Fat Stock Show at Ocala. Seven counties were represented. A dairy judging contest was held in connection with a Jersey sale at the State Hospital Farm.
The specialists have given cooperation in club work. The Dairy and Beef Cattle Specialists and the Extension Poultryman have helped agents
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plan work in their respective fields. All specialists spent 1 or 2 weeks at summer club camps to assist in the educational part of the camp program.
The Soil Conservationist gave time to help agents put on a soil conservation activity with their club boys. Without his efforts the project would have been a complete failure.
The Farm Forester gave active and most important assistance in the 4-H school forest plantings. He was on the ground and directed most of the planting.
Work with older youth has been disregarded, since almost every ablebodied farm boy in Florida 17 years or over is in the armed forces.
STATE AWARDS
The $100.00 scholarship offered by the Commissioner of Agriculture for the champion 4-H beef producer at the Southeastern Fat Stock Show in Ocala was won by Jeannette Zetrouer of Marion County, who is now a student at Florida State College for Women. The Danforth Foundation Youth Camp trip was won by Henry Pittman Davis of Escambia County. Hillsboro County won the beef cattle judging contest at the Ocala show.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
The Maritime Commission offered Florida 4-H club members an opportunity to name a Liberty ship in honor of some deceased Floridian who had contributed much to agriculture and 4-H club work. The honor went to the memory of William L. Watson, who was 1 of the first county agents employed by Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, and who helped establish Extension work in Florida and had served for years as county agent in Duval County.
Since the yard where the ship was constructed (Panama City) did not grant permission for 4-H participation in the launching, a special dedication service was held at Camp Timpoochee. The ship was launched July 12, 1944.
The Florida Club Agent and a Florida club boy and girl had the pleasure and privilege of assisting at the launching of the ship "Carl E. Ladd" for the club members of New York State, just 2 weeks after the William L. Watson was launched.
Annual Report, 1944
FARM FORESTRY
L. T. Nieland, Extension Forester
Harvesting Forest Products for War-To stimulate harvesting of farm timber for war purposes the Extension Forester addressed all county agents, Farm Security supervisors, AAA workers, Soil Conservation Service personnel and other agricultural workers of the State during a series of meetings held in DeFuniak Springs, Madison, Gainesville and Lakeland. The need of wood for war was explained, solutions to problems were discussed and steps that lead towards meeting the war need for wood were pointed out.
A circular letter appealing to farmers to make their forest products available for war, explaining what products were needed, stressing high prices, urging conservative cutting practices and advising how the assistance of trained foresters could be secured, was prepared and sent to all county agents for transmittal to their farmers. Forty thousand copies of a folder prepared by the USDA, WPB, WFA, Forest Service and Extension Service entitled "Get Out Your Farm Timber for War" were obtained and sent with a personal appeal from the Extension Forester to each of 4,500 neighborhood leaders and county agents requesting that they distribute them. Twenty-five thousand copies each of "Cut Victory Timber, But Cut It Wisely" and "Uncle Sam Needs Your Trees Now for Pulpwood," were supplied to county agents for distribution to farmers.
Seventy-five hundred copies of a 5-page illustrated folderentitled "Wood for War" prepared by the Extension Forester with the assistance of the Extension Editor, setting forth the things Florida farmers can do to increase forest production, were distributed to county agents for redistribution to farmers. Five radio talks appealing to farmers to harvest their forest products for war purposes were prepared by the Extension Forester and delivered over WRUF during the Farm Hour, copies of which were furnished to county agents for broadcast over 9 State radio stations as a feature of their regular farm radio 'programs. Three newspaper articles emphasizing war needs for wood were prepared by the Extension Forester and were widely copied in State papers.
Protecting Woodlands from Fire County agents in 51 counties were given instruction on damage to timber from fire, chiefly by pointing out actual cases of forest losses while accompanying the agents on visits to farm woodlands in their counties. While actually on the ground with the agent it was possible to discuss ways and means of preventing fire losses with both the county agent and the farmer.
Bulletins, leaflets, folders and mimeographed material giving information on forest fire damage and how to prevent such losses were furnished county agents. They were provided also with mimeographed instructions covering the State's forest fire 'problem and outlining ways and means for solving it. In meeting the problems it is believed that the best approach to its solution lies in the adoption of a coordinated program of timber production, grazing through the establishment of improved pasture strips throughout timbered areas, and the development of the game and wildlife resources. Such a program has been outlined and copies furnished all county agents as a basis for demonstrations. This program was actively pushed during the year and is meeting with much support. County agents and farmers were assisted in establishing demonstrations in this 3-point approach to the solution of the State's greatest forestry problem. A large supply of fire prevention posters and other related materials were secured for distribution.
Florida Cooperative Extension
The Extension Forester, in cooperation with the Extension Animal Husbandman and Extension Conservationist, sent a circular letter and packet of printed material on fire )prevention to all county agents, calling on them to help in the rural emergency fire prevention program.
Planting Forest Trees.-In 37 counties agents were given personal instruction in forest planting and all county agents were provided with bulletins and circulars giving information on planting forest trees. New developments in planting methods were explained and demonstration Plantings, including 8 native species of forest trees-slash pine, red cedar, longleaf pine, black cherry, yellow poplar, white oak, sweet gum and swamp chestnut oak-were continued in 3 counties. Emphasis was placed on planting trees which would supply farm needs for lumber, fence J)osts and fuelwood.
Close cooperation was extended to 3 pulpmills in the State which supplied 1,600,000 free slash pine seedlings to farmers and land owners, 4-11 club members and vocational agriculture students in 38 Florida counties. They were obtained from the State Forest Service nursery at Olustee. Of the total, 995,025 seedlings were distributed to farmers, 4-H club members and others through the efforts of county agents.
In Duval County, through a cooperative arrangement between the county agent and county school board, a school forest consisting of 11,000 slash pines and 1,000 red cedar trees was planted on the grounds of 11 schools.
With the assistance of the Extension Forester and Extension Editor, the assistant county agent in Alachua County developed a filmstrip showing the several steps in forest planting from the drying cones in the nursery shed to the planted trees on the farm. This filmstrip has been duplicated for use in other counties.
A large manufacturing concern which furnished cork oak acorns and seedlings was assisted in the distribution of these to interested farmers and others for trial on an experimental basis. Cork oak seedlings of yearling size were planted on a wide variety of soils in widely separated parts of the State.
4-H Forestry Club Programs.-Instruction was given in 4-H club project work during 1 negro 4-H camp and 3 camps for white 4-H club members, with a total of 186 members receiving training. Eighteen days were devoted to these training projects. Subject matter covered included instruction in forest fire prevention, planting forest trees, tree identification, timber estimating, pruning forest trees, woodland improvement cutting, war uses for wood and the protection and restoration of game and wildlife.
Assistance was given to 4-H club members at 3 meetings which were held at the Buck Pond 4-H Club demonstration forest in Marion County. Species planted included red cedar, yellow poplar, black cherry, white oak, swamp chestnut oak and a few cork oaks.
The county agent in Escambia County was aided in developing a 4-H timber-grazing-game demonstration on 400 acres of severely depleted forest land which was donated by a public-spirited citizen. This project was started last year and to date 11 acres have been planted to slash pine and a little more than 9 acres have been cleared for 'planting improved pasture grasses next spring. A fish pond is under construction and 4 cabins are completed. The tract was fenced during the year. County commissioners, local civic clubs, Soil Conservation Service and several prominent business men are cooperating with the 4-H club council in development work. I
Controlling Forest Insects and Diseases.-During the annual meeting of the county agents at Gainesville a forest pathologist and an entomologist at the University of Florida discussed forest disease and insect control.
Annual Report, 1944
The agents were provided with bulletins and circulars on the subject. Radio talks, circular and personal letters and discussions during farmer's meetings provided further information.
Much of the insect damage can be traced to fire and bad cutting practices. With the adoption of better cutting practices and with more successful fire 'protection, damage by bark beetles and turpentine beetles-tbe most destructive forest insects-will be greatly reduced.
Statewide Timber-Grazing-Game Demonstrational Program.-Because the timber-grazing-game program is so far-reaching in its effect, applying to both farm woodlands and all of the vast cut-over lands of the State, it has been actively promoted during the year.
An outline statement attached to a drawing showing how this program applies on the land, supplied to all county agents, was intended to serve as a guide in establishing demonstrations and in explaining the program to interested farmersand forest landowners. In 21 counties this program was discussed in the field with the county agent and it was included in the general plan adopted by the Hillsborough County Postwar Development Committee. Demonstrations are being established in 7 counties and plans are being made for additional demonstrations in 9 other counties.
Preventing Destructive "Clear Cutting" With heavy wartime demands for the harvesting of forest products for war purposes, preventing destructive "clear cutting" in all activities for increasing timber production on farms has been stressed. In all personal contacts with county agents and farmers, at all meetings of farmers, 4-H club members and agricultural workers, in circular letters, newspaper articles, personal letters, radio talks, and by selection of bulletins, folders, leaflets and charts conservative harvesting of forest products was emphasized. It was pointed out that destructive cutting of timber, even in wartime, is not necessary or justified and that it is against the best interests of both the landowner and the Nation.
County agents contributed materially to conservative cutting of timber by directing farmers to the Extension Forester, Timber Production War Project Foresters or Woodland Marketing Project Foresters for additional assistance in harvesting and selling their timber.
Cutting More Fuelwood on Farms Assistance was extended to the Southern Forest Experiment Station at New Orleans in determining the fuelwood situation for 1944. In view of the high market for fuelwoodbecause wood is a replaceable fuel, to relieve congested transportation facilities and to conserve coal and fuel oil for war purposes-farmers were urged to cut and market low grade and salvage wood for fuel. County agents were urged to encourage greater production of fuel wood on farms for use both on farms and in the cities.
Florida Cooperative Extension
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
K. S. McMullen, Soil Conservationist
The standard of living for Florida's rural population, approximately 900,000, who earn their living directly from general farms, groves, ranches and forests is determined by the capacity of their lands to produce.
Florida is a state of wide variations as to soils, type of agriculture, topography and climate. Soils are diverse, even in small areas. The economic value of a particular soil type-Norfolk fine sand as an examplefound in western Florida would likely be classed as submarginal, whereas in southern Florida this soil type produces citrus groves valued at $1,000 or more per acre. Likewise, the soil and water conservation program, is variable in accordance with these changing characteristics.
Farmer determination, patriotism and hard work, coupled with the intelligent use of all scientific devices for increasing yields, conserving fertilizer, making labor and equipment more efficient, and the diligent and judicious use of soil and water conservation measures, gave as a reward the great and vital 1944 production of food, feed and woodland products. Though 1944 was a year of maximum strain on the land, it brought greater realization in the mind of the farmer, and perhaps in the mind of everyone, of the value and necessity for taking care of the land, that greatest of assets to a man or to a people.
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Soil conservation districts now cover 13,208,938 acres in 28 counties of Florida, reaching from Escambia county on the west to Pinellas, Lee and Hendry on the south. Problems and activities by districts are many, as well as extremely varied. The problems, and likewise the programs, in the peninsular section of the State are widely different from those of central or western Florida. They are primarily water control, moisture conservation, forestry, wildlife, soil building and soil maintenance. Districts organized in this area are comparatively new, and work is just now beginning to get under way. Supervisors of the Volusia district in Volusia County, Istokpoga district in Highlands County and the Pinellas district in Pinellas County report that conservation surveys and contour maps, along with detailed water control and water management t plans, have been completed for several areas of each district.
Soil conservation districts are being organized in Florida very rapidly and it is anticipated that most of Florida, covering the principal agricultural counties at least, will be organized into districts within the next 2 years. Plans should be made to guide adequately this movement and to insure its operation on a coordinated and cooperative basis.
Educational Work in Organized Districts The educational work with organized soil conservation districts was conducted through the respective county agents. One-day discussion conferences and field days were planned and held at the North Florida Experiment Station at Quincy and at the University of Florida Experiment Station.
Applicable material published on soil and water conservation by the State Extension Service, State Experiment Station, Soil Conservation Service and U. S. Department of Agriculture w*as distributed and information regarding special activities by any particular district was furnished other districts.
Boards of supervisors were assisted in obtaining equipment.
A detailed report on activities of all districts covering status of con-
Annual Report, 1944
reservation surveys, conservation farm plans, educational activities, individual conservation 'practices and financial statement was compiled and distributed.
Educational Work in New Districts.-Organization of 6 districts was completed during 1944-Charlotte, Alachua, Peace River, Hendry, Hardee and Lake. Organization of districts is in process in the following counties: Putnam, Indian River, Polk, Brevard, Highlands, Gulf, Lee and Manatee. Programs and work plans were developed through the cooperative effort of the supervisors, county agents and district conservationists. Two days were spent with the supervisors in each ease. The immediate objective was to develop the program and work plan, but perhaps the greatest accomplishment was that of bringing the supervisors together where they could study and plan the operation of their districts.
POST-WAR STATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The State was divided into 7 problem areas or adjustment areas, each area being fairly homogeneous in nature but different from the others in essential physiographic characteristics. The land-use capability classification was applied to sample surveys as nearly representative of each adjustment area as 'possible and the data expanded mathematically to represent the total acreage of the problem or adjustment area, and thus adjusted to the 1940 census data by land use-cultivated, idle, pasture, woodland and miscellaneous.
Of the 34,727,680 acres of land in Florida there are 1,751,275 acres of cropland, 1,474,954 acres of which should remain in cultivation, 165,818 acres of which should be devoted to improved pastures, and 110,503 acres of which should be devoted to woodland; 462,248 acres of idle land, 264,172 acres of which may be converted to economical production of crops, 73,266 acres of which may be converted to economical production of pastures and 124,810 acres of which should be converted into woodland; 30,070,647 acres of woodland, 668,124 acres of which are suitable for crops or improved pastures and 23,390,523 acres of which should remain in woodland; 643,065 acres of pasture, 390,276 acres of which should remain in 'pasture, 320,124 acres of which may remain in pasture or be devoted to cultivated crops, and 13,665 acres of which should be devoted to woodland. There are 1,800,445 acres of miscellaneous lands.
EDUCATION WITH YOUTH
Two weeks were devoted to teaching soil and water conservation to regular classes at 2 1-week State 4-H club camps and 2 days were also devoted to teaching a similar class at a county 4-11 club camp. The course was presented through the medium of discussion, lantern slides, field trips and moving pictures.
The 1944 State Wildlife Camp for 4-11 club boys included instructions and activities in.soil and water conservation for the first time. Instructions in soil and water conservation were provided in 4 separate classes each day for 3 days. One day was devoted to an extended field tour of farms where actual field studies were made of soil erosion and depletion, cover crops, terracing, crop rotations, pastures, forestry and proper land-use measures.
In 7 counties 151 boys completed the activities of the National 4-H soil and water conservation contest and a $50.00 war bond was awarded to each of the 6 boys making the highest scores. Record of the boy receiving first place in the State was submitted for regional and national competition.
Florida Cooperative Extension
Servicing Vocational Agriculture Teachers.-The 1944 soil and water conservation program for Florida was presented to groups of teachers. A circular, "Put Conservation Farming Behind War Food Production," was prepared by the Extension Conservationist and 11,500 copies were distributed in an effort to present a complete picture of the contribution of soil and water conservation to war food production and to show the assistance available to farmers in planning and carrying out such a program. Sufficient copies of this circular were furnished all teachers for distribution to each of their students as an outline for the teaching activities.
SUMMER COVER CROP PROGRAM
A survey has been made to determine the extent of 'present plantings of summer cover crops, extent of expansion that might be economically feasible, source of seed and advisability of harvesting locally grown seed. Results of the survey were encouraging and plans have been made to go forward with the program in 1945.
. A campaign was conducted in the spring of 1944 to secure increased plantings of summer cover crops. Radio talks and news articles were prepared and distributed on the value of summer cover crops.
The demand for crotalaria seed has been far greater than the supply and an appeal was sent out for all seed possible to be harvested. Sesbania (Microcarpa) is one of the most popular summer cover crops planted following the winter vegetables, and is particularly adapted to fields kept flooded or partially flooded during the summer.
WINTER COVER CROP PROGRAM
Farmers agree that as a winter cover crop for Florida blue lupine is far superior to any others introduced to date, even though it is apparently adapted only to western and central Florida. Although Austrian peas and vetches have year by year grown less popular since the introduction of lupine, an appreciable acreage of these crops has been planted. County organizations that were response " ble for the largest acreage of winter cover crops ever planted in Florida conducted a lupine seed harvesting campaign in the spring that yielded approximately 1,500,000 pounds of seed.
Annual Report, 1944
PART III
WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' WORK
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
Mary E. Keown, State Home Demonstration Agent Ruby McDavid, District Agent
Ethyl Holloway, District Agent
Edith Y. Barrus, District Agent
County home demonstration agents are employed in 37 counties; assistant agents in 4 counties; and negro home demonstration agents are employed in 10 counties.
Assistants for the emergency program in food production and conservation worked full-time in Washington, Okaloosa, Hardee and DeSoto-Charlotte counties. Assistants worked part-time in Alachua, Duval, Jackson, Marion, Polk and Hernando-Sumter counties. Negro emergency assistants worked in Suwannee, Broward, Lake, Manatee, Seminole and Volusia.
PERSONNEL PROBLEMS
Changes were made in 11 positions of home demonstration agents and assistant agents. Availability of higher salaries elsewhere, marriage, enlarged home economics programs in the public school systems, difficulties and expenses of securing automobiles and family situations made it difficult to secure county workers who met the requirements considered essential in this State.
A plan has been set up to give training to graduates of the State College for Women who desire to enter home demonstration work and who have not had an opportunity to acquire a needed understanding of rural life and the relationship between urban and rural interests and the importance of agriculture in Florida. With the cooperation and approval of the president of Florida State College for Women, funds have been made available to employ 2 home economics graduates to work as home demonstration assistants in selected counties. The work to be done is planned on periods from 3 to 4 months, is definite enough so results can be secured within that time and is work needed to be done in the county program.
Professional Improvement in Service.-All home demonstration agents and emergency workers received considerable in-service training this year. Regional meetings in January provided information on the use of a plentiful Florida food through 5 3-day short courses on fish curing, smoking and canning. Seventeen 1-day training courses on meat cookery were arranged and 6 2-day short courses on the use of home canned products gave the agents and the council leaders valuable training in food preparation.
All emergency 'assistants were given a 2-day instruction course at the Extension Service headquarters in preparation for their work and were provided with definite outlines of work to be undertaken.
PROGRAM PLANNING
Home demonstration agents and local communities or groups conducted definite programs in 553 of the 712 communities in counties served by home
Florida Cooperative Extension
demonstration agents. Three hundred three home demonstration clubs have been organized for work with rural women, exceeding by 33 the goal set at the beginning of the year and exceeding by 29 the number in 1943. The negro home demonstration agents directed 112 similar groups for negro women interested primarily in food production and conservation and home improvement.
Small neighborhood groups or special interest groups which were not considered as organized home demonstration groups functioned generally in the State to meet the needs of the women. County reports show 3,255 method demonstration meetings were held this year for women and 3,623 meetings for girls with a total attendance of 44,767 women and 73,957 girls. The emergency assistants gave useful help to 2,960 other women and girls who worked with them on established demonstrations in their home to increase food production and conservation.
4-H CLUB WORK
Four hundred forty-eight 4-H clubs in the State have a membership of 9,349 white girls from 10 to 20 years of age; 3,669 negro girls are enrolled in their 152 4-H clubs. Emergency assistants enrolled 844 white and 1,277 negro Victory 4-H girls in food production and conservation.
Enrollment of girls in 4-H clubs showed a slight decrease from last year, although the total number of girls helped was higher. An analysis of the reports was made to determine the reason for this decrease. The number of girls enrolled for the first time in 4-H work almost doubled in 1944 over 1943, increasing from the 2,401 beginning 4-H work in 1943 to
Fig. 6.-War Bonds were awarded by Governor Caldwell and Miss Keown
to outstanding Florida 4-H club girls for their work during 1944.
Annual Report, 1944
4,343 beginning 4-H members in 1944. Evidently all girls who enrolled in 1943 continued for their second year of 4-H work during 1944 because the present enrollment of second-year girls is 2,421. Further analysis showed that in 1943 2,433 girls of 14 years of age or older were actively enrolled in 4-H clubs while in 1944 the enrollment of girls in this age group dropped to 1,599. Apparently the reason for lower enrollment of older girls lies in the fact that the older girls must assume a steadily increasing amount of responsibility for home and farm duties or they have taken eyn employment outside the home.
Home demonstration agents from 38 counties devoted approximately 5,028 days to girls' 4-H club work, including training volunteer leaders serving the 4-H clubs. These figures show that just a little less than onehalf of the time of the county home demonstration agents was given to 4-H club work this year.
Leadership Goals.-To increase the interest in 4-H club work in every neighborhood and community 729 club girls and 364 women voluntarily served as 4-H club leaders this year. The leaders, who received their training through membership in home demonstration clubs, attended 88 special training meetings with an attendance of 1,421.
4-H girls are recognized leaders and have been trained in organization, so have been able to give useful service in special campaigns conducted as a part of the war program.
Achievement Goals.-4-H girls did outstanding work on farms and in homes helping to feed, clothe and healthfully house the families during this war crisis. They have been active in community war work. Their achievement goals have been set according to the national 7-point program for 4-H clubs for 3 years and have been the basis for planning work undertaken by the Florida 4-H girls.
Achievement Days County 4-H achievement days are held in all counties and do much to encourage completions of 4-H work, to encourage the development of the 4-H girls, to recognize girls' accomplishments, and to bring the club girls and adults of the community closer together in understanding relationships.
This year, because of transportation difficulties, counties report holding several local achievement days in place of the usual county-wide event. Exhibits are displayed, records and products judged, and team demonstrations presented and a recognition service or skit program held. Club girls participate throughout. Agents report 288 achievement days were held with 9,248 in attendance.
Camps and Short Courses During the period from May 9 through August 24, 1944, 19 camps were held for Florida 4-H club girls. Thirtyeight counties were represented at these camps by 36 home demonstration agents, 2 emergency assistants, 12 county agents, 47 local leaders, 1,247 girls and 489 boys and 77 other assistants, including camp directors and instructors, a total of 1,914 people. Eight of the 19 camps were held jointly by county agricultural agents and home demonstration agents.
Most of the camps were held at the district camps-Timpoochee, McQuarrie and Cherry Lake. Five were held as individual camps at local sites in Gadsden, St. Johns, Dade, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Broward and Palm Beach counties camped together in Palm Beach County.
Seventy-six courses of instruction (40 different types of work) were offered at 19 camps. Courses included: Health, swimming, posture, sewing, first aid, nutrition, food preparation, meal service and good manners, clothing construction, repair of equipment, canning, fire prevention and safety, and handicraft.
52 Florida Cooperative Extension
FAMILY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Home Improvement Farm and family incomes have increased. In spite of building restrictions and shortages of labor, home improvements were made because the family wanted them and worked for them. Two hundred five new homes were built, 2,579 houses were repaired or remodelled and 1,088 were painted. The agents helped 1,884 families with house planning problems for building later.
Recognition of the value of more attractive surroundings in improved family living came to 347 families who completely beautified their home grounds and the 338 who started lawns this year.
County home demonstration agents worked with 16,670 farm families, helping the women and girls to make desired changes and improvements in their homes. Of that number 3,551 farm homes were served for the first time this year.
Home improvement demonstrations, both interior and exterior, have been carried on by 4,081 4-H girls. Some are long-time demonstrations which have been the results of several years of planning and work. This year when more money is available some farm and suburban families have been able to secure needed supplies for added rooms or repairs and improvement because of need for housing facilities in crowded war or labor areas. The after-war home improvement plans are being started now as girls plan for the wise use of bonds for home improvement needs. One thousand five hundred thirty 4-H girls were enrolled in the beautification of the home grounds.
Recreation.-Because recreation is so closely related to good family relationships and to satisfying home and community life, the home demonstration agents encourage recreation as part of the 4-H club training program. Some recreation is held for social purposes only, while other recreation serves to make money for community improvements or for war bonds.
Need for family and community recreation has grown as travel facilities decreased. This year 3,152 families were assisted in improving home recreation and 148 rural communities improved their recreational facilities. Thirty-two home demonstration clubs for women maintained or assisted in maintaining community libraries which carried a total of 525 magazines and newspaper subscriptions.
Canning Centers-Ninety-three canning centers were operated under the direction of the home demonstration offices, 53 of which w ere established this year. The canning center usually is a neighborhood meeting place and many things besides canning are accomplished for the welfare of the community as ihe women work together there. Canning center buildings often are used as community meeting halls, which are lacking in so many rural communities. Seven hundred seventy-eight small neighborhood groups worked together this year on their canning. Sixty-three community buildings are owned by home demonstration clubs while 17 other clubs have club rooms.
Four hundred eighty-four communities held entertainments for social purposes only, while 204 others held community entertainments to raise money for some community improvement.
Rome Industries Rural women and girls were busier in 1944 than in any other year attending to essential farm and home work. Therefore, they did not have time to develop home and fireside industries and standardized home and farm products as extensively as in other years. Fortytwo girls and 410 women had standardized products for market. Reports voluntarily made to the county home demonstration agents by women and girls showed they sold products totalling $1,174,252.14.
Annual Report,'1944
Food Production Home gardens, fruit orchards, home poultry and home-raised dairy products and meats all were considered essential wartime activities. Fifteen thousand fourteen families asked the home demonstration agents-white and negro-for help in securing a good food supply through home production. A smaller number of city families attempting to grow gardens and chickens, and the general broadcast over the State by demonstrations, press articles, radio and specially prepared circulars, of food production information and recommended procedures, influenced the gardening program this year. A total of 24,952 home gardens were grown by women and girls enrolled in home demonstration clubs and by emergency assistants. Of this number, 5,477 gardens were grown by negro women and girls. Forty-six special garden courses were given to train 928 women and 62 courses to train 892 4-H girls as garden leaders.
As an investment for food production a few years hence 3,212 calendar fruit orchards were started this year with 1,035 additional orchards Planted by negro families on their farms. Thirty-five thousand eight hundred four trees and vines were also planted in orchards previously started.
Poultry.-Nearly 5,000 families improved their home food supply by raising their own poultry and eggs. Poultry raising was not so popular in urban backyards this year as last, but farm women and girls kept their farm flock production about the same, reporting they owned 312,350 hens and 17,266 cockerels and raised 736,098 chickens. Three million three hundred thousand dozen home-produced eggs were used in preparing the family meals. 4-H club girls realized a total of $26,333.00 from the sale of poultry and eggs.
Dairy Cows.-4-H girls cared for 650 dairy cows. This 4-H dairy work assured many families of the dairy products so essential to good family health. The value of good milk to the family was recognized by at least 3,672 families who asked for help in improving the family food supply by producing more milk. Two thousand thirty-two cows were bought this year, bringing the number of cows owned by home demonstration women and girls to 10,762. Two hundred twenty-seven milk goats also helped out the milk supply. Cheese and other dairy products made from this milk supplied needed protein and added to the palatability of the diet of 9,213 families.
Livestock-The livestock grown by 4-H girls numbers 2,070 beef cattle and 1,546 other animals, including goats, swine and rabbits. This is a decided increase over last year's figures but is in line with the increased interest in the improved livestock industry throughout the State.
The Marion County home demonstration agent reports that 10 girls began the year's work on raising beef cattle to sell at the Fat Stock Show in Ocala in February. Seven of the girls completed their work, exhibited their animals and sold them at the sale. The girls all realized a good sum of money from the sales and a total of about $4,000. Some 4-H girls have increased their number of animals for another year. A State winner in the records and livestock contests this year was Jeannette Zetrouer.
Food Conservation Much more judgment was used in canning than in 1943, when a sort of food frenzy seemed to strike the city people lest rationing would catch them without food. This year non-farm families did can but they chose fresh fruits and vegetables and used a good canning budget.
In general, better canning methods have been used. Canned products undoubtedly are of much higher quality. More home canning equipment has been bought, more fresh vegetables have been raised and more freezing units have been installed. Fifteen thousand five hundred eighty-seven families reported they cured 2,768,810 pounds of meat and 5,469 families
54 Florida Cooperative Extension
stated they made home-produced meats into 469,625 pounds of sausage. The total amount of food canned was 3,122,294 quarts-148,243 quarts of which were canned by negroes.
Club girls individually canned approximately 209,778 quarts of food during the past year and improved workroom and storage facilities at home.
Older 4-H club girls served as canning leaders, showing inexperienced adults in their community how to can according to the best methods.
Food Preparation-4-H club girls have assumed greater responsibility than ever before toward seeing that the busy farm and war-working families were well fed. Thirty-seven counties have reported 3,584 girls completed the 4-H food preparation demonstrations. Meals planned and served at home numbered 39,915.
Nutrition.-During the year 14,937 families- worked with the home demonstration agents to improve their diets through applying a better knowledge of nutrition to their family food problems. As a special service the agents taught 371 nutrition courses in cooperation with the American Red Cross; 17 of the agents reported they were registered as certified Red Cross nutrition instructors.
Thirty-two I-day training courses and demonstrations on the use of meat, 'peanuts and home-canned products were given in 29 counties.
The nutrition and health and food preparation program has gone hand in hand with the food production program and with home improvement work. I
Special War Services.-4-H girls are recognized leaders and have been trained in organization, so have been able to give useful service in special campaigns conducted as a part of the war program. Women and girls, white and colored, collected more than 58 tons of scrap metal and 50 tons of waste fat. They saved 32,080 glass containers and filled them with food.
Home demonstration women and 4-H girls did valiant work in making investments in government bonds and stamps and in their leadership in bond drives. Voluntary reports given by 165 home demonstration clubs for women in 26 counties show bonds bought amounted to $744,412.35. 4-H girls of 25 counties representing 259 clubs report purchases amounting to $123,997.85. Together these rural girls and women have invested close to a million dollars as a part of their battle in their country's cause. I Home demonstration clubs and county councils which have been saving and earning money for club buildings and scholarship funds report they have invested their savings in government securities in the amount of $17,630.
Maintenance of Good Health.-Although not generally organized as a health agency, home demonstration work contributes definitely to better family and community health and 14,937 families worked with the home demonstration agents in improving their diets while 1,977 mothers sought help on child feeding problems to insure healthy youngsters. Also, 4,318 families reported they profited from information given them on resistance to and prevention of colds and other common diseases. Agents induced 4,101 families to be immunized against various diseases such as typhoid, smallpox, etc.
Sanitation measures can account for considerable improvement in the health of families; 1,884 women reported they had a general house cleaning; 989 homes were screened against flies and mosquitoes; 210 inside toilets and 189 outside toilets were installed; 61 sunshine water heating systems and 239 water systems were put into rural homes; and 588 mat-
Annual Report, 1944 55
tresses were made from home-grown cotton and 691 were renovated in the interest of good sleep.
Child Care.-The aim of the child care program for 4-H girls was to teach them to help their small brothers and sisters be healthy. 4-H club girls have made a real contribution to victory by giving good care to their little brothers and sisters while their mothers must be away or while they are busy with extra home or farm work.
The program included care, management, food and clothing, depending upon the age of the 4-H club girls and the child in her care. Each phase of the child care demonstration was recommended by the Extension specialist concerned. It helped girls to learn how to take care of children properly and in some cases was a means of a little cash income.
Realizing that every child is our concern and 4-H girls especially, the State home demonstration staff and the county home demonstration agents and volunteer leaders cooperated in every way possible to plan for children's health and welfare in war and peace.
They assist with the well-baby clinics, school clinics and health checkups. They help with the program for young children of employed and farm mothers; assist with the school lunch program and nutrition program; help provide and encourage recreation programs and facilities; hold camps to train leaders and 4-H girls; train leaders to help with some forms of recreation; help families to provide safe 'play space at home and in the neighborhood; help protect children from hazards and disease.
Farm Labor Needs Information on labor-saving methods and sharing labor and equipment in order to get crops harvested was given by 16 agents to 1,181 farm families. Also, 474 volunteer home demonstration leaders assisted with explaining the emergency labor program and enlisting a systematic understanding among both farm and urban people. Agents estimate these leaders got 973 persons not regularly engaged in agriculture to help with farm work and helped to place 111 in different yearround jobs. Also, 9,011 women and 9,612 girls reported they did farm work this year; 303 girls and women reported operating tractors, 268 plowed and 194 used cultivators. Nine hundred thirty-four women and 61 girls in 25 counties reported they managed the farm operations while the men of the family were away in military service or in war industries.
Farm Safety and Fire Prevention.-In 24 counties 4,544 girls, both white and colored, and 2,387 women in 15 counties enrolled for special fire and accident prevention projects. A special outline for work to be done by 4-H girls was prepared and used to good advantage. Thirty-seven special training courses for leaders were given to 694 women in 7 counties and 89 courses for the 1,518 4-H girls who served as group leaders.
Clothing Clothing demonstrations enrolled 6,132 4-H girls. Through these demonstrations 28,318 new garments were made and 7,904 garments were remodelled.
The State Clothing Specialist helped the agents develop the 4-H clothing program in the counties through visits to individual club groups and to county groups. During the visits exhibits and demonstrations were given to help promote a wartime program. Clothing work was taught at
4 of the summer 4-H camps. ,
WORK WITH RETURNING VETERANS
A large percentage of men now in the military service came from rural communities and are looking forward to re-establishing homes there. Others who are new to country life will wish to settle in the country.
56 Florida Cooperative Extension
All Will be faced with the necessity of an adjustment within themselves to a peace-time world that is different from the world they remember. The civilian population must likewise make adjustments in their thoughts and actions to meet those of the returned veterans.
Ways an which home demonstration workers and organized home demonstration work are giving useful service in such an undertaking are by: Making ready for the veteran and his family; serving in an advisory capacity to give reliable information on and assistance with social, spiritual, economic and educational 'problems; and giving special educational assistance to beginners through direct teaching of useful skills and activities.
NEGRO HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK PROGRESSES
Negro home demonstration work is conducted in 10 counties with large colored populations. The work of the negro home agents with both women and girls, as well as with other members of colored farm families, progressed satisfactorily during the year. The colored farm families rallied behind their leaders to do everything they possibly could to help produce needed foods and other farm 'products.
The negro district home demonstration agent supervises the 10 agents in counties, with the guidance of the State Home Demonstration Agent. State specialists supply needed materials for use in the negro programs and assist with the training of negro agents.
Annual Report, 1944
CLOTHING AND TEXTILES
Joyce Bevis, Specialist in Clothing and Textiles
The records of the clothing and textile work done during 1944 show that the clothing program was carried on in 496 of the 55& communities of the State where home demonstration work is done. This is 130 communities more than last year. Twenty-nine counties reported 2,445 clothing demonstrators among home demonstration members and 7,032 among 4-H club members; 7,808 families were assisted with construction problems; 6,291 families were assisted in the selection of clothing; 7,302 families were assisted with care, renovating and remodeling; 1,613 families were assisted with clothing accounts and budgets; 966 families were helped with care and repair of sewing machines; and 15,232 homemade accessories were made by club members.
Red Cross Work A number of counties are continuing Red Cross sewing and knitting. The Santa Rosa County home demonstration agent reports the club women in that county made 300 night gowns, 200 men's shirts, 150 petticoats, 75 half petticoats and 75 knitted sweaters.
Dade County reports that 5,175 hours were spent by home demonstration club members in sewing for the Red Cross during 1944.
4-11 CLUB WORK
During 1944 6,132 girls were enrolled in the 4-H clothing program and 4,141 completed their demonstrations. Through these demonstrations 26,318 garments were made and 7,904 garments were remodeled.
Help was given the agents in developing the 4-11 club program in several different ways. Much interest was aroused through visits to 4-H club meetings where the Specialist stressed the wartime clothing program and showed exhibits of 4-H clothing demonstrations, remodeled clothes, accessories made at home, sack articles and Christmas gifts that were made at home. Courses in clothing construction, personal grooming, good manners, leadership, handicrafts, swimming and safety in the home and on the farm were taught to 449 girls and boys at summer camps held for 4-H club groups.
The Specialist attended and judged clothing exhibits at many of the county achievement days. The State winner in the dress revue for 1944 was Barbara McKinney from Dade County.
EMERGENCY WAR FOOD PROGRAM
Since the Emergency War Food Program deals with the production and conservation of food, feed and fiber, the Clothing -Specialist took a part in helping to develop the emergency program by making available to the workers helpful leaflets, news letters, bulletins and exhibits. One of the exhibits available at the State office which was useful to the emergency assistants in developing their program was a collection of suitable work clothes to be used indoors and outdoors. The exhibit included a sample costume of each pattern recommended by the U. S. Department of Agriculture as suitable work clothes and also included the uniform for the Woman's Land Army.
In cooperation with district and home demonstration agents, the Specialist held approximately 30 leader-training meetings in the different counties to train leaders to help carry on a useful wartime clothing program in their communities. This training included help in program planning, making and arranging helpful exhibits, wise use of additional leaflets, bulletins
58 Florida Cooperative Extension
and booklets, and planning and giving demonstrations for both 4-H and home demonstration groups.
The Specialist related this leader training and clothing work to other phases of homemaking, thus showing the presidents of these groups how other demonstration leaders could help their agents extend useful knowledge in foods and nutrition, gardening, canning, home improvement and home management to many more people.
Although no bulletins on clothing and textile work were printed during the year, good use was made of available Federal and commercial bulletins.
At the beginning of the year the Specialist attempted to simplify a record book to be used for clothing demonstrations. The agents used this record book in mimeographed form during 1944 to decide if it were what was needed and desired. Considering suggestions for changes, it is expected that this mimeographed record book will be printed in 1945.
One of 2 helpful exhibits which were prepared at the State Home Demonstration Office during the year for Statewide use illustrated ways of using scraps and remnants of old materials that were collected by the specialists for the past several years. The exhibit included dickeys, collars, bags, hats and other accessories.
Another exhibit was I of various types and styles of bags, hats and other accessories that can be made at home from materials, looper clips and yarns. Much interest developed among the women and girls through the use of this exhibit and the available commercial patterns for making attractive hats and bags.
With all the possibilities and wonders in the making and with all the discoveries that have resulted from wartime research there seems to be much in store for us in the field of clothing and textiles for the postwar period. The future world will be a wonderful place if we, as consumers, use our knowledge wisely and remember to do the things for ourselves that wartime conditions have taught us to do.
Annual Report, 1944
FOOD, NUTRITION AND HEALTH
Anna Mae Sikes, Nutritionist
The food, nutrition and health program has developed through the 32 years since its establishment in Florida with 2 fundamental Florida food problems foremost in mind: First, how to assist farm families to provide better diets for themselves through the use of more home-grown and homeconserved foods; and second, to help rural people improve their health and physical fitness by assisting them to acquire a better working knowledge of food values and of nutrition generally.
With the declaration of war the home demonstration nutrition program became an essential war program and took its proper position in defense on the home front. The training in skills and leadership given to thousands of rural women and girls in the past proved its permanent value manifold under war conditions.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The longtime goal to keep the family well fed required additional impetus as war made increased demands on food supplies and health. Many farm women and girls did outstanding work in fields, thus helping meet labor shortages and increasing food production. Wartime food production goals for home gardens and poultry were met and in most counties exceeded.
Best methods of cooking food to save nutritive values and for palatability were the theme of 7,841 demonstrations given by the Nutritionist and home demonstration agents. Merchants and agents cooperated in working out practical aids for housekeepers in saving and using rationed foods and in spending the ration points to get greatest nutritional value. Special emphasis has been placed on the need to use abundant foods and spare those foods that are not so plentiful.
Home demonstration workers participated with other agencies in promoting and guiding the expanding school lunch program. In 1944 home demonstration agents continued to give nutrition and canteen courses. In some instances rural women who have been trained through home demonstration work have served as nutrition leaders.
In 8 counties 29 Red Cross home nursing courses were taught to approximately 545 women and girls. Through Red Cross nurses and local doctors typhoid and diphtheria immunization were given. Health examinations and home sanitation were stressed at club meetings.
Cooperative nutrition committee programs have been developed in many Florida counties with home demonstration agents and leaders taking active parts in analyzing nutrition situations and helping to decide upon the most urgent needs within a county.
All activities of the home demonstration wartime nutrition program have been aimed at helping.rural families keep physically fit through improved food habits and an adequate diet; helping them meet their own food needs by larger production and more 'preservation; helping them use to best advantage the foods available, through good meal planning and conservation of food values in cooking and handling; and helping them cooperate, with understanding and willingness, in government war measures such as food rationing, food price ceilings and war food-use programs.
Nutrition and Physical Fitness.-In this phase of the nutrition program the goals were: To keep informed on developments in nutrition; to keep physically fit through improved food habits and adequate diet; to correct food attitudes and habits with children and adults to meet nutritional standards; to relate nutrition and health 'programs more closely; to pro-
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mote better planning and securing of the family food supplies, whether home-produced or purchased; to aid home-makers in providing good meals, especially while so many women are working and where school children and war workers get part of their meals away from home. Other goals were to spread information on rationing and use of new foods or alternates and to improve nutrition and food preparation. Another important goal was to work in close cooperation with all health authorities, including the State Board of Health, for control of malaria, hookworm, typhus and all communicable diseases.
Methods used in developing this program were training meetings, public demonstrations, radio, exhibits, newspaper articles, quizzes, motion pictures, filmstrips, circulars, leaflets, pamphlets, county nutrition courses, home visits and the school lunch program.
Records show that this phase of the program was conducted in 35 counties and 535 communities; 1,493 families in 37 counties improved their diets during the year; 1,977 families in 36 counties were assisted with child feeding problems; 171 nutrition instruction courses in 18 counties were attended by 2,266 women and girls; 4,110 women in 26 counties took positive preventive measures to improve health through immunization programs; 1,635 families in 21 counties participated in first aid or home -nursing courses; 4,318 families in 33 counties were helped in preventing colds and common diseases.
Food Preparation and Meal Planning-The food preparation and meal planning phase has been approached through building health with the proper selection, preparation and attractive serving of the right foods.
During the year method demonstrations were given showing the correct preparation of all groups of foods. However, because of wartime needs, particular work was done on "utility beef", peanuts, soybeans, quick and yeast breads using enriched flour, honey, syrup and vegetable cookery. Twenty-nine agents and 20 leaders in 29 counties reported they gave 610 demonstrations in the use of enriched flour and cereals. Thirty-two agents and 26 leaders in 32 counties gave 747 demonstrations on the use of meat alternates.
The record of the number of families adopting improved practices in food preparation shows: Baking, 4,111 families in 35 counties; meat cookery, 5,595 families in 35 counties; vegetables and fruit cookery, 6,059 families in 34 counties; dairy products, 4,067 in 32 counties; Poultry products, 4,002 families in 34 counties; and fats, 3,396 families in 25 counties.
Reports show that 9,942 families in 35 counties were assisted with food preparation and that 672 leaders in 30 counties assisted with this program. In 34 counties 13,369 families reported that they planned their meals according to available foods locally produced.
Production of the Home Food Supply During the war emergency there has been a continued emphasis on the need for home production of food as a means for providing essential foods for an adequate diet. Objectives for rural families were: A victory garden to furnish vegetables for use fresh and for preservation-always including green and yellow vegetables; fruit orchards where possible; a cow or 2 for adequate milk supply, butter and cheese; a poultry flock for meat and eggs; and meat animals.
Families were assisted in making a food plan and estimating the amount of different foods needed on a 6-months' or a year's basis. Demonstrations were given before groups showing how home production, conservation and utilization of foods can contribute to better family -nutrition.
Accomplishments in producing the home food supply are indicated by the following report: 851 volunteer local leaders in 27 counties assisted with educational work in connection with home production of the family
Annual Report, 1944
food supply; 3,490 families in 28 counties improved family food supply by making changes in home production; 10,035 families in 36 counties improved vegetable supply; 4,509 families in 37 counties improved fruit supply; 4,492 families in 35 counties improved meat supply; 3,672 families in 36 counties improved milk supply with 1,069 families in.26 counties making more butter and cheese; and 4,950 families in 37 counties improved their poultry and egg supply.
4-11 Club Work The goals of the 4-H club food, nutrition and health program were: To interest every 4-11 club member in physical fitness, vigor and general good health; to encourage members to help plan, grow and preserve an adequate food supply for family needs; to help club members work out a daily pattern for 3 adequate meals for themselves; to encourage older members to work out patterns for the family's 3 meals and to plan so that they will furnish the 'protective foods; to understand how to prepare and serve the "basic 7" foods efficiently; and to give team demonstrations and arrange exhibits as a means of extending information and teaching skills to the neighborhood or community.
Method demonstrations were used extensively alone and in combination with discussion meetings, exhibits and filmstrips by the Nutritionist in training home demonstration agents, 4-H club leaders and members. 4-11 club members were trained by the Nutritionist, home demonstration agents and rural 4-11 club leaders to give team demonstrations in food preparation and meal planning. In addition, demonstrations were given by club members on the school lunch, posture and health improvement.
During the year 5,478 4-11 club girls in 37 counties planned, prepared and served 44,484 meals to their families. In addition 1,221 girls in 24 counties had health examinations and 4-11 girls in 7 counties completed home nursing and first aid courses; 4-H girls assisted with the school lunch program with food 'preparation and service at times; 3,856 4-H club girls in 35 counties grew home gardens; 417 acres of home orchards were planted by 4-H club girls in 20 counties; 2,286 girls in 36 counties cared for poultry flocks to help the family meet the egg supply; and 576 girls in 26. counties owned and cared for the family cow.
Health Acitivities.-The maintenance of health was stressed as a wartime necessity, both because of a shortage of doctors and nurses and to avoid absenteeism from work. More value was put on securing information on food, nutrition and health and improving health habits. Special attention was given to the immunization programs and to the prevention of nutritional diseases.
Florida Cooperative Extension
GARDENING AND FOOD CONSERVATION
Isabelle S. Thursby, Economist in Food Conservation
Reports from home demonstration agents from over the State unfold many splendid stories of achievement and of family and group adjustments to social and economic changes during this the third year of World War IL
FOOD CONSERVATION
Goals were greatly exceeded this year, particularly in canning. In 1943, 14 times as many containers of vegetables were filled as in 1938. Mainly this surfeit of canning took place among townspeople. Older home demonstration club members through years of experience in canning maintained their usual budget which had been found satisfactory.
By early spring this year, however, the fear of not having enough food bad passed. Pantries were still bulging from the excessive canning program of last year. Many had continued successful victory gardens. Fresh vegetables were plentiful on the local markets. These factors tended to decrease the number of gardens grown by amateurs and the amount of some foods canned.
Canning Equipment.-The purchase of canning equipment, especially pressure cookers, reached high proportions. Many urban women, recently made aware of their value in securing a better food supply, were among those purchasing equipment.
While the goal towards establishing several more up-to-date canning centers with a choice of steam and gas or fuel oil units has not been realized, smaller centers in many counties have been overhauled and modernized. In Palatka, where a considerable amount of truck crops is grown, a center was built entirely new on the platform of the Farmers' Market.
Fig. 7-Canning centers such as this operated throughout the State,
helping both rural and urban families to conserve needed foods.
Annual Report, 1944
A large, well-equipped, steam-operated center was completed early in the year in Duval County.
Agents and their leaders stressed better use and care of canning equipment, canning by budget and better quality finished 'products to increase the satisfaction gained from the hard work involved and to contribute to better family meals and more enjoyment of canned food. Agents have furthered the can-for-quality movement by means of intensive training meetings for chairmen and leaders; by demonstrations to clubs on correct use of equipment; by demonstrations on -newer techniques in food preservation methods other than canning-brining "under cover" in low salt solutions; by comparisons of methods used in dehydration and freezing to secure quality products; and by distributing up-to-date directions for fruit and fruit juice canning, vegetable and meat canning.
Canning for shipment overseas was the reason for most calls for help this year. The majority of those canning for overseas had never canned before and had to be given special instructions. From I canning center 650 cans of chicken, steak, black beans and rice, spaghetti and meat balls, pickles, smoked fish and shrimp, salami, salted and sugared nuts, candies, cookies, cake and other good things were included in the output.
Fishery Workshops Four fishery workshops strategically located were planned and a technologist of the Fish and Wild Life Service of the U. S. Department of Interior was loaned to the Extension Service for a month of intensive work with the home agents. Many of the agents participated in these instructive demonstrations of up-to-the-minute methods and techniques in smoking and canning fish.
VICTORY GARDENS AND ORCHARDS
Fewer victory gardens were grown in urban areas this year but fresh vegetables were plentiful in the markets. Because of the influence of the great national educational drive, gardening practices have been improved and fruit plantings have been increased.
In some sections labor shortage was so acute that many heretofore home garden growers gave their time to helping with both truck and field crops.
In Alachua County the county flower-zinnia-was grown by 185 club members to beautify homes, to exhibit at the 15th annual zinnia show and to sell. Each year 1 home demonstration woman makes a neat sum from the sale of zinnia plants alone. Planting zinnias along the fence by the highway, a 4-11 club girl put up a poster announcing that zinnias were for sale. So successful was she at this venture that she is planning to follow the same plan another year.
In 1944, 92 families of Madison County added nursery plants to their orchards in the amount of $1,816.30. Each of the 9 home demonstration clubs held plant exchanges and hundreds of pears, grapes, figs, peaches and plums were added to the home orchards through this source. Orchards that were established through the community home orchard drives are now bearing satsuma oranges, pears, peaches, plums, kumquats and blueberries. Budded pecan trees also have come into bearing that were planted as a result of these yearly cooperative fruit tree drives.
Records submitted on gardening activities for the current year show 16,353 planted, with 4,600 homes having vegetables for sale.
The number of calendar fruit 'plantings this year was reported as 3,212 with 22,902 trees and vines. Berry plants and vines other than grapes are listed as 53,289.
Florida Cooperative Extension
4-H,:CLUB WORK FOR GIRLS
Reports show 4,019 girls enrolled in gardening with 2,766 completing the project. The number'bf., girls enrolled in canning was 3,225 and 39,635 containers were filled with fruitsl vegetables and meats. Girls from 17 counties scoring highest in their respective counties submitted records and stories of achievement in gardening'and canning to the State office for judging.
Much canning was done as a part of the family food supply. Valuable assistance was given in community canning centers in canning for the school lunch program and in helping neighborhoods in many ways during peak seasons of farm work.
MISCELLANEOUS
Citation for Achievement.-The home demonstration woman recognized by the county personnel as having made the greatest contribution to her club and community in promoting production and conservation during the year was awarded a $5 war stamp. The stamp was attached to an attractive and appropriate scroll with a border of hand-colored Florida fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, cans and jars of foods and cookers.
Mango Forum.-Five summers ago the Broward County home demonstration agent announced the first mango forum. It was called during the peak season of the too-little-known nutritionally valuable fruit so that a large collection of different varieties could be gotten together to interest residents of the region in growing more of the finer, choice mangos.
The agent gave considerable time and effort to this work and the forum gathered interest and numbers with each meeting. The Specialist in Food Conservation, for 2 summers, participated in the instruction at the forum. Demonstrations were given on conservation and otherwise using the mango in the menu at both forums.
There are still other relatively unknown but valuable fruits and fruit products that should receive similar attention. If the guava, for instance ' now rated highest of any known fruit in vitamin C, were given this needed consideration and the deserved research, the health education and the horticultural development of the State would be greatly benefited.
Annual Report, 1944
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Virginia P. Moore, Specialist in Home Improvement
Because of the shortage of labor and materials fewer homes are being built, but families needing new homes have given more thought to the -new home to be built with government bonds in the future.
Recently there has been more thought given to the remodeling of old homes. There are now several remodeling plans under way and the Home Improvement Agent has visited the home and helped with remodeling plans and furnishings. Remodeled furnishings are being used until a better grade can be secured. Painting and rejuvenating furniture have been very popular the past year with young people. A "hobby" is supplied when they develop a home improvement demonstration and it makes them want to stay at home and work on their home improvement problems, thus making their homes happier places in which to live.
Compilation of the county home demonstration agents' reports shows the following:
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Number of families assisted with house-planning problems ------ __ . 1,884 Number of sunshine water heating systems installed ---------------------------- , 61
N um ber of hom es repaired -------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ 1,885
N um ber of hom es screened --------------------- ----------- ----------------------------------- . 989
Number of 4-11 girls enrolled in rural electrification ------------------------------ 83
Number of homes making complete improvement of grounds according to plan . -------- ----------- ---------------- 347
Number lawns started this year ---------------------- --------------------------------------------- 338
Number pieces electric equipment repaired . . . 2,249
THRIFT
Number of families who have utilized waste materials such as sacks,
m ill rem nants, etc ---------------------------------- ------- -------------- . 11,991
N um ber m attresses m ade ------------------------------------------------ --------- --------------- ----- 610
Number mattresses renovated -------- . - ------------ ---------------_----_-_--- ------------ 691,
N um ber of rugs m ade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,238
4-H GIRLS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The 4-H girls showed greater enthusiasm this year in home improvement by: Painting and papering rooms; mending; planting and cutting grass and hedges; and setting out trees, annuals and perennials.
There were 1,530 4-H girls enrolled in the beautification of home grounds, with 1,041 completing; 1,027 4-H girls enrolled in home management, better housekeeping and streamlining housework, with 724 completing; 2,551 4-H girls enrolled in home furnishing and room improvement, with 1,705 completing; and 793 4-11 girls enrolled in rug making and other home industries, with 507 completing the project. Also, there were 1,468 rooms improved and 5,495 pieces of furniture made or rejuvenated.
NEGRO WORK
The Home Improvement Agent works with negro home demonstration agents as with the white agents. Ways of doing household tasks were stressed this year.
Florida Cooperative Extension
One objective with the negroes was to have the wash bench the correct height on which to place their wash tubs and to have the tubs under a shade tree or build a pergola on which to grow vines. This adds to the beauty of the premises as well as to the comfort of working.
Running water and sunshine heaters were stressed. The negro farmers are interested in our simple instructions for installing these sunshine heaters so as to have hot water for the weekly wash, which is a means of livelihood for many nice, old, expert washerwomen. In some cases bathrooms have been added and an increase is expected in such conveniences when materials are available.
Negro home improvement work has grown in those counties where there have been negro home demonstration agents. More "sleeping rooms" with better ventilation and glassed-in windows, screened windows and screened porches are some of the things that have been stressed.
The Home Improvement Agent also stressed a neat table with napkins, a plate, glass, cup and saucer and 10-cent store "silver" knife, fork and spoon. Having a neat table where all could gather to eat with a family blessing and better food has given the negro family a certain respect for themselves.
One negro agent reports that priorities, rationing and scarcity of materials to do needed repairs around and in the home have brought about keener interest in doing minor repairs and with the increased income due to members of the family being in the armed forces and employed in defense industries, plans are being made to build new homes and repair old ones as soon as building materials are available.
Home improvement accomplishments, with all members of the family assisting, for that county were:
H ouses -rebuilt . I Porches repaired . 15 Room s painted ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4
Shelves built to store canned foods -------------------------------- 75
Cabinets built -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
Outdoor toilets -------------------------------------------------------- --------------- 35
H ouses painted . -------------------------------------------------------- . 3
H ouses screened . . . . 2
Annual Report, 1944
PART IV-NEGRO WORK
ACTIVITIES WITH NEGRO FARMERS
A. A. Turner, Local District Agent
PROBLEMS AND ADJUSTMENTS
Transportation was a major problem during the year. Circulars were used by county and home agents, where possible, to get information to farmers, thereby conserving gas and tires. District short courses were held in central counties-Leon and Marion--due to transportation difficulties and other wartime problems. In some counties there were no fairs. Local agents held community achievement days at convenient places and times.
Labor shortage still prevailed in all counties worked by agents. More able-bodied men left the farm for induction and war jobs, leaving the farm with many problems. Agents used their influence in helping those who remained to make adjustments in order to carry on the work by using women, boys and girls, as well as men who were not eligible for the draft. The communities, in a number of cases, pooled their labor and cooperated in assisting one another in harvesting crops.
WAR ACTIVITIES
Neighborhood leaders were organized in all counties worked and the agents reported very satisfactory results. Training meetings were held and local agents assisted the District Agent in explaining the program and various problems, as well as in making adjustments to solve pressing problems. These leaders have pledged to render whatever service they can in helping to carry out the wartime program.
Due to many problems arising in various sections of the State, it was necessary to add an emergency war worker to each of the following counties to carry on Extension work: Bradford, Madison, Union and Washington. These emergency employees are doing very satisfactory work.
With added income in the'family, the investment in war bonds and stamps was stressed and all agents assisted in various war bond drives and encouraged farmers to do their part. All counties made outstanding reports.
Local agents in their association with defense councils urged clubs to save scrap metals, paper and other necessary war materials.
Rationing of food and clothing still prevailed and agents stressed the importance of caring for clothing and homes and emphasized the production of more food.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Gadsden and Jackson were the outstanding counties in the production of peanuts.
Every farm family was encouraged to have a home garden and, in the face of rationing of canned vegetables, a year-round garden was emphasized. In Alachua County home garden sales amounted to $5,000.00.
Some families have increased their number of milk cows during the year and have been able to make enough butter for the family and have received good sales for the surplus.
Due to meat scarcity, families increased their poultry production and, with careful attention to the upkeep of flocks, feeding and general care, have produced more poultry and eggs for home use as well as market
Florida Cooperative Extension
In Columbia County 1,800 pounds of turkey were sold, netting the farmers $363.00.
Farmers have begun to take more interest in swine production since rationing began. In Jefferson County 16 purebred Duroe-Jersey pigs were purchased by 4 farmers at a cost of $200.00. Other counties reported considerable increase in swine production.
In some counties more and more interest is being manifested in increasing cattle for beef. It is believed this project will create interest in all counties during the coming year because of the great demand and good prices offered for beef.
In Hamilton County 1 farmer of the Spring Branch community sold 21,000 stalks of seedcane at 31 _c per stalk. Three other farmers sold 12,000 stalks to local markets for chewing purposes for an average price of 5(' per stalk.
Increased production of corn for home consumption and for market purposes was noticeable. This crop still prevails as a major food and feed crop among farmers.
In Gadsden County 9 flue-heated sweet potato beds were constructed, with good results from the sale of plants. Over 400 acres of sweet potatoes were planted in Columbia County; 250 acres being of the Louisiana Copper Skin strain.
Fig. 8-The display of Army equipment made by negro soldiers is of much
interest to the negro 4-H boys attending a club camp.
4,
4k
how
Annual Report, 1944 69
ANNUAL AGENTS' MEETING
The Annual Agents' Conference was held at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, November 8, 9 and 10, 1944, in conjunction with the Annual Farmers' Conference.
4-H CLUB WORK
Out of 2,803 boys enrolled in 4-H club work, 2,117 completed their projects during the year.
Corn projects were carried on by 1,114 boys with 1,026 completing. Projects devoted to home gardens enrolled 1,776 and 1,614 completed; swine 738 and 671; poultry 662 and 539; dairying 350 and 309.
Florida Cooperative Extension
NEGRO HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
Floy Britt, Local District Home Demonstration Agent
Major goals in the 1944 supervisory activities were increased food production, conservation, nutrition, home improvement, health, clothing, marketing, community activities, farm labor and special war activities. These goals were emphasized in the program because they supplied the needs of the rural families and aided the war effort.
Individuals were interested through club and community meetings, newspaper publicity, local leaders, circular letters and personal contact. Their accomplishments during 1944 were: Food production-7,969 gardens grown, 1,122 fruit trees and vines added, 150,473 chickens owned by club members, 248,408 dozen eggs produced and 2,135 family milk cows owned by club members; food conservation-128,385 containers filled with fruits and vegetables, 4,424 containers filled with fruit juice, 19,858 containers filled with meat, 162,636 pounds of meat cured and on cold storage, and 18,116 pounds of lard made; nutrition-2,070 families improved diets, 3,430 families planned and served balanced meals and 714 families planned food budgets for wise buying; home improvement-1,334 houses screened, 878 families remodeled houses; 271 families painted houses, 1,307 families improved home grounds, 16 families installed water systems, 15 installed electric lights and 1,324 families used improved methods in housekeeping; health-2,598 persons followed recommendations in prevention of colds and common diseases, 1,912 practiced better first aid and home nursing methods and 1,520 girls and women received helpful training in home nursing and first aid; clothing--4,986 garments mended and remodeled, 13,610 'new garments made, 1,131 homemade accessories, 5,817 household articles made, 1,410 families practiced better renovation and remodeling, 254 families planned clothing budgets and 2,776 women and girls followed recommendations in better clothing protection and care; and marketing-$7,208.00 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables sold, $47,431.00 worth of poultry products sold, $628.89 worth of milk and butter sold and $269.14 worth of -rugs, quilts, spreads, craft and other articles sold.
ASSISTANCE WITH PROGRAM
Four hundred nine volunteer local leaders played a very important part in helping the agents determine the program in the counties. These leaders, including men, women, boys and girls, are dependable persons who are good demonstrators and have been given special training by the local agent. This has enabled them to render valuable help in their counties. Besides assisting the agents in getting information to the rural families, the local leaders help with community and county exhibits, fairs, achievement programs, picnics, rallies, camps and short courses. It is through this type of service that many worthwhile achievements are made.
Assistance given by the State Home Demonstration Agent, district agents and Extension specialists has been very helpful to the negro agents. When specialists are visiting in counties where negro home demonstration agents are employed, the negro agents are invited to attend special demonstrations, get information and use it in their work.
Agents receive data and information from the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the State Extension Service. This is studied and presented in a simplified form over the State.
In counties where there are no negro agents, the county home demonstration agent has rendered much assistance to the negro groups. They
Annual Report, 1944 71
have furnished bulletins and educational material to teachers, assisted negro agents with short courses and home nursing courses and worked with negro home economics teachers in nutrition programs, mobile canteen units and Red Cross and home nursing classes.
RESULTS ACHIEVED
As a result of the many project activities carried on in various negro sections of the State there is being developed a finer group of rural negroes. Rural people are thinking more about promoting better health, better education and making their home comfortable, convenient and attractive. Rural families are learning to appreciate good family relations and the importance of working and playing together. With these qualities existing rural families are going to be able to render valuable service to their homes and communities and to their country.
In Duval County open house was held on May 11 and demonstrations were given to 67 persons from rural and urban sections of the county on canning chicken and packing overseas boxes.
In Madison County during National Negro Health Week, 42 schools promoted a clean-up program, 27 cemeteries were cleaned and 27 ministers preached health sermons. The county-wide effort created much interest and the people of the county have become health conscious.
In continuing our effort to establish more wholesome living for rural families through the development of pride in rural farm and home ownership and in promoting peace and good will among families in the communities, we must keep in mind that the success of our work depends not on how much we do, but on how much we can get others to do.
STATISTICAL REPORT, NEGRO WORK
(Men and Women)
GENERAL ACTIVITIES,
Months of service (agents and assistants) . 284% Days of service: In office-2,103; in field-4,928 . 7,031 Farm or home visits made . . 17,074 Different farms or homes visited . 5,010 Calls relating to extension work: Office., 18,309; telephone . 6,727 Days devoted to work with 4-11 clubs and older youth . 2,365 News articles or stories published . ----------------------------------------------------- 222
Bulletins distributed . 20,189 Radio talks broadcast or prepared . 5 Training meetings held for local leaders or committeemen . 337
Total attendance of men and women . 7,350 Method demonstration meetings . 2,579
Total attendance . 37,897 Meetings held at result demonstrations . 404
A ttendance . 4,928 Tours conducted . 29 Achievement days held for 4-H, older youth and adult work . 45 Encampments, leader meetings and other meetings . 855
Florida Cooperative Extension
SUMMARY OF EXTENSION INFLUENCE
Total number of farms in counties worked --------- . 9,197 Farms on which changes in practices have resulted from agricultural program this year and in past . 3,405
Non-farm families making changes as result of home demonstration and agricultural programs ------------------------------------------------------ 1,299
Farm homes in which changes in practices have resulted from
the home demonstration program . . 1,919
Farm homes in which changes have resulted from home demonstration and agricultural program this year . 774
Different farm families influenced by some phase of the extension
'program . . ---------------------------------------- 5,450
Other families influenced by some phase of the extension program 2,756
COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PLANNING
Members in agricultural planning group . . . ---------------------------------- 238
U npaid . 229 P aid ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------- . 9
Communities in agricultural planning -------------------------------------------------- 52
Members in community agricultural planning . 239 Planning m eetings held . 564 Days devoted to planning work by county and home demonstration
w orkers . . . 289 Unpaid voluntary leaders or committeemen . 785 Days of service by voluntary leaders or committeemen . 257
CROP PRODUCTION
D ays devoted to w ork . _ . 957 Communities in which work was conducted . 1,169 Voluntary leaders and committeemen . ------------------------------------------------ 1,076
LIVESTOCK, DAIRYING, POULTRY
D ays devoted to w ork . . 601 Communities in which work was conducted . . 667 Voluntary committeemen and leaders --------- . . 370
Breeding and improvement organizations . 138 Farm ers assisted . 11,585
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
D ays devoted to w ork . 135 Communities in which work was conducted . __ . . 275 Voluntary local leaders and committeemen . . 195 Farmers assisted in soil management . 2,417 Soil management associations assisted during the year . 3
Farmers assisted in forestry and wildlife conservation . 1,414
FARM MANAGEMENT
Days devoted to w ork . . . 138 Farm ers assisted . . . 2,713
Annual Report, 1944
. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Days devoted to work . 57 Communities in which work was conducted . 76 Voluntary leaders and committeemen . 41 Agricultural and non-agricultural groups assisted . 99
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Days devoted to w ork . 898 Communities in which work was conducted . 1,247 Established cooperatives assisted . . 9 New cooperatives assisted in organizing . 13 Value of products sold or purchased by cooperatives assisted
during the year (established and new) . $ 18,581 Value of products sold or purchased by farmers or families
(not members of cooperatives) assisted during year . $1,372,917
HOUSING, FARMSTEAD IMPROVEMENT
Days devoted to work . 353 Communities in which work was conducted . 336 Voluntary leaders and committeemen . 199 Families assisted in house furnishings, surroundings, mechanical
equipment, rural electrification . 8,470
NUTRITION AND HEALTH
Days devoted to work . 1,316 Communities in which work was done . 787 Families assisted: Improving diets, 5,974; food preparation,
1,307; total . 7,281 Families assisted with food-preservation problems . 5,517
HOME MANAGEMENT-FAMILY ECONOMICS
Days devoted to w ork . 121 Communities in which work was done . 126 Voluntary leaders assisting . 110 Fam ilies assisted . 1,441 Clubs or groups assisted in buying food, clothing, household
supplies . 99 Families assisted in buying food, clothing, household supplies . 1,333
Families assisted with consumer-buying problems . 1,750
CLOTHING AND TEXTILES
Days devoted to work . 195 Communities in which work was done . 145 Voluntary leaders assisting . 171 Fam ilies assisted . 4,175
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS-CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Days devoted to work . 101 Communities in which work was done . 123 Voluntary leaders assisting . 123
74 Florida Cooperative Extension
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY LIFE
Days devoted to work . 149 Communities in which work was done . 209 Voluntary leaders assisting . 334
Families assisted in improving home recreation . 558
Communities assisted in improving recreational facilities . 83
Community groups assisted with organizational problems, programs of activities, or meeting programs . 116 Communities assisted in providing library facilities . 8
SUMMARY OF 4-H CLUB PROJECTS
Projects completed by boys . 6,621 Projects completed by girls . 4 . 18,135 Boys completing corn and 'peanut projects . 1,732 Boys completing fruit projects . 133 Boys completing garden projects . 1,614 Boys completing market gardens, truck and canning crops . 26
Boys completing dairy projects . . 309 Boys completing poultry projects . 539 Boys completing cotton and tobacco projects . 163 Boys completing potato (Irish and sweet) projects . . 507
Boys completing beef cattle and swine projects . . 907 Girls completing dairy projects . 639 Girls completing poultry projects . 1,229 Girls completing home gardens . . 2,124 Girls completing fruit projects . . 559 Girls completing market gardens, truck and canning crops . 436
Girls completing food selection and preparation projects . 2,044
Girls completing health, home nursing and first aid . 1,484 Girls completing clothing, home management, home furnishing and
room improvement projects . 3,917 Girls completing food preservation projects . 2,015 4-H Membership
Boys: Farm, 2,445; non-farm, 188; total . I . 2,633 Girls: Farm, 2,806; non-farm, 863; total . 3,669 4-H club members having health examinations because of participation in extension program . 1,784
4-H clubs engaging in community activities such as improving
school grounds and conducting local fairs . 259
INDEX
Achievement days, 51
goals, 51
Activities with negro farmers, 67 Adjusting production to wartime
needs,24
Agricultural Adjustment Agency, 8,
14
Agricultural conservation, 14 Agricultural economics, 11, 23, 73 Agricultural trade associations, 26 Agronomy goals and accomplishments, 28
Animal husbandry, 31 Assistance to returning veterans, 8 Assistance with negro program, 70
Barrus, Edith Y., 49 Beale, Clyde, 17 Beef cattle, 31, 40 Bevis, Joyce, 57 Blacklock, R. W., 40 Boys' 4-H club work, 40 Brahma breeders' association, 32 Breed for better herd replacements,
36
Britt, Floy, 70 Broadcasting activities, 18 Brown, Hamlin L., 34 Bulls for herd replacement, 31
Camps and short courses, 51 Canning centers, 52
equipment, 62
Cattle and horse shows, 32 Changes in staff, 9 Child care, 55 Citation for achievement, 64 Citrus, 21
grove management, 26 Civic organizations, 25 Clayton, H. G., 14 Clothing and textiles, 12, 55, 57, 73 Club organizations, 41 Commercial vegetables, 21 Community canning centers, 25 Conservation of natural resources,
11, 72
Contribution to war effort, 11 Cooper, J. Francis, 17 Cooperation with agencies, 8 Cooperative agricultural planning,
11, 72
Copper wire, 16 Corn, 40
production, 40 Cotton, 20
County agents' activities, 20 Cow, the family, 37 Crop production, 11, 72
Dairy, 40
Dairy cows, 53
number of farms in Florida having, 37
Dairy feed payment program, 15 Dairy program, 8-point, 34 Dairy situation, 21 Dairying, 34 Dairying, livestock, poultry, 11 Dennis, F. M., 37 Dennis, R. S., 14
Economic information and outlook,
23
Editorial and mailing, 17 Egg culling demonstrations, 39 Egg purchase program, 38 Egg quality program, 38 Emergency Farm Labor, 8 Emergency programs, 15 Emergency war food program, 57
Family accomplishments, 52 Family relationships-child development, 12, 73
Farm building permits and priority
assistance, 16 Farm forestry, 43 Farm labor, 25 Farm labor needs, 55 Farm lumber program, 16 Farm machinery and supplies, 15 Farm management, 11, 23, 24, 72 Farm records, 24 Farm safety and fire prevention, 55 Farm Security Administration, 8 Farm transportation, 16 Farmer cooperatives, 26 Federal income tax, 24 Feed concentrates, 36 Fertilize all forage, 34 Financial statement, 9 Fishery workshops, 63 Flock records, 39
Index
Florida A. and M. College, 8 Florida Council of Farmer Cooperatives, 25
Florida Farm Bureau, 8 Florida National Egg-Laying Test,
38
Florida State College for Women, 8 Florida's poultry industry, 37 Food conservation, 53, 62 Food, nutrition and health, 59 Food preparation, 54
and meal planning, 60 Food production, 40, 53 Forage as pasture, silage and hay,
34
Forest farming study, 24 Forest insects and diseases, 44 Forest trees, planting, 44 Forestry, 41 4-H club work, 33 4-H forestry club programs, 44 Fuelwood on farms, 45
Gardening and food conservation, 62 Girls' 4-H club work, 50, 57, 61, 64,
65
Grades, standards and packages, 26 Grazing crops, 34 Grow green feed, 39
Hampson, C. M., 23 Harvesting forest products for war,
43
Health activities, 61 Heifers for herd replacement, 31 Hog work, 33 Holloway, Ethyl, 49 Home demonstration work, 49 Home food supply, 60 Home gardens, 21, 41 Home improvement, 52, 65 Home industries, 52 Home management - family economics, 12, 73
Housing, farmstead improvement,
12, 73
Individual farm planning, 24 .Institute of Inter-American Affairs,
8
Junior poultry work, 39
.Keown, Mary E., 49
Liberty ship launchings, 42 Livestock ' 53
and pastures, 22
dairying and poultry, 11, 72
early marketing of, 31 Local leaders, 22 Lumber, farm, 16
McDavid, Ruby, 49 McKinney, Barbara, 57 McMullen, K. S., 46 McQueen, N. H., 40
Maintenance of good health, 54 Major achievements, negro, 67 Major activities and accomplishments, 59
Mango forum, 64 Marketing activities, 24 Marketing and distribution, 12, 73 Meat supply, farm families', 33 Mehrhof, Norman R., 37 Men's work, 20 Microcarpa, 48 Milk, 36
Moore, Virginia P., 65
Negro boys' 4-H club, work, 69 Negro home demonstration work, 70 Negro home improvement work, 65 Negro problems and adjustments, 67 Negro work, 67 Nettles, W. T., 20 News and farm paper items, 18 Nieland, L. T., 43 Noble, C. V., 23 Nutrition, 54
and health, 12, 73
and physical fitness, 59
Organized food distributors, 25 O'Steen, A. Woodrow, 37
Pasture development, 32 Peanuts, 20, 40 Pecans, 26 Personnel problems, 49 Pigs, 33
Post-war state development program, 47
Potatoes, 40 Poultry, 40, 53 disease and parasite control, 39 keeping, 37 livestock and dairying, 11 organizations, 39
-Leadership goals, 51
Index
Preventing destructive "clear cutting", 45
Printed materials, 17 Program planning, 49 Protecting woodlands from fire, 43 Pullets, 38
Recreation, 52
and community life, 12, 74 Red Cross work, 57 Results achieved, 71 Returning veterans, 55
Savage, Zach, 26 Service to veterans, 23 Shealy, A. L., 31 Sheely, W. J., 31 Sikes, Anna Mae, 59 Smith, J. Lee, 20, 28 Soil and water conservation, 46 Soil conservation districts, 46, 47 Soil Conservation Service, 8 Special occasions, 4-H, 42 Special war services, 54 Spencer, A. P., 7, 14, 20 State awards, 42 State Board of Health, 8 State Cattlemen's Association, 8 State Council of Farmer C ooperatives, 8
State Dairymen's Association, 8 State Defense Council, 8 State Department of Agriculture, 8 State Live Stock Sanitary Board, 8 State Poultrymen's Association, 8 Statistical report, men and women,
10
negro work, 71
Summary of Extension influence,
10, 72
Summary of 4-H club projects, 13 Summary of negro 4-H club projects,
74
Summer camps, 41 Summer cover crop program, 48 Supervision and adjustments, 7 Supervisory problems, 41 Swine, 40
Thomas, Jefferson, 17 Thursby, Isabelle S., 62 Timber - grazing - game
tional program, 45 Tinmmons, D. E., 24 Turkeys, 39 Tuner, A. A., 67
demonstra-
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 8,
14, 18, 19, 30, 43, 46, 57, 70 U. S. Department of Interior, 63
Victory gardens and orchards, 63 Vocational agriculture teachers, 48
War activities, negro, 67 War Food Administration, 8 War work, 23 Wartime beef and hog' suggestions,
31
Watson, William L., 42 White-fringed beetle area farm program, 30
Winter cover and manure crops, 28,
48
Winter feeding, 32 Women's and girls' work, 49 Work stock, 33
Youth education, 47
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PAGE 1
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS (Acts of May 8 and .June 30, 1914) AORIOULTURAL EXTENSION SmnvrcE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FLORIDA STATE COLLEOII FOR WOM!IN AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AORIOULTURB COOPIIRATINO A. P. SPBNOmR, Director 1944 REPORT FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT OF GENERAL ACTIVITIES FOR 1944 WITH FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1944
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS (Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914) AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OP FLORIDA FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN AND UNITED STATES .DEPfRTMENT OP AGRICULTURB COOPERATING A. P, SPBNCER, Director 1944 REPORT FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT OF GENERAL ACTIVITIES FOR 1944 WITH FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1944
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BOARD OF CONTROL H.P. ADAIR, Chairman, Jacksonville N. B. JORDAN, Quincy THos. W. BRYANT, Lakeland T. T. SCOTT, Live Oak M. L. MERSHON, Miami J. T. DIAMOND, Secretary, Tallahassee STAFF, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE JOHN J. TIGERT, M.A., LL.D., President of the University H. HAROLD HUME, D.Sc., Provost for Agriculture A. P. SPENCER, M.S., Director of Extension Agricultural Demonstration Work, Gainesville J. FRANCIS COOPER, M.S.A., Editor' CLYDE BEALE, A.B.J., Assistant Editoi1 JEFFERSON THOMAS, Assistant Editor' RUBY NEWHALL, Administrative Manager' W. T. NETTLES, B.S., District Agent J. LEE SMITH, District Agent and Agronomist C. V. NOBLE, PH.D., Agricultural Economist' CHARLES M. HAMPSON, M.S., Agricultural Economist, Farm Management D. E. TIMMONS, M.S.A., Economist in Marketing ZACH SAVAGE, M.S., Economist' JOSEPH C. BEDSOLE, B.S.A., Assistant in Land-Use Planning• K. S. McMULLEN, B.S.A., Soil Conservationist R. W. BLACKLOCK, A.B., Boys' Club Agent W. W. BASSE'M', JR., B.S.A., Assistant Boys' Club Agent• A. L. SHEALY, D.V.M., Animal Industrialist' HAMLIN L. BROWN, B.S., Dairy Husbandman N. R. MEHRHOF, M.AGR., Poultry Husbandman' WALTER J. SHEELY, B.S., Animal Husbandman A. W. O'STEEN, B.S.A., Poultryman FRANK M. DENNIS, B.S.A., Supervisor, Egg-Laying Test L. T. NIELAND, Farm Forester .. E. F. DEBUSK, B.S., State Supervisor, Emergency Farm Labor H. S. MCLENDON, B. A., Asst. State Supervisor, Emergency Farm Labor MRS. BONNIE J. CARTER, B.S., Assistant WLA Leader HANS O. ANDERSEN, B.S.A., Asst. State Supervisor, EFL G. NORMAN RosE, B.S., Asst. State Supervisor, EFL P. L. PEADEN, M.A., Asst. State Supervisor, EFL H. G. CLAYTON, M.S.A., Coordinator with AAA' R. S. DENNIS, B.S.A., Assistant Coordinator with AAA ' Home Demonstration Work, Tallahassee MARY E. KEOWN, M.S., State Agent RUBY MCDAVID, District Agent ETHYL HOLLOWAY, B.S., District Agent MRS. EDITH Y. BARRUS, District Agent ANNA MAE SIKES, M.S., Specialist in Nutrition VIRGINIA P. MOORE, Home Improvement Agent ISABELLE S. THURSBY, Economist in Food Conservation JOYCE BEVIS, M.A., Clothing Specialist Ne~o Extension Work, Talla:1assee A. A. TURNER, Local District Agent FLOY BRITT, B.S.H.E., Locel District Agent 1 Part-time. On leave. [ 2]
PAGE 4
CONTENTS Page Re 'po rt of the Director ............... .... . .. ............... . ..... .... ....................... .... .............. 7 Financial Statement ....... . . .. . ............... ......... ........ . ..................... . ... .. .... .. .......... 9 Statistical Report . . .... ............ .. .. . . ... . ......... ........ .. ... . ......... .... .. .... .. .... . . . ............. 10 Agricultural Conservation ....... . ...... ... . . ... . . . ...... .. . ..... .. . ..... .. ... . . . ..... ..... .. . . .. ... . ....... :. 14 Editorial and Mailing .... ........ ......... . . ....................... ... .................. ...... .. . . .. . ..... . ...... 17 County Agents' Activities ....... . ... . ........................ . . ... ..................... ...... . . .............. 20 Agricultural Economics ............. ... . .. : .................... . .. . ....... .................. .. .. .. ... : ......... 23 Farm Management ............ ........ .. ....... ............... .... ... ... ............. ... . ...... .... . ........ 23 Marketing Activities ... , ...... . ... .. .. . ... .. .. .... .. ..... ... .......... .............. .. ... ... . .. .. ........ ... 24 Citrus Grove Management ..... . . . .. .. ................. ... .... . .... .. . .... . . . .. . . .. .......... ... .. ...... 25 Agronomy Accomplishments 28 Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Poultry ..... ............... . ... ........ .... ....... ... .......... 31 Animal Husbandry .................. . ... . ............................................... . .. . . ... .............. 31 Dairying ........ .... . . ................... ... . . ... ..... .............. ... ... ......... ................ . ... .. ............. 34 Poultry Keeping ..... ... .............. ......... ...................... . .................... . . . . . _ .. ....... ........ 37 Boys' 4-H Club Work ... ......... . . ....... : .. ... . .... ...... .................... ....... .. .... . ... ...... . . ..... .. . . 40 Farm Forestry .. ..... ........... . . . ....... .... . . . . . .. ..... .... .... . . . . ... ....... . .. . ........ ...... ........ . .. .... .. ... 43 Soil and Water Conservation .. .... .. ...... ........... . .... .. . .... . ... .... . ......... . ... .. . .. . ........... .... 46 Home Demonstration Work 49 Clothing and Textiles ..................... . ........................ . . ... ..................... ............. ....... 57 Food, Nutrition and Health ....... . . . .......................... . ...................... ... ... . .............. 59 Gardening and Food Conservation ... ... ... ....... ....... . .. .......................... .. .. .. .. . ....... 62 Home Improvement 65 Activities with Negro Farmers ....... ......... . ... . ....... . . .... ............... . .... . . ... . .............. 67 Negro Home Demonstration Work .... ........... ........ .... ...... . ... .......... .. . ... . . ........... .. 70 Negro Statistical Report ........... . ................................................. . ... . .............. 71 Hon. Millard Caldw e ll Governor of Florida Tallahassee, Florida Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of. the Agri cultural Extension Service, College of Agriculture, University of Florida, for the calendar year 1944, including a fiscal report for the year ending June 30, 1944. Respectfully, H. P. ADAIR, Chairman, Board of Control Hon. H. P. Adair, Chairman, Board of Control Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report of the director of the Agricultural Extension Service, College of Agriculture, University of Florida, and request that you transmit the same, in accord ance with law, to His Excellency, the Governor of Florida. Respectfully, JOHN J. TIGERT President, University of Florida [ 3 ]
PAGE 5
WILMON NEWELL March 4, 1878 October 25, 1943 Dr. Newell was Director of the Florida Agricultural Exten sion Service from early in 1921 until his death. He also headed the State Plant Board from 1915 to 1943, the Agricultural Ex periment Station from 1921 to 1943, and was Dean of the College of Agriculture from 1921 to 1938; Provost for Agriculture from 1938 to 1943. [ 4]
PAGE 6
COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS (As of December 31 , 1944) HOME DEMONSTRATION COUNTY COUNTY AGENT ADDRESS AGENT Alachua ... ...... ... Loonis Blitch ........ ... ........ Gainesville ...... .. Mrs. Grace F. Warren Baker ................. D. H. W ard ..... .. ............ ... Macclenny ..... .... ............................... ... .. .. . Bay . ........ ........ .. . J. A. Sorenson ...... . ........ .. Panama City .................................... .. ..... . Bradford ........... L. T. Dyer ........................ Starke ........... . ........................................... . Brevard ... . ... ......... ....... . .. . . . .............. . ............ Cocoa .... ........... .. ..... Mrs. Eunice F. Gay Broward ............ B. E. Lawton .... .. . . ........... Ft. Lauderdale . ....... Miss Louise Taylor Calhoun ............. W. W. Brown .... .. ... ......... Blountstown ... . .... .. Miss Evalena Rader Charlotte . ....... .. N. H. McQueen .. .. . . ......... Punta Gorda ........ .. ....... ........ . ........ .... .. . .. . Citrus ........ .. .. .... O. M. Maines . .. . .. ....... .... .Inverness ........ . ... Mrs. Doris R. Turner Clay ................. , ............................................ Gn. Cve. Spg . .. Mrs. Elizabeth Starbird Columbia ..... .. ... Guy Cox . ........... ...... ......... Lake City ......... . .. Miss Elizabeth Tyler Dade ............ .... .. C. H. Steffani... .. .. .......... Miami . ... ......... ... ........ Miss Eunice Grady Dade (Asst.) ... J. L. Edwards .... .. ..... . ..... Miami.. .... : ..... ..... ....... Miss Edna L . Sims DeSoto ....... .... ... W. L. Woods ........ . ........... Arcadia ........ .. ................ ... . . .... ...... .... ..... ... . Dixie .................. C. L. Dickinson ............... Cross City .. .. . . ... .. ......... . . . ............. ....... .... . Duval... ............. A. S. Lawton ...... ....... ...... Jacksonville ... . .......... Miss Pearl Laffitte Duval (Asst . ) .. G. B. Ellis ............ ... ......... Jacksonville ...... Miss Mildred J. Taylor Escambia .. .. .. ... . E. H. Finlayson ....... . ...... Pensacola .. . ... .... . ... Mi ss Ethel Atkinson Gadsden ............ Henry Hudson ................ Quincy .. . ...... ... .... ........ Miss Elise Laffitte Gilchrist ........... A. S. Laird ............. .. ........ Trenton ........................... . .. ..... ............ .... .. . Glades ............... F. D. Yaun ............ . .......... Moore Haven .. ............... . .. ..... .................. . Gulf ................................ . ............. .... . ..... . ... .. Wewahitchka ........ Mrs. Pearl Whitfield Hardee ........ .... .. E. H. Vance ...... ... .. . . .... .... Wauchula ........... . ... . . . .. ..... ............... . ........ . Hendry ......... . ... . H. L. Johnson ...... . .......... LaBelle .. .... ... . . ..... ....... .... .. ... .. ............ .. ..... . Hernando .......... H. J. Brinkley ................. Brooksville ... . . . ........ : ................................ . Highlands ......... V. T. Oxer ........... ...... ....... Sebring ........ .. .................................... . ...... . Hillsborough ... Alec White ....... ......... ....... Tampa .............................................. .. ....... . Hillsborough .... J. 0. Armor (Asst.) ..... Plant City . ... . ...... .... . . ... .... .. ....... .. .. . . .. ...... . Hillsborough .... (West) .. . .. . .......... .. .. . ......... Tampa .. ...... Mrs. Caroline M. Boogher Hillsborough .... (East) .......... ....... .. . .. ......... Plant City ............ Mrs. Irene R. Harvey Holmes .............. A. G. Hutchinson ........... Bonifay ........... .. . Mrs. Bettie A. Caudle Indian River .... M. A. Boudet .................. Vero Beach ........... ...... ...... .............. .. ... .. ... . Jackson ............. J. W. Malone ......... .. ........ Marianna ..... .... ..... Mrs. Alyne C. Heath Jefferson ....... . ... E . . N. Stephens ........ . ..... .. Monticello . ......... ...... ........ Mrs. Ella Loeb Lafayette ... . .. . .. .J. T. Oxford .... .......... : ...... Mayo ................... .. ............ .. ............... .. .. .. Lake ............... . .. R. E. N orris ....... .. .. . ......... Tavares .......... . .. .. . Mrs. Lucie K. Miller Lee ................. . ... C. P. Heuck. ....... . . ..... ...... Ft. Myers .. . .............................................. . Leon .................. J. G . Kelley ..................... Tallahassee . ... .. ........ Miss Wilma Smith Levy . . ..... ........... r. D. Rickenbaker ... .. . .... Bronson .................... Miss Lila Woodard Liberty .............. J. S. Alexander ..... ....... ... Bristol ......... .... ................ .. ............... .. ....... . Madison ............ W. W. Glenn ................... Madison .......... .. Miss Bennie F. Wilder Manatee ............ C. D. Newbern ................ Bradenton ..... . ...... Miss Margaret Cobb Marion ...... . . ... ... Carl Hendricks . .. . ....... ..... Ocala .................... Miss Allie Lee Rush Martin ......... .... . . L. M. Johnson ..... ... ......... Stuart .............. . ..... Miss Edna L. Shuler Nassau .............. J. D. Coleman, Jr .......... Hill i ard ..................................................... . Okeechobee .. .... C. A. Fulford .................. Okeechobee ............................................... . Okaloosa ..... . ..... F. W. Barber ................... Crestview ................................................. . Orange ........ ...... K. C. Moore ...... ... ............ Orlando .. .... .. Miss Elizabeth Dickenson Osceola .............. J. R. Gunn ........... . ........... Kissimmee ................ Miss Albina Smith Palm Beach .. . . . M. U. Mounts .................. W. Palm Beach .. Miss Bertha Hausman Miss Mildred Johnson, Asst. Pasco ....... . .... . .... J. F. Higgins .................. Dade City .... . .. . ........ Mrs. Essa D. Shaw Pinellas ...... .... .. .J. H. Logan .... .. .. .... ........ . Clearwater .................. Miss Tillie Roese! Polk . .. ... ... ... ....... W. P. Hayman ...... .. .. . .. .. . Bartow ........................ Miss Lois Godbey Putnam ............. H. E. Westbury . . .. .. ........ Palatka ..... .. . .. Mrs. Opal W. Middleton St. Johns ..... . .... H. E. Maltby ....... .... ........ St. Augustine .. ...... Miss Anna E. Heist St. Lucie ........... C. D. Kime ........... .. .......... Fort Pierce ................ Miss Mary Dixon Santa Rosa . .. ... E. D. McCall ................... Milton ........... .. . .. .... Miss Eleanor Barton Seminole ....... .... C. R. Dawson ... ...... ......... Sanford . ... ......... .... ... .. Mrs. Ouida Wilson Sarasota ........... W. E. Evans ...... .... ......... Sarasota ..... .. .. ...... ....... ..... ... .... .... ....... .. .. .. . [ 5 J
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COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS-(Continued) HOME DEMONSTRATION COUNTY COUNTY AGENT ADDRESS AGENT Sumter .............. J. M. Kennedy ..... ........ .... Bushnell ................................................... . Suwannee ..... . ... S. C. Kierce ......... .... ........ Live Oak. ........ .. . . ..... Miss Jeanette Rish Taylor .......... .. . . . D. D. McC!oud ................. Perry ............. . . . ............ Mrs. Ruth Elkins Union ....... ...... ... J. T. Holloway ................ Lake Butler . ........ ...... . .... ... ...................... . Volusia ..... . . .... .. .F. E. Baetzman . . . : . .. .. . ..... DeLand .................. Mrs. Gladys Kendall Wakulla ............ N. J. Albritton .......... ...... Crawfordville ...................................... .. ... . Walton .............. Mitchell Wilkins . . ........... DeFuniak Springs ........... ..... ........... ...... . Washington ...... H. 0. Harrison ................ Chipley ........... ..... ......... ........... ........ ......... . NEGRO COUNTY AND HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENTS COUNTY LOCAL COUNTY AGENT ADDRES~ Alachua ..... .. ... .. .............. .. . .. .............. Otha W. Nealy ...... ... ................. . . .... Gainesville Columbia ... ............... ..... . .................. .McKinley Jeffers ................................ Lake City Gadsden ...... ... ............... ......... ........... Russell Stephens .... .. ... .. ......................... Quincy Hamilton .......................................... N. H. Bennett ............ ... ............. White Springs Jackson ........ ... .................................. Thomas A. Harris ............. ................. Marianna Jefferson ....... .. ... .. .... ............... .... ..... . M. E. Groover ......... .... ................ ... . ... Monticello Leon ............. ... .. .... ........ ................... . Rolley Wyer, Jr . . .. ............ ...... ....... Tallahassee Marion ...... .. .. ... .............. ....... ............ Eugene P. Smith ...................... ..... ............. Ocala Sumter ...... .......... ........... ......... ....... ... Alonzo A. Young ..................... .... ....... Bushnell Suwannee .................. ...... . ... ... ............ ..... ...... .... .. ....... ............... : ........ ........... ... Live Oak COUNTY LOCAL HOME DEM. AGENT ADDRESS Alachua ........................... ...... ........... Leontine Williams . ... .... ............. ..... Gainesville Columbia .......................................... . Ozella Sansome ......... . .. ..... ........ ..... .. Lake City Duval... .......... .. ................................. Ethel M. Powell .... .. ..... ...... ....... .. .. Jacksonville Gadsden ...... ...... ............... .. ............... Diana H. Spencer ....... . ............... ... .......... Quincy Hillsborough ........ .... .. .. ....... ........... .. Sudella Ford ............................................ Tampa Jackson ..... ......... ........... .... . . .............. Doris Groover Herring ............... ... .... Marianna Leon ................. . ............ ..... . ...... ........ ....... .................. .... ......... ......... ....... ...... . Tallahassee Madison ............................................ Althea Ayer .......................................... Madison Marion ............................ ... ............... Idella R, Kelly .......... .. ........ : .... .. . .. ........ Reddick Putnam .......... . .................................. Lee Ella Gamble ...... ..................... .. ....... Palatka [ 6]
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PART I-GENERAL REPORT OF _ THE DIRECTOR A. P. Spencer, Director For the third successive year every effort of the Florida Extension Service was bent toward wartime food production to help meet the Nation's calls. Goals for 1944 were establi s hed late in 1943, at a session directed by the Agricultural Adjustment Agency and participated in by represerita tives of all major State and Federal agricultural agencies and farm or ganizations. The Extension Service, through both its State staff and its county and home demonstration ag e nts, publicized the goals and at timely intervals throughout the year promulgated suggestions to farm families on meeting them. Goals committees checked progress from time to time and made suggestion s where desirable. Emergency war food assistants to work with county and home demon str a tion agents, and in some instances in counties where no agents were regularly employed, were named in 24 counties for part of the year. They included both white and colored p e rsonnel. Employed with funds supplied by the War Food Administration they rendered valuable assistance in help ing to step up food production. Many of them worked especially with 4-H club girls and boys, since no 4-H club assistants are regularly employe _ d. A new Emergency Production and Conservation Series of publications printed during the year presented wartime suggestions on 10 principal commodities and on the utilization of income from 4 principal commodities. Through untiring and sometimes what appeared to be almost super human efforts on the part of Florida farm families, aided and encouraged by county and home demonstration agents, these familie s were able to attain the highest production record in the history of the State. Three counties-Jackson, Alachua and Polk-were awarded the War Food Ad ministration's A pennant for outstanding production. SUPERVISION AND ADJUSTMENTS Supervision continued very much as in the past, with 3 district agents supervising the 38 county home agents and 2 supervising the 62 county agents. Wartime conditions naturally induced numerous changes in per sonnel , particularly among the men agents, but fortunately the staff was kept manned with trained personnel. County and home agents' salaries continue to be paid in part from State and Federal, in part from county sources. Sixty-three of the State's 67 counties are cooperating in financing the work-62 for men agents and ~8 for women agents. Uniform rates of pay . exist from State and Federal funds, but there is considerable variation in . amounts paid by the counties. , The annual conference of county and hom e demonstration agents was held in Gainesville . in October, after . having been abandoned in 1943. Dur ing this week the agents were given a picture of the situation and sugges tions for future work by State and Federal ~ pecialists arid others, ' thus enabling ,, them tp '. plan and conduc t their work more .efficiently. District conferences were held from time : to . time, as situations arose which made them advisable. [ 7]
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8 Florida Cooperative Extension COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES Cooperation was continued with other State and Federal agencies deal ing with rural families and their problems. These included the Agricul tural Adjustment Agency, Farm Security Administration, Soil Conservation Service, vocational agriculture teachers, State Board of Health, State Live Stock Sanitary Board, State Department of Agriculture, State Defense Council, War Food Administration, USDA Radio Service and others. Cooperation was extended The Institute of Inter-American Affairs in its plan of placing selected representatives of South American countries on farms for studying agriculture, after they had studied at the state university and in Washington. Two young men from Brazil were placed in Volusia County, after they had spent some time at the University of Florida. Farmers' organizations assisted included the Florida Farm Bureau, State Council of Farmer Cooperatives, State Dairymen's Association, State Cattlemen's Association, State Poultrymen's Association and others. County agents' offices in all but a few instances continued to be head quarters for administration of county AAA programs, the agents serving as secretaries of county AAA committees. County and home agents continued to lead campaigns for salvage, particularly of used household fats, and for the sale of War Bonds and Stam'ps among rural families. Principal headquarters of the Agricultural Eitension Service are at the University of Florida in Gainesville, but the State Home Demonstra tion Office is at State College for Women in Tallahassee and supervision of negro work is from the Florida A. & M. College in Tallahassee, both of which institutions extended their usual helpful cooperation. ASSISTANCE TO RETURNING VETERANS Since discharged veterans were already returning to the State during 1944, many of whom were interested in farming, veterans' advisory com mittees were set up for the State and in all cooperating counties, under the direction of the Extension Service. Membership is composed of county agents, AAA representatives, farmers and others capable of giving sound suggestions to returning veterans and others who wish to farm. A number of the committees already have rendered advisory assistance to veterans, and all of the groups will be ready when the dell)and arises. EMERGENCY FARM LABOR The farm labor situation continued to increase in seriousness during 1944, and the emergency farm labor program of the Extension Service and the War Food Administration supplied needed labor wherever 'possible; The State Extension Service recruited local labor and helped to place war prisoners and imported (Bahaman and Jamaican) labor from camps oper ated by the War Food Administration. The program was able to supply almost all the labor needed when it was needed, and only a very . small percentage of crops produced remained in the field for lack of harvest labor. The emergency farm labor program was financed entirely by Federal funds allotted by the War Food Administration. A full report of this program is contained in Miscellaneous Publication 32, a supplement to this report.
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Annual Report, 1944 9 CHANGES IN STAFF A number of changes occurred in the personnel of county agents, fewer shifts being registered in the staff of home demonstration agents. The following changes occurred in the state staff during the year 1944: R. H. Howard, former agricultural economi s t and more recently assist ant state supervisor, emergency farm labor, resigned May 31. P.H. Senn resigned as assistant State supervisor, emergency farm labor, September 30. Norman G. Rose was appointed assistant State supervisor, emergency farm labor, July 15. P . L. Peaden was appointed assistant State supervisor, emergency farm labor, December 11 . Mrs. Jo Spivey was appointed assistant agricultural editor September 16 and resigned November 14. FINANCIAL STATEMENT For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1944 RECEIPTS Smith-Lever and Bankhead Jones, Federal ...... .... .. .. .... $200,645.82 Capper-Ketcham, Federal ........... ...... . ........ .......... ......... ... 27,417.72 Clarke-McNary, Federal .......... .......... ................ ............ .. 1,620.00 State-Salaries .............................. ........ .............................. 67,980.00 Operating ........... .. .................. .. .......... . .................. ... .... .. . 40,820.00 Continuing Appropriations .............................................. 25,000.00 Commissioner of Agriculture ..... . ................. . ....... ....... .... 5,000.00 County Appropriations ........................... . ............... ..... . .... . 152,504.99 $520,988.53 EXPENDITURES Smith-Lever and Bankhead Jones, Federal ....... .. ... ... ... $200,645.82 Capper-Ketcham, Federal .......... .. . ............. .......... ..... .. ..... 27,417.72 Clarke-McNary, Federal ................... .. ............................... 1,620.00 State-'--Salaries ...... . ......................... ... .. . .............................. 67,980.00 Operating ......... . ........................................................... . .. 35,233.58 Continuing Appropriations ...... . ................ . ... . .................. 12,834.85 Commissioner of Agriculture ..... .... .. ... . ....... .... ............... . 5,000.00 County Appropriations .............................................. .. . ..... 152,504.99 Funds reverted-continuing funds . ..... ..... ........... . ..... ...... 12,165.15 Balance ca:rried over ........................ .......... .............. . .... ..... 5,586.42 $520,988.53 EMERGENCY FARM LABOR (Year Ending December 31, 1944) Receipts Emergency Farm Labor Funds, Fed e ral ............... ... ..................... . .... $115,000.00 Total ................................................... . .. . ............. .. .................. .... $115,000.00 Expenditures Emergency Farm Labor Funds .. .................................. .. ...................... $112,569.84 Unexpended balance ....................................... .. ............ .... ....................... 2,430.16 Total ............................................................................................ $115,000.00
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10 Florida Cooperative Extension EMERGENCY WAR FOOD AND CONSERVATION (For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1944) Receipts Emergency War Food and Conservation, Federal ................ .... ........ $25,000.00 Total $25,000.00 Expenditures Emergency War Food and Conservation .. ....................... .. ... . .......... . .. $20,039.66 Returned to Washington ............................. . ......................... . ................ 4,960.34 Total ............................................. .. . ... ......................................... $25,000.00 STATISTICAL REPORT, MEN AND WOMEN Data from County and Home Demonstration Agents' Reports GENERAL ACTIVITIES Months of service (agents and assistants) .............. ............ :... .. .... ... ... . . 1,295 Days of service: In office-15,645; In field-16,355 ...... ...... ............ . ... 32,000 Farm or home visits made ... ............ .... . .... . ....................... . .. ,... .... ......... .... 50,955 Different farms or homes visited ............... . ..................... . ... . . .... ............. 29,504 Calls relating to extension work: Office--305,710; Telephone ........ 163,464 Days devoted to work with 4-H clubs and older youth .................... 7,118 News articles or stories published .......................................................... 5,717 Bulletins distributed .................................................................. .. ... ... ..... . .. 182,991 Radio talks broadcast or prepared .................................... . ..................... 605 Training meetings held for local leaders or committeemen: Number .................................................................................................... 915 Total attendance of men and women ................................................ 7,446 Method demonstration meetings: Number .................................................................................................... 8,143 Total attendance ................................... . . ... . .. .. . ...................................... 132,360 Meetings held at result demonstrations: Number ................ ......... ... . ........................... .. .......................................... 1,712 Attendance 12,720 Tours .......................................................................................................... ... 298 Achievement days held for 4-H, older youth and adult work .......... 300 Encampments, leader meetings and other meetings ....... . .................... 6,231 SUMMARY OF EXTENSION INFLUENCE Total number of farms .......................................................... ... ................. 61,017 Farms on which changes in practices have resulted from agricultural program ............................................. , .......................................... 29,512 Farm homes in which changes in practices have resulted from home demonstration program ..... . .... ...... . ... .. .... .......... .. . . . ......... .................... 17,130 Farms in which changes in practices resulted from agricultural ' program for the first time this year ........... :.................................... 4,785 Farm homes in which changes in practices resulted from home demonstration program for the first time this year .... .. .............. 4,102 Farm homes with 4-H club members enrolled ............ . . ... ................... 8,255
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Annual Report, 1944 11 Non-farm families making changes in practices as a result of the agricultural program 12,815 Non-farm families making changes in practices as a result of home demonstration program 16,291 Non-farm families with 4-H club members enrolled 4,122 Different farm families influenced by some phase of extension program 36,771 Other families influenced by some phase of extension program 26,211 CONTRIBUTION TO WAR EFFORT Communities conducting war work ........................................................ 520 Voluntary local leaders or committeemen in program ...................... 1,224 Days devoted to food supplies and critical war problems, civilian defense, and other war work ............................................................ 3,526 COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PLANNING Members in agricultural planning group .... :........................................... 608 Unpaid ...................................................................................................... 507 Paid 101 Communities in agricultural planning .................................................... 97 Members in community agricultural planning ................... .. ....... 401 Planning meetings held ................ ,............................................................. 884 Days devoted to planning work by county and home demonstration workers .................................................................................................... 1,841 Unpaid voluntary leaders or committeemen ........................................ 2,898 Days of assistance rendered by voluntary leaders or committeemen 5,939 CROP PRODUCTION Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 5,646 Communities in which work was conducted .......................................... 3,031 Voluntary leaders and committeemen ..................................................... ,205 LIVESTOCK, DAIRYING, POULTRY Days devoted to work ................................................ , .............................. . Communities in which work was conducted ......................................... . Voluntary committeemen and leaders ................................................. . Breeding and improvement organizations ............................................. . Farmers assisted CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES Days devoted to work Communities in which work was conducted ........................................•. Voluntary local leaders and committeemen Farmers assisted in soil management ................................................... . Soil management associations assisted during the year ................... . Farmers assisted in forestry and wild life conservation ................... . FARM MANAGEMENT 4,773 2,262 922 32 31,846 1,209 884 740 26,887 34 2,034 Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 1,174 Farmers assisted 27,681 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 287 Communities in which work was conducted .......................................... 423 Voluntary leaders and committeemen ...................................... ._............ 459 Agricultural and non-agricultural groups assisted ............................ 604
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12 Florida Cooperative Extension MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION Days devoted to work ................................................................................ Communities in which work was conducted ......................................... . Established cooperatives assisted ........................................................... . New cooperatives assisted in organizing ............................................... . Value of products sold or purchased by cooperatives assisted dur2,512 2,606 70 8 ing the year (established and new) .............................................. $13,157,420 Value of products sold or purchased by farmers or families (not members of cooperatives) assisted during the year ................ :.$29,797,290 HOUSING, FARMSTEAD IMPROVEMENT Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Communities in which work was conducted ......................................... . Voluntary leaders and committeemen ................................................... . Families assisted in house furnishing, surroundings, mechanical 1,812 . 1,417 667 equipment, rura.l electrification .......................................................... 30,089 NUTRITION AND HEALTH Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 4,916 Communities in which work was done ............... ,.................................... 2,256 Families assisted: In improving diets-15,303; food preparation11,999; Total ........ , ................................................................................... 27,302 Families assisted with food preservation problems ............................ 27,006 HOME MANAGEMENT-.FAMILY ECONOMICS Days devoted to work ................... : ............................................................. . Communities in which work was done ................................................... . Voluntary leaders assisting ..................................................................... . Families assisted ....................................................................................... . Clubs or groups assisted in buying food, clothing, household supplies ........................................................................................................ . Families assisted in buying food, clothing, household supplies ....... . Families assisted with consumer-buying problems ........................... . CLOTHING AND TEXTILES Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Communities in which work was done ................................................... . Voluntary leaders assisting ................... : ................................................. . Families assisted ......................................................................................... . FAMILY RELATIONS'HIPS-CHILD DEVELOPMENT 380 370 164 2,795 673 7,584 12,611 1,442 504 442 22,799 Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 200 Communities in which work was done ..... . ..... . ........................................ 312 Voluntary leaders assisting ........................................................................ 167 RECREATION AND COMMUNITY LIFE Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Communities in which work was done ................................................... . Voluntary leaders assisting ..................................................................... . Families assisted in improving home recreation ............................... . Communities assisted in improving community recreational facilities ........................................................................................................... . Community groups assisted with organizational problems, programs of activities, or meeting programs ....................................... . Communities assisted in providing library facilities ....................... . 524 387 432 3,363 191 14 54 I
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Annual Report, 1944 SUMMARY OF 4-H CLUB PROJECTS 13 Projects completed by boys 5,516 Projects completed by girls 23,011 Boys completing corn and 'peanut projects 851 Boys completing fruit projects -----------------------40 Boys completing garden projects ----------------------------1,525 Boys completing market gardens, truck and canning crops ____________ 123 Boys completing dairy projects --------577 Boys completing poultry projects -------------720 Boys compJeting cotton and tobacco projects 39 Boys completing potato (Irish and sweet) projects -----------------245 Boys completing beef cattle and swine projects -1,396 Girls completing fruit projects ----------------712 Girls completing garden projects 2,832 Girls completing market gardens, truck and canning crops 18 Girls completing dairy projects ----------------------490 Girls completing poultry projects -1,526 Girls completing food selection and 'preparation projects ----3,784 Girls completing health, home nursing and first aid projects ____________ 1,037 Girls completing clothing, home management, home furnishings and room improvement projects ---------------------------------------------6,872 Girls completing food preservation projects -------------2,177 4-H Membership Boys: Farm-4,278; non-farm-1,081; total -------------------------5,359 Girls: Farm-6,188; non-farm-3,368; total ----------------------------9,556 4-H club members having health examinations because of 'participation in extension program -----------1,604 4-H clubs engaging in community activities such as improving school grounds and conducting local fairs ----363
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14 Florida Cooperative Extension AG RI CULTURAL CONSERVATION H. G . Clayton, Administrntive Officer in Charge R. S. Dennis, Assistant Administrative Offic er In Florida the agricultural conservation and wartime emergency pro grams carried on by the AAA are closely coord inated with the work of the Agricultural Extension Service. The State AAA Committeemen are: Jame s J. Love, Chairman, Gadsden County; C. S. Lee, Seminole County; W. B. Anderson, Jackson County; H. C. Brown, Lake Co unt y; and A. P. Spencer, ex-officio member. In each county, with few exceptions, there is carried on in 1 office the work of the county agent, the county agricultural conservation association and t h e county USDA war board. The agricultural conservation associations are under the direction of county committees composed of farmers elected by those participating in the program. The USDA war boards are composed of repre s entatives of all federal agencies active in the county. The county agent is secretary of the conservation as s ociation and of the war board. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATI0 1 PROGRAM Approximately 35,000 farms participated in the 1944 conservation pro gram. Their operators received cash assistance amounting to approxi mately $2,900,000 for carrying out practices on the farm, designed to in crease food and feed production and further improve and conserve soil resources . The major practices canied out and the estimated extent of each are: Application of phosphate materials to soil-conserving crops and pastures, 54,000 tons of 20 percent eq uivalen t material, 2,500 tons of Fig. 1.-The Agricultural Adjustment Agency assisted Florida farmers in the construction of 4,600,.000 feet of s urface water control ditches such as this during 1944.
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Annual Report, 1944 15 basic slag, 7,500 tons of raw rock and colloidal phosphate; application of liming materials, 45,000 tons; new pastures established, 61,000 acres; seed used in reseeding pastures, 68,000 pounds; pastures mowed to control weeds and noxious growth, 202,000 acres; summer non-legume cover crops, 382,000 acres; cover crops of crotalaria and other summer legumes, 462,000 acres; cover of small grains seeded in the fall of 1943, 87,500 acres; surface water control ditches on pastures, 4,600,000 feet; cover of winter legumes seeded in the fall of 1943, 14,000 acres; winter legumes seeded in the fall of 1944, 22,500 acres; terraces constructed, 4,400,000 feet; legume and grass seed harvested, 12,500 acres. To encourage and assist farm operators in carrying out these practices, certain needed materials and services were furnished by the AAA. The costs of the materials or services furnished were deducted from the pay ments earned by the farmers. The kinds and amounts of the materials and services furnished in 1944 were: Superphosphate, 4,232 tons; basic slag, 1,559 tons; liming materials, 5,154 tons; blue lupine seed, 340,614 pounds; Austrian winter peas, 143,781 pounds; vetch, 21,750 pounds; rye grass seed, 53,250 pounds; seed oats and rye, 10,909 bushels; kudzu, 37,500 crowns; terracing, 2,895,397 feet . Marketing quotas were in effect for flue-cured tobacco. In 1944 the acreage allotted to 5,984 farms was 19,911 acres. There were 18 , 952 acres planted on 5,682 farms. Farms planting in excess of the farm allotment or planting tobacco without an allotment numbered 1,058. The acreage planted in excess of the allotment by these farms was 1,459 acres. The 1944 production of flue-cured tobacco in the State was approximately 17,100,000 pounds. Marketing quotas were not in effect for any other crop. The sugar program was continued with 29 growers planting approxi mately 28,640 acres of sugarcane for sugar. Exact figures on the acreage harvested for sugar are not available at this time. EMERGENCY PROGRAMS War crop goals for crops, livestock, poultry and dairy products called for the highest level of agricultural production in the history of the State. These goals were: Commercial vegetables, 212,000 acres; peanuts picked and threshed, 150,000 acres; oats, 40,000 acres; hay, 160,000 acres; cotton, 46,000 acres; Irish potatoes, 35,000 acres; sweet potatoes, 30,000 acres; flue-cured tobacco, 17,300 acres; sugarcane for sugar, 33,000 acres; milk, 34 7 million pounds; eggs, 19 million dozen; chickens produced, 5 . 3 million; broilers produced, 4.5 million; turkeys, 110,000; sows to farrow, 191,000; cattle on farms 1,050,000 head. While these goals were not quite accom plished for some crops, they were substantially exceeded for others. For the Nation as a whole, the increase in the overall 1944 crop production as compared with 1943 was approximately 7 percent, while for Florida the increa s e in the overall 1944 crop production was approximately 15 percent. All the livestock, poultry, and dairy goals were substantially exceeded. Dairy Feed Payment Program.-Under this program dairy feed subsidy payments were made to 817 dairymen in Florida during the year. These payments were based on sales of whole milk and butterfat at rates which varied with seasonal conditions. Payments amounting to $2,451,635 were made on 341,425,800 pounds of milk and 36,800 pounds of butterfat. These payments enabled the dairymen to continue a high rate of production under ceiling prices . . Farm Machinery and Supplies.-Many items of farm machinery were rationed during the period through September. Rationing was done by county farm rationing committees working in cooperation with AAA com
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16 Florida Cooperative E x tension mittees. These committees reviewed farmers' applications for rationed items and, if approved, issued purchase certificates to the extent that machinery was available in the county quotas. Every effort was made by the county committees to see that available farm machinery was placed where its use would contribute most to production. These committees also furnished information regarding machinery needs in their respective counties. Under this program the State committee was able to request and aid in securing additional farm machinery for use of farmers in the State. Crawler-type tractor quotas and applications from farmers for these tractors are processed through county and State AAA committees before transmittal to the War Food Administration. Crawler-type tractors are still rationed. Farm Lumber Program.-This program became effective in Florida in July 1944. It was made necessary by the critical national lumber situ ation. The program was handled in the county offices by the AAA com mittees. A State farm lumber quota was established for each quarter by the War Food Administration. These quotas earmarked a definite ' quantity of lumber for use on farms and provided AA-2 and AA-3 priority ratings for farm lumber. The State committee established county limita tions for each rating against which the county committees issued certifi cates for approved applications. Copper Wire.-Copper wire quotas for farmstead use were in effect throughout the year. This program was op e rated in the same manner as the farm lumber 'program. Farm Transportation.-County farm transportation committees work ing under the supervision of the AAA committees recommended cases where it was necessary to convert tractors from steel wheels to rubber; assisted farmers with their appeals, applications for certificates of war necessity, and allocations of gasoline for farm trucks; assisted farmers in making applications for the purchase of farm trucks; reviewed and placed their recommendations on such applications; made recommendations to OPA regarding off-the-highway gasoline for farm use and furnished letters of recommendation to farmers for the purchase of sur'plus Army trucks and other equipment. Farm Building Permits and Priority Assistance.-Farm operators were given aid in the preparation of their applications to WPB for permits for the construction of farm buildings and for priority assistance for securing scarce materials and machinery. These applications were reviewed by county committees and recommendations were made and transmitted to the State committee. The State committee affixed its recommendations and forwarded them to WPB for final action. Miscellaneous emergency activities included giving information to farm ers regarding government price support, 'purchase and loan programs; certification of vegetable canners in connection with the canner subsidy payments; operation of the feed wheat, oilseed meal, and molasses for feeders program whereby feed mixers and feeders were enabled to obtain these items from government stocks or stocks resulting from government set-aside orders; the distribution of surplus government-owned grain bins for use in labor housing, farm storage, etc.; and cooperation with other agencies in matters such as production capacity studies, securing data :for farm production estimates, and other matters relating to agriculture.
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Annual Report, 1944 EDITORIAL AND MAILING J. Francis Cooper, Editor Clyde Beale, Assistant Editor Jefferson Thomas, Assistant Editor 17 Wartime activities of farmers and their families again dominated the planning and operation of the information work conducted by the Exten soin Service. Every effort was made to supply information needed by both farm and urban families in their efforts to step up production of food, fiber and other agricultural commodities. PRINTED MATERIALS Three new bulletins totaling 144 pages were printed and one old one was reprinted. Other printed materials included 10 new circulars and 11 folders in a new Emergency Production and Conservation Series, nearly 225,000 copies of the two series being printed and distributed. The following printed materials were issued during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1944: Bul. Bul. Bul. Bul. Circ. Circ. Circ. Circ . 121 122 123 96 70 71 72 73 Circ. 74 Circ. 75 Circ. 76 Can Surplus Fruits and Vegetables ... . ... ............ . Household Pests . ....... . . ....................................... ...... . Screwworms in Florida ... .. .. . ......... .. .. .. . .. ................. . Citrus Propagation (reprint) .............. .... .. . ............ . A Simple Farm Brooder and Finisher ............... . Suggested Wartime Feeds for Chickens ............. . Oats on Florida Farms ......... ....... ......... ... .......... ..... . Producing Quantity and Quality Flue-Cured Tobacco in Florida ....... . ........................ ... .... .... ........ . Put Conservation Farming Behind War Food Production ............ .. ... ........ ...... ....................... ..... . Producing Peanuts in Florida ...... . ..... ......... .......... . Growing Corn in Florida Under Wartime Conditions ......................... . ... . .................. . ... . . . ................ . Sweet Potatoes ..................................................... .. .. . Oats on Florida Farms . ....................... ... ..... .... ....... . Growing "Manure" with Blue Lu ' pines in Florida Circ. 77 Circ . 78 Circ. 79 EPCS EPCS 1 Wood for War ........... . ... .. ....................... . .................. . 2 Adjust Poultry and Egg Production to Feed EPCS 3 EPCS 4 EPCS 5 EPCS 6 EPCS 7 EPCS 8 EPCS 9 EPCS 10 EPCS 11 l\L P. 10 Supplies .................. . .. . ........ .................... .. ............. . Florida Turkey Talk .. . ............................ . ............... . Raise Healthy Pigs for Wartime Needs ............... . Wartime Beef Suggestions ............... .. ........... ....... . Successful Meat Canning ........ .... ........................... . Food for Your Family in Wartime ....................... . Wartime Clothing and Textiles Guide .. ............. . Eat from All the Basic 7 Food Groups Daily ....... . Conserve Health Through Home Sanitation ....... . Your Tobacco Money-How Will You Use It? ... . 4-H Livestock Club Record (reprint) ........ .. .. ..... . Agent's Monthly Report and Certificate of Service ................................................ . .................. . Emergency War Food Agent's Weekly Report ... . Announcement and Rules, 19th Florida National Egg-Laying Test .......... . ...... . ........ . ......... . . . . ... .... . Pages Edition 56 15,000 56 10,000 32 10,000 56 10,000 12 15,000 4 5,000 8 3,500 12 7,500 20 11,500 8 15,000 8 15,000 8 7,500 8 15,000 8 8,000 4 7,500 6 10,000 6 5,000 6 10,000 6 7,500 6 15,000 8 20,000 8 10,000 8 15,000 8 15,000 6 5,000 12 10,000 2 5,000 2 2,500 5 200
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18 Florida Cooperative Extension Final Report, 17th Florida National Egg-Laying Test ................................................................. . Window Cards, Peanut Dusting ........................... . Florida Victory Garden Record Book ................. . Record Book for the Secretary, 4-H Clubs for Florida Girls ....................................................... . 4-H Club News Letter ............................................. . Wartime Goals and Records in Home Improvement for Florida 4-H Club Girls ................... . Florida Clothing Program for 4-H Club Girls ... . Secretary's Record Book, Florida 4-H Clubs ..... . Agricultural News Service (weekly clipsheet), 42 issues, each ..................................................... . Pages Edition 24 16 36 4 4 4 28 1 1,250 300 13,000 3,000 20,000 10,000 10,000 2,500 900 Bulletins, circulars, record books, charts, window cards and other sup plies are distributed from the Mailing Room, the bulletins and circulars going to all county and home agents and to others on request. Ninety-eight agents in 62 counties reported that they distributed 182,991 bulletins of all kinds. NEWS AND .FARM PAPER ITEMS Despite demands for space by various wartime agencies of the govern ment and decreasing supplies of paper, both newspapers and farm journals circulating in Florida continued to make wide use of information supplied by the Extension Service editorial office and by county and home agents. The clipsheet, Agricultural News Service, carrying from 8 to 15 items each week, was printed and distributed to weekly newspapers, farm jour nals and a few dailies. Many of them were generous in the amount of material they clip'ped and reprinted, thus carrying information of consider able importance and timeliness to their readers. Associated Press and United Press wire services released in condensed form the most important items each week, in addition to carrying stories filed especially for them. In addition to the items contained in the clipsheet the editors sent 51 special stories to the wire services and 124 to 1 or more weekly and daily papers. The stories related not only to the Extension Service but also to the College of Agriculture, Experiment Station, State Plant Board, Agricultural Adjustment Agency, Soil Conservation Service and other agencies. The Editors prepared 16 skeleton stories and sent to county and home demonstration agents to be filled in and released locally. Ninety-eight agents in 62 counties report 5,717 news stories of theirs published in local papers. Farm journals, both local and national, also were generous in their use of material written by the Extension Editors, 10 of them-1 Florida, 4 Southern and 5 national--carrying 32 articles amounting to 585 column inches of space. BROADCASTING ACTIVITIES The Florida Farm Hour at noon each day, reduced during the year to slightly less than 45 minutes, continued to be the principal radio outlet for the Extension Service, but farm flashes in cooperation with the USDA were sent for 5 days each week to 14 county agents for passing on to their local radio stations and for use in their own broadcasts. A review of the year's work reveals that 944 talks and other features
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Annual Report, 1944 19 were given on the Florida Farm Hour, in addition to market and weather reports. Experiment Station staff members made 159 of these, the Dean of the College of Agriculture appeared 10 times and other teachers also were heard 10 times, the head of the Florida USDA War Board spoke once each month, 4 USDA transcriptions were used, a State Plant Board worker made 1 talk, and 165 USDA farm flashes were read. The 3 Editors pre pared 23 special talks and 463 daily and other regular features. Special programs featured food production goals, Boy Scouts, Christ mas, a dairy field day, child health, annual county agents' conference, State Home Demonstration Council meeting, and interviews with 4-H club boys, farmers and visiting agricultural workers from this country and Honduras and the Bahamas. Sixty-nine Extension service talks were reworked into farm flashes and forwarded to other stations. The Editors in May began sending a regular weekly roundup of agri cultural news to Press Association for distribution to its client stations. Around 100 of the WRUF talks by College of Agriculture, Experiment Station and Extension Service workers were revised and forwarded to Florida farm papers, where they were used extensively. Twenty-eight county and home agents in 21 counties reported making 605 radio talks during the year, a tremendous increase over previous years. In addition to the farm flashes, agents were sent 1 basic radio talk on 4-H mobilization, the manuscript for which was prepared by the Editors. MISCELLANEOUS WORK As usual, the Editors and Mailing Clerks gave a good portion of their time to work for the Experiment Station, under the terms of their cooper ative employment. The State Plant Board, as has been its custom, paid for the printing of 10 issues of the weekly clipsheet. The Editor continued to make a large number of pictures, with a camera supplied by the Agricultural Adjustment Agency. A good portion of the pictures were used in various ways shortly after they were made. The Editor, in conjunction with the Extension Forester, made up one filmstrip for use by county agents in training their club members and farmers to set pine trees. A filmstrip library was established during the year, with more than 50 strips available for loan.
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20 Florida Cooperative Extension PART 11.....:.MEN'S WORI( COUNTY AGENTS' ACTIVITIES A. P. Spencer, Director W. T. Nettles, District Agent J. Lee Smith, District Agent As is natural in wartime, personnel problems were of considerable importance during the year. The Extension Service has been fortunate, however, in .securing satisfactory replacements for agents who have entered the armed services or resigned to go into private business. Emergency war food assistant agents were appointed in a number of counties and rendered very satisfactory service. Training given new and untrained agents was largely on the job and through visits made by them to the State office of the Extension Service and Experiment Station and to other counties having problems similar to those in the county where they planned to work. The District Agents go into the philoso'phy and history of Extension work and methods the new agent may use in accomplishing the most good. Plans for professional improvement of the agents in service, through college training, have had to be held in abeyanc"e during the war. The war, with its attendant emergency agricultural programs, has forced the county agent to organize his office and his work for best efficiency to accomplish the numerous duties heaped upon him. County agents were assisted in planning their programs of work for the year through group and district conferences, attended by representa tives of the State office and other organizations. After being given the facts of the situation, the agents could evolve and adopt their own pro grams, in coo'peration with their county agricultural leaders. FOOD .FOR THE HUNGRY Agents joineu farm families in striving to do everything possible to produce the maximum amount of food to meet the demands of war. Goals recommended by the War Food Administration and adopted by Florida agricultural agencies in a conference called by the Agricultural Adjust ment Ar;ency served as the basis for recommendations by county agents. Peanuts have been the number 1 war crop in counties where they are grown, and Florida farmers have tripled their production of harvested nuts. Since harvested peanuts are quite soil-depleting, farmers have been interested in planting winter cover of legumes to follow peanuts, and county agents have encouraged and assisted them in this. County agents staged a number of demonstrations on the value of dust ing peanut vines with sulphur to control leafspot disease, and results were so astounding-40 percent increase in yield in some cases-that the dusting is expected to be widely used next year. Cotton.-Acreage devoted to cotton in western Florida has steadily declined, making way for the production of more essential crops such as peanuts. However, quality and length of staple have been materially im proved in recent years through county crop improvement associations spon sored by county agents and through the establishment of 1-variety cotton communities. Cotton classification records show that in 1939 over 80 percent of Florida's upland cotton was less than 1 inch in length, while in 1944 at
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Annual Report, 1944 21 Fig. 2.-This Jackson County farmer is planting peanuts on the contour, a fine practice on sloping land. (SCS photo.) least 85 percent was 1 inch or longer. Improved varieties and production methods accounted for the increase. Commercial Vegetables.-Florida's truck cro p farmers have increased their production of vegetables to help keep the country well fed. Fertilizer could be obtained more readily during 1944 than during the previous season, but labor has remained scarce. Through the cooperation of the AAA, the Extension farm labor program and the best efforts of the farm families themselves, there was practically no loss of produce. Home Gardens.-While the home garden fever was not as intense this year as last, the efficient producers went right ahead with good garden programs, while the inefficient ones dropped by the wayside. Better quality gardens were in evidence, and there were sufficient vegetables for everyone. Citrus.-The problem of handling the ever-growing amount of citrus produced has turned county agents' thoughts to lines other than produc tion. Citrus concentrates, frozen citrus juice and citrus pulp as a dairy feed are believed to hold a good part of the answer. The county agents, by giving out information on its value and breaking down prejudice against something entirely new, have helped materially in popularizing dried citrus pulp as a feed. The Dairy Situation.-Many small dairymen have been forced out of business by wartime conditions, and , agents have rendered them every assistance in closing out their operations where it was necessary for them to quit dairying. Most of the cows, however, were purchased by large dairymen, who increased their output to help meet the unprecedented de mand for milk. The farm labor setup of the Extension Service assisted dairymen to obtain some much-needed additional labor, but most dairies operated short handed.
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22 Florida Cooperative Extension Livestock and Pastures.-The fine work of Extension agents in the establishing of improved pastures did not abate this year, and the livestock industry is forging steadily ahead. Better animals and more feed are being combined. Water control and conservation are receiving intense consideration in the southern part of the State, as it is realized that water conservation is essential to a successful future livestock program. The agents have cooperated with soil conservation districts in this and other activities. Local Leaders.-The necessities of war have brought a great increase in the use of volunteer local leaders. They have assisted the agents in setting goals and then conducting an educational program to encourage farm families of the counties to attain those goals.
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' Annual Report, 1944 23 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS C. V. Noble, Agricultural Economist FARM MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES C. M. Hampson, Extension Economist WAR WORK Economic Information and Outlook.-The agricultural situation was in fluenced rather frequently by regulations of the Office of Price Administra tion, by changes in war situations and adverse weather. The general pub licity given by the radio and press to all such changes usually made it appear futile for a State Extension Economist to issue any statements regarding economic situations or outlook. However, in cooperation with the Marketing Specialist, files of all OP A regulations received by this office were kept and the best available information was supplied on request. More than 4,000 farmers were given assistance in outlook and other in formation. Assistance was given by the Specialist in the preparation of a report on postwar agricultural production adjustments in Florida under assumed conditions, and much time was given to postwar planning for the State of Florida. Assistance was given also to the production goals committee of the Florida State War Board in the preparation of State goals. Services to Veterans.-In keeping with Federal and State programs for veterans, considerable data have been collected in preparation for meeting the needs not only of returning veterans but also of war workers when they wish to take up agriculture. The same data will be valuable also in older youth programs and for thousands who may migrate to Florida. Committees to aid veterans have . been named in most counties, some of which have been active for months. One, in a beef cattle county, is a group of 5 men selected from the livestock association. In another county there is an agricultural committee composed of chairmen of 7 sub-com mittees and 3 business men with agricultural interests. The agricultural committee serves with 6 other committees in an effort to build a complete economic and social program for a whole trade area. Most of the active committees are setting up standards and recommendations which are in tended to guide prospective farmers who wish to make a good living by farming. Emphasis is being placed on the need of starting with a farm business large enough to pay well. Ownership of small units is being discouraged, except with those who will have non-farm income. Agents are encouraged to use active existing organizations rather than to set up new and overlapping committees. Outlines of items for discussion at committee meetings are being sent to agents. Some counties will have only brief reports; others will be rather complete, including statistics and maps. Various specialists are asked to assist in county committee meetings. They also review manuscripts for publication. Officials of the Veterans Administration have been consulted from time to time for the purpose of coordinating efforts. Miscellaneous Activities.-Assistance was rendered in various war bond and scrap drives. Help was also given to Emergency Extension Agents with their food production and conservation programs and to the Victory Garden Committee in its efforts to secure a maximum number of gardens
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24 Florida Cooperative Extension in the State. Four hundred victory garden pledge cards and 1,500 window stickers were furnished to negro agents. A series of 4 folders was published containing suggestions to farmers for using their incomes. The leading suggestions are to get debts in shape, secure needed land if farm is too small, make necessary improvements, and save by buying war bonds. REGULAR PROGRAM Individual Farm Planning.-Twelve county agents were instructed in methods of analyzing th e business of low-income farmers and making acceptable recommendations for changes which would increase the farm income. Individual instructions were given to 8 white agents and a 2-day school was held for instructing negro agents. Those agents have visited 113 low-income farmers and made 761 recommendations, of which 553 were carried out in a credit a ble manner. Two nei g hborhoods were organized for educational meetings to save the agent's time in making follow-up contacts. Other cooperators were visited from 2 to 4 times during the year to give further assistance and to measure progress. Timely circular letters and applicable publications of the Extension Service and Experiment Station were sent to all cooperators. Farm Records.-Farm record books have been supplied to more than 2,000 farmers and assistance has been given to many of them in entering inventori e s and otherwise posting their books. Noted improvement has been made by farmers in their record keeping during 1944 as a result of their realization of the advantages to be obtained from accurate records when they compute income tax , returns. Federal Income Tax.-Ap proximately 6,000 copies of "Farm Bookkeep ing and the Federal Income Tax" were distributed to farmers. More than 1,100 . farmers have been personally assisted with their income tax returns by county agents and the Farm Management Specialist. Forest Farming Study.-Farm and woodland records have been secured from 19 cooperating farmers for the third consecutive year of a 5-year project which is being conducted in cooperation with the Florida State Forest and Park Service. Visits are made by both the Farm Management Specialist and the Farm Forester to the farms several times each year. Management recommendations fitting war conditions are offered in regard to both the farm and the woodland. Miscellaneous.-Classes in principles of farm management were con ducted for a total of 320 4-H club boys and girls at 3 camps. Interest in the subject was greater than in any other agricultural subject ever pre sented to club members by the Specialist . MARKETING ACTIVITIES D. E. Timmons, Marketing Economist Adjusting Production to Wartime Needs.-All Extension specialists, the AAA and many other State and Federal agencies cooperated in deter mining what cro ps were needed most, what areas might be expected to increase production, the quantity of labor and materials needed and the marketing facilities necessary in obtaining the increased food needs for this country and its allies. In advising increased production, caution was taken to see that crops were not planted until facilities for marketing were assured. Growers
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Annual Report, 1944 25 were urged to avoid over-expansion and especially to avoid trying to pro duce large quantities of crops on land not suited or with labor and manage ment not experienced in their production. Results of the production effort may be seen in the following figures: During the 1939-40 season Florida produced 185,000 carloads of fruits and vegetables; 1942-43 production was 225,000; 1943-44 season production was 261,000. Tomatoes, 'pepper, snap beans, celery and citrus accounted for a large proportion of this increase. Farm Labor.-Camp managers, local placement men and the farm labor cffice were contacted relative to labor needs. The economist spent 2 weeks at 1 of the labor camps, which consisted of labor recruits mostly from adjoining states, to determine the psychology of the workers, type of workers being recruited and how they might be utilized to best advantage. A report was made to the farm labor office and a survey was made through out the State to determine just how serious the labor situation was. Diseases and insects, adverse weather, shortages of marketing and trans portation facilities, price and many other factors were of paramount importance. Using the years 1936-40 as 100, the index of cost of farm labor was 116 in 1941, 150 in 1942, 211 in 1943 and 281 in 1944. Florida Council of Farmer Cooperatives.-The Florida Council of Farmer Coo'peratives, an educational trade association composed of bona fide co operative marketing, purchasing and service organizations as active mem bers and Extension Service, Production Credit Associations, and the like, as associate members, consists of 28 cooperatives, including the Florida Citrus Exchange. The tonnage represented by council members is approximately 75 per cent of that of farmer cooperative tonnage in Florida. Citrus, vegetables, sugar, dairy and livestock cooperatives are all represented in the council. Community Canning Centers.-War conditions have created a consider able demand for home preservation of food and in a number of Florida communities it is felt that canning centers are the most practical approach to the satisfaction of this demand. Specialists from commercial organ izations assisted county agents in making surveys to determine needs for canning centers, holding schools and locating equipment. Organized Food Distributors.-In many states there are organized trade associations which promote the interests of chain distributors, including food stores. The Florida Chain Store Association, with headquarters in Orlando, has added to its personnel a specialist in agriculture whose duty it is to work with agricultural groups and with the facilities of its mem bership assemble and distribute agricultural products. He was supplied with information on goals, outlook and other educational data for his use. Three conferences between food distributor representatives and pro duction specialists were held where specialists referred to production prob lems and commodities that could be produced in commercial quantities if distributors had the facilities to serve those producing areas. Distributor representatives stated the type of commodity most in demand and the form, grade, size, etc., which met best consumer acceptance. Civic Organizations.-Civic organizations have long been interested in agriculture. Price ceilings, fear of food shortages and possibly agricul ture's being better organized have resulted in an intensified effort on the part of civic groups to have a greater part in the agricultural program. More requests than usual were made for outlook material, appearances on programs . and for participation in conferences on agriculture. Determin ing and bringing to the attention of these groups those things that have
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26 Plorida Cooperative Extension been found more practical in a research way and preventing the use of misinformation have been important phases of this project. Farmer Cooperatives . -More interest has been shown by groups in the formation of farmer cooperatives during the last year than ever before, not only by groups interested in organizing local associations, but by local groups interested in federating and by a number of interstate cooperatives interested in working with Florida farmers. In forming a cooperative the procedure followed is to survey the local situation with reference to volume of business that a prospective cooper ative might be expeeted to have , the type of facilities that would be needed, personnel and qualifications needed, number of farmers interested and whether or not they have the spirit of working together in a group. If a cooperative does not seem practical, those who originally made the request will d e cide against its organization. Shortages of feed and supplies are factors ex ' plaining the demand for a purchasing type of cooperative. Dairymen and poultrymen have found it quite difficult to obtain the right kind and quantity of feeds. Some of the larger producers have found it necessary to go to feed-producing areas and try to purchase direct. Needless to say, this involves considerable expense and time, the result being a demand on the part of producers to form cooperatives and hire personnel to go to these areas and get their feed, fertilizer and supplies. Agricultural Trade Associations.-The Florida Citrus Commission, made possible by special acts of the State Legislature; the Florida Farm Bureau, a branch of the American Farm Bureau Federation; the Producers' Trade Association, composed primarily of citrus grower-shippers and farmer cooperatives; the United Growers and Shippers, a citrus group composed largely of on-tree buyers with some cooperative groups as members; the Hillsborough Economic Development Committee; the Florida Citrus Mar keting Agreement Committees; the Florida Canners' Association; and the Florida Vegetable Committee are agricultural trade associations, most of which are organized as coo'peratives. MISCELLANEOUS Pecans.-The State Marketing Bureau, Department of Markets and the Exten s ion Service have cooperated for 3 seasons in assisting in marketing pecans. A committee of these groups meets prior to the pecan season and makes plans for holding cooperative pecan sales which are usually held at State markets. The Extension Service announces opening dates for the markets, time of opening , who will be in charge and such market in formation as is available on supply and demand for pecans. County agents are assisted in making up notices of these markets and their openings and as many as possible of the sales ar e attended. Grades, Standards and Packages.-The war situation has so upset grades, standards and packages that it may take years to regain the progress previously made in their improvement. CITRUS GROVE MANAGEMENT Zach Savage, Economist in Farm Management An economic study of grove management has been carried on by the Extension Service since 1930-31, during which period Florida citrus growers have experienced widely varying conditions as to fertilizer and spray recommendations, rainfall, labor and material costs, availability of labor,
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Annual Report, 1944 27 machinery and equipment, other production problems, fruit prices and general price level. Under such conditions accurate records are valuable to the indvidual grower in forming a basis for future management. These grove records collectively have su ' pplied excellent data for planning in the war effort. A summary of costs and returns for 12 seasons was prepared and a copy supplied to the Citrus Industry for publication. Two hundred sixty grove records were obtained during the year. One hundred forty-four were supplied by the grower and 116 were obtained by the project leader through visitation and taking the record from the cooperator's own records. The project leader was appointed 1 of the advisers to the committee on education and research, citrus department, Florida Farm Bureau, which is interested in grower grove records, their interpretation, and getting the results in the hands of citrus growers who do not cooperate in the citrus 1ecord work as well as those who do cooperate.
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28 Florida Cooperative Extension AGRONOMY ACCOMPLISHMENTS J. Lee Smith, Extension Agronomist Approximately 83 percent of the farms of the State are operated by white people and 17 percent by negroes; 72 percent are operated by owners. The average size of the-farms is 83 acres. The cultivated areas of many farms are generally too small to be most economically operated. The smallest farm which produces general farm crops does not su'pply suffi cient income to provide an adequate standard of living for the family, even when most efficiently operated and prices are reasonably good, as they were this last year. Soil conservation districts are now organized in about one-half of the State. The Florida Crop Improvement Association has been organized to handle programs that will assist in improving the agriculture of north ern Florida. It has been estimated that 500,000 acres of the 725,000 acres of crop land in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Wash ington, Calhoun, Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson and Madison counties are sub ject to surface erosion. It has been shown that improved grasses such as carpet, Bahia, Dallis, Napier and white and other clover plants established on 'pastures increase the carrying capacity of the land from 5 to 20 times that of the _native grasses. Objectives.-The Extension agronomy work was aimed at, first, per suading ana assisting the farmers of Florida in doing their part in meeting the war food and feed needs; second, informing them of the most economi cal agronomic production practices known; third, explaining how they can make the best out of the fertilizers which they can secure; and fourth, informing them as to how they can best maintain their soil fertility during the war period. Goals and Accomplishments.-The radio, newspapers, circular letters and brief circulars, meetings and personal contacts were used extensively by Extension workers in getting the production goals and im'proved prac tices before the farmers this year. The 1944 field crop production goals and accomplishments for Florida were as follows: Peanuts, goal 305,000 acres grown alone and 150,000 to be dug, accomplished 256,000 acres grown and 120,000 acres dug; upland cotton, goal 46,000 acres of longer staples, accomplished 35,000 acres, 86 percent of which was 1 inch staple and better; flue-cured tobacco, 16,200 acres, accomplished 15,000 acres; corn 775,000, accomplished 752,000; oats 52,000, accomplished 80,000; hay 160,000, accomplished 150,000; sugarcane 33,000, accomplished 30,000; sweet potatoes 30,000, accomplished 20,000; gardens, goal all possible-accomplished. Winter Cover and Manure Crops.-Since 1926 there has been some in terest in producing winter-growing legume cover and manure crops in Florida. This early interest reached its peak in 1931. Austrian peas and hairy vetch were the crops used then. Interest subsided because of fall droughts, ravages of disease, distance of seed su'pply and the fact that inoculation was not always good. The Florida Experiment Station distributed the first commercial quan tity of blue lupine seed, another winter-growing legume. It has several advantages over the vetches and Austrian peas in that it produces a heavier crop of seed, can be planted earlier than the peas or vetches and will pro duce a larger tonnage of green manure within a given time. In 1942-43 there were 637 farms that grew 14,032 acres of winte-r legumes in 21 coun
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Fig. 3 .-N ew varieties of oats, s uch as Florida 167 (l eft) and Quincy White (right) are e nabling this crop to stage a st rong comeback in Flo r ida . It produces cheap feed, requiring comparatively s mall amounts of labor. N) c.o
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30 Florida Cooperativ e E x tension ties, mo s t of which was blue lupine. There were approximately 1 million pounds of seed 'produced. This was enough to plant approximately 20,000 acres in 194 3 . About 1,600,000 pounds of seed were produced in 1944. There were 883,865 pounds of blue lupine seed planted, on between 12,000 and 16,000 acres this fall, and 219,000 pounds of Austrians peas and 92,810 pounds of vetch seed were distributed and planted on 11,967 acres. These were generally higher quality than last year. Preparaing for this year's planting program, the Extension Agronomist published and distributed 7,500 copies of circular 79 entitled "Growing Manure With Blue Lupine in Florida" and secured and distributed 5,000 copie s of a USDA Farmers' Bulletin on lupines. Developing a Fa rm Program for the White-Fringed Beetle Area.-Oka loo s a, Walton and Escambia counties are infested with the white-fringed beetle, a pest destructive to all spring-planted crops. Research has shown certain outstanding facts, among which ar e these: The beetle does most damage to crops when it is in the larval stage; it is in the soils for 10 months in this stage and is very activ e in the spring; peanuts, velvet beans and certain weeds and vegetabl es commonly grown in the area are the most desirable food plants and the b ee tle is capable of laying an abund ance of eggs when feeding on such crops, but very few when feeding on grass and like crops; and, where peanuts, velvet beans and . such crops grow, a heavy "build up" of larvae occurs sufficient to destroy almost any spring planted crop. With counsel of the Research and Quarantine Divisions of th e U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, the Florida Experiment Station, Soil Conservation Service, Farm Security Administration and Plant Board employees, the Extension Service developed a farm program which called for the following: Peanuts to be grown on the same area not more often than once in 3 or 4 years; interplanting of corn with velvet bean s to be eliminated, or, either or both of these crops removed as far from the infested area as possible; and oats and winter l e gume s added to the list of crops grown-these crops to be grown on the areas of the farm where the heaviest infestation would be expected to appear the next spring. The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine inspected and checked every farm and reported in the spring of 1944 that 26.7 percent of the crop land was grown to these crops in the 1943-44 season in the Florida area. Satisfactory progress was made and inspection of fields showed that no damage was done these winter-growing crops by the larvae in heavily infested fields.
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Annual Report, 1944 31 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND POULTRY A. L. Shealy, Animal Industrialist ANIMAL HUSBANDRY W. J. Sheely, Animal Husbandman The objective of the meat animal work has been to produce meat for the war effort and to keep the livestock industry on a healthy, sound, profitable and economical basis to meet postwar conditions. Wartime Beef and Hog Suggestions.-To meet emergency needs and aid in meat animal production, folders entitled "Raise Healthy Pigs for War Needs" and "Wartime Beef Suggestions" were prepared and sent all over the State. Extension livestock work was accomplished through close cooperation with county agents and existing agencies and through the use of circular letters, news articles, radio talks, meetings, tours and personal visits. Negro agents were specifically instructed in hog and beef cattle pro duction with special attention being placed on home meat supply for farms and succession of feed crops to prevent the starving period of hogs in the spring. During the year all negro agents and members of the A. & M. College staff were furnished with copies of the 1944 meat animal goals and current information, and were instructed in war needs. Early Marketing of Livestock.-In accordance with instructions from the Federal office, 3 conferences of county agents and producers were called in the State at which the meat animal goals and livestock situation were discussed. As a result of these conferences the July, August, Septem ber and October sales of cattle and calves were larger than for the same period of 1943, with hog sales in August and September 25 percent higher than the same period a year earlier. BEEF CATTLE Bulls for Herd Replacement.-Good breeding bulls are the foundation on which herd improvement is based. In cooperation with county agents, breeders and dealers, bulls were located for cattlemen. Gas and tire shortage curtailed the shipping in of many bulls. Nevertheless more than 1,400 purebred bulls were placed in the State, many of which were raised here. Florida breeders were assisted in growing out and placing their bulls. One cattleman sold around 300 high grade and 80 purebred Brahma bulls. One Polled Hereford breeder sold 60 home-raised bulls and a number of other Florida breeders produced and sold various numbers of good bulls. This home bull su'pply is a boon to beef production during wartime. Ten years ago there were practically no breeders of purebred beef cattle in the State. Today there are more than 100 good herds of Angus, Here ford, Polled Hereford and Brahmas, some of which are on a sound, eco nomical basis while a few have been established under high prices and the urge to own purebred animals. Selecting and Developing Heifers for Herd Replacement.-Growing out "select" heifers for herd replacement and culling cows to increase the "calf crop" are becoming common practices with cattlemen. One cattleman has 1,000 2-year old heifers to add to his herd next spring, and is sending 1,000 cull cows to market in addition to selling 500 heifers and cows for breeding purposes. The quality of the grade herds has been improved by selection and growing out of heifers and using good bulls to such an
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32 Florida Cooperative Extension extent that more than 1,500 heifers and cows have been sold for herd re placement. Breeding heifers to calve at 2 to 3 years of age has cut down on death rate at calving time and produced heavier calves at wean ing and heavier, stronger breeding cows. Winter Feeding.-Controlled breeding and winter feeding go together for the betterment of the cattleman. Bulls were separated from the herd on many pastures and put on winter pastures or feed. Throughout the beef-producing areas cattlemen are making arrangements for winter feed ing as a business investment. Feeding the cow herd is growing in popularity. Formerly, great quan tities of citrus pulp from canning plants were dumped in groves or on waste land. Now much of this pulp is manufactured into dry cow feed. Still there are large quantities of pulp in excess of the capacity of the drying plants. Many cattlemen near the canning plants are feeding the fresh pulp to their breeding herds with good results. Cattle wintered on wet pulp last year were fat in the spring and dropped and raised good calves that averaged $46.50 on the market. Sugarcane for winter feeding has become popular, due to heavy tonnage of growth per acre and results of feeding tests. Scarcity of protein feeds has helped to increase the acreage of oats for winter grazing. The new rust-resistant varieties of oats have been of great value to the livestock men. Pasture Development.-Pasture improvement work has been curtailed by labor shortage. More than a dozen counties report harvesting grass seed for local plantings. F e rtilizing and liming pasture land greatly increased this season, with county agents re ' porting 955 farmers fertilizing pastures and 626 farmers putting lime on pastures. Cutting briers, weeds and bushes increases the efficiency of the pasture. Cattle gain and produce more pounds of beef where grass can grow in the sunshine. Brahma Breeders' Association.-The Florida breeders of Brahmas or ganized the Florida Brahma Breeders' Association, affiliating with the National Brahma Breeders' Association. The pur'pose of the association is to further Brahma cattle breeding and improve beef cattle in the State. The first purebred show and sale was scheduled for February 1, 2 and 3, 1945, in Ocala. Florida breeders were urged to assume the responsibility for produc ing bulls for herd improvement. War needs for meat in 1944 called for an increase over 1943. Slaughter and marketing regulations caused some confusion and uneasiness with both producers and processors and slowed up the work. Regardless of regulations and market conditions, indications are that Florida cattlemen will reach their goals. Cattle and Horse Shows.-Three cattle shows and 2 horse shows were held this year. At the Fat Stock Show in Ocala 180 steers were shown and sold for $32,737.54, an average of $23.51 per hundred pounds. Ten herds of purebred cattle and 21 grade herds were shown at the Range Cattle and Horse Show at Kissimmee. At the horse show 42 ani mals competed in the ring. Seventy-five cow horses were in the workout, showing cutting and herding ability of both horse and rider. At Arcadia there were 155 purebred cattle and 55 head of excellent cow horses in the show.
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Annual Report, 1944 33 HOG WORK Since hog production in Florida depends on field crops that can be gathered by the hogs-peanuts, corn, cowpeas, chufas and oats-and since the number of pigs raised per litter affects the feed costs per hog, our main work this year has been feed production and raising healthy pigs. Beginning in the fall of 1943 county agents were urged to advise farm• ers to plant feed for early spring pigs. Circular letters were sent out to county agents, farmers and to the press on finishing hogs for early market. Reports show that 25 percent more hogs went to Florida markets irt August and September, 1944, than in the same months of 1943. A Gadsden County farmer sent 300 No. 1 hogs to market in August, which had been grown during the spring on oats with little other feed. Raise Healthy Pigs.-Controlling parasites and growing crops for pigs, together, will fit into hog production in Florida. County agents reported 1,966 farmers practicing control of external parasites and 6,300 farmers controlling internal parasites in hogs. Mineral supplements were used by more farmers during this year than formerly, due to the fact that these minerals can be put out where hogs can get them at will. Minerals and feed help to raise healthy pigs and prevent a starving period in spring. Farm Families' Meat Supply.-Farmers were urged to produce, process and store sufficient meat for home use in order that transportation and marketing facilities, labor shortage and cold-storage space at packing houses might be relieved. Cold-storage meat curing plants have served a purpose _ _ in _ this __ State and aided in the war effort. Information _ on curtng ' meat was furnished to all county and home agents, to all n e gro agents and to every meat curing plant in the State. Last season more than 8,000,000 pounds of meat were cured by the meat curing houses. WORK STOCK Oount~, _ agents' reports still show an interest in work stock, especially on small farms in western Florida and on cattle outfits in central and southern Florida. Information on feeding and care of the work animals, with s'pecial reference to keeping the animals healthy, was furnished. County agents report more than 300 farmers were instructed in better feeding of animals, over 200 farmers instructed in controlling external parasites and more than 400 instructed in controlling internal parasites in horses. Throughout the cattle country animals have been inoculated against "sleeping sickness." During the year 14 farmers secured stallions and 38 more secured mares for colt production. 4-H CLUB WORK Material on selecting, feeding and growing out of calves, pigs and colts was furnished to county agents for club members. Twenty 4-H club members showed well-finished steers at Ocala. These evidenced the results of instruction and close attention to the business of feeding out animals. A 4-H club calf, reserve champion of the show and champion 4-H club calf, brought 61 a pound. County agents report 368 4-H club boys and girls completed beef projects, 1,082 completed swine projects and 97 completed horse and mule projects. Alachua and Hillsborough boys entered the National Polled Hereford Judging Contest at Atlanta.
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34 Florida Cooperative Extension DAIRYING Hamlin L. Brown, Extension Dairyman Methods of doing dairy work in 1944 differed from those used in pre vious years. The 8-point dairy program was featured and dairy work, as much as possible, was built around the goals program. The 8-point pro gram is as follows: Grow more forage as pasture, silage, and hay; fertilize all forage to increase quality and quantity; provide sup'plementary annual grazing crops; give cows at least 6 weeks dry period; feed concentrates according to production; keep as many cows as feed and labor will permit; breed for better herd replacements-use safety bull pens; produce good quality milk and avoid waste. The dairy organizations, including the Florida State Dairymen's Asso ciation, the Florida Dairy Products Association, the Florida Jersey Cattle Club and the Guernsey Cattle Club, with the various dairy associations, cooperated as best they could under wartime conditions. The feed situation improved steadily from January 1. Timely rains, which were above normal, increased grazing and saved money and work spent in fertilizing pastures. Grazing crops were helpful in reducing the amount of feed consumed and greatly increased the supply of protein avail able. Probably no 1 thing contributed more to helping the Florida dairy production program in 1944 than the subsidy payments made available through the AAA, which amounted to $2,228,767.59. TlIE 8-POINT DAIRY PROGRAM Grow More Forage as Pasture, Silnge, and Hay.-During 1944 some 13,000 acres of pasture were set with sod or root cuttings or seeded. The great value of the pasture program was the large number of small farmers owning family cows and smaller market milk dairymen who made.plantings of the special varieties of grass, including Coastal Bermuda, Pangola, Pensacola Bahia, common Bahia and other grasses. These varietie" . were spread over some 640 dairy farms in Florida where commonly grown carpet grass and other kinds of grass that grow better on the moist lands have not been adapted. Seventy-four new farmers planted some forage cane to be fed green in the fall. Some was converted into silage and some stacked to be chopped and fed during the winter months. It was estimated that some 15,000 acres were planted to sorghum in 1944 for silage purposes. Fertilize All Forage to Increase Quality and Quantity.-The 15,000 acres that have been fertilized through the AAA grant of aid allotmen, of phosphate and limestone have served to spread the use of fertilizers and increase forage production among some 650 new farms that did not fertilize in previous years. Provide Supplementary Annual Grazing Crops.-Cattail millet can be planted by the first of the year in southern Florida and may be seeded anywhere from February to March in northern and western Florida. It fits in well in the early fall on farms where it is seeded in late July or early August as a grazing crop to come on after the regular pasture grasses are retarded on account of limited rainfall and the end of season growth. The seeding of oats has more than doubled in the last 2 years, with an estimate of something over 100,000 acres having been seeded. Fertiliza tion of oats, together with the improved rust-resistant varieties, has prac tically revolutionized the growing of this crop.
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Fig. 4.-Des ' pite drastic shortages of labor, Florida dairymeh have kept their hel'd s producing at top s peed to help supply critically needed dairy products.
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36 Florida Cooperative Extension The seeding of rye has been reduced, due to increased interest in im proved varieties of oats. However, rye is a valuable winter crop for small farms in counties where there are large numbers of small farmers. Large acreages of rye grass were seeded in some counties through grant of aid payments under the AAA. In Broward County 22,000 acres were seeded, a large amount of which were used in grazing dairy animals. Give Cows at Least 6 Weeks Dry Period.-During normal pre-war times market milk farmers of Florida had a marked reduction in the consump tion of milk during the summer months, which usually provided at least 2 to 3 months dry period for all their cows. However, in wartimes when there is year-round demand for milk, there has been a tendency for some dairymen to overlook the allotted 2 months' dry period recommended in most states. Feed Concentrates According to Production.-Practically all of our county agents use this point to get dairymen interested in estimating the amounts of concentrate feed for high-producing cows. During the year there was a radical change in the feed situation. The State AAA office was very helpful in getting an improved distribution of feeds. In addition to high-content protein feeds now available, steamed bone meal is available in most areas in Florida. Keep as Many Cows as Feed and Labor Will Permit.-Extensive con struction of air bases and all kinds of building and preparations for the housing and maintenance of the armed forces now training in Florida and employment of labor in the shipyards in Florida, to say nothing of drafted dairy laborers, have caused labor to be the biggest problem confronting Florida dairy farms. Most dairymen have been able to get necessary milking machines and modern (}quipment for carrying on dairy operations through the State War Board office. Probably the most im'portant factor is that dairymen are finally reducing their herds rather than attempting to peak the production beyond practical means. Breed for Better Herd Replacements-Use Safety Bull Pens.-This pro gram was enlarged through the 4-H club work. The programs put on by the dairy breed associations, through the cooperation of the State Dairy men's Association, have been helpful in creating wide interest in improving the dairy animals on the farm. There is greater demand in all areas of the State for Dairy Herd Improvement Association and official testing than in previous years. Produce Good Quality Milk and Avoid Waste.-This program has be come more important each year with the extensive use of milking machines. Among all the dairy cow diseases and ailments, mastitis has become the most serious problem now prevailing on dairy farms throughout the State and dairymen in general are looking for something to cure it. The success ful control of mastitis through systematic handling of infected animals, segregating the diseased animals from the herd, and more careful manange ment of the milking operations are the only successful measures now in use. Bangs' disease is more critical now than it has been in the last 10 years. The program of testing and slaughter has been badly disrupted by the drafting of veterinarians into the armed services. Frequent changes of veterinarians, with serious labor shortage on dairy farms, have left many herds with infected cows among them that are getting no immediate relief. The Florida Dairymen's Association and the State Dairy Products Asso ciation are both concerned about the bangs' disease program and it is hoped that some practical solution will be worked out in the near future.
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Annual R eport, 1944 37 THE FAMILY COW Number of Farms in Florida Having Dairy Cows. The U. S. Census Bureau in 1940 li ste d 27,159 Florida farms reporting 1 or more milk cows. There ar e probably 33, 000 farms with dairy cow s now , according to the F lorida office of the Bur ea u of Agricultural Economics. About 9 0 percent of the farms reporting are keeping dairy animals larg e l y for the milk t hey produce as a part of the family living. Milk is the No . 1 Food. -Because of the importance of milk as a n e arly perfect food, with the v itamin s and minerals that mak e it a protective food for children and adults, great emp ha sis ha s been given to the family c ow program by all agricultural workers for the la s t 10year s. It is esti mated by the Departmen t of Agriculture that 60,000 family cows produced 193,500,000 pound s of milk during the period from October 31, 1943, to November 1, 1944, against an approximate 3 47 m illion pounds produced by the market mi lk dairi es of the State. POULTRY KEEPING Norman R. Mehrhof, Extension Poultr yman A. Woodrow O'Steen, Extension Poultryman F. M. Dennis, S up ervisor Egg-Laying T est The 194 4 goals program requested a r ed u ct ion in stead of an expa n s ion in poultry production. During 19 43 increases were registered in egg pro duction, c hicken s raised, turkeys raised and pounds of poultry meat pro duced, while the 1944 goals requested the sa m e e gg production as in 194 3, 9 percent fewer chickens raised, a 22 perce n t decrease in commerc ial broil ers and an 8 percent d ecrease in turkeys raised. Florida's Poultry lndu st ry. -The number of hens and pullets o n farms January 1, 1944, was 2,304,000, compared wit h an indi cated 1,843,000 for Janua ry 1, 1945, which i s 461,000 fewer. There was c on si d erab l e reduction in commercial broiler production F i g 5.-Commercial production of eggs and poultry meat at a heavy rate in Florida ha s helped to meet t h e ation's food s up p l y situation.
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38 Florida Cooperative Extension during the year-an estimated 20 to 40 percent-due to high feed, chick and labor costs and low ceiling prices. However, broiler production con tinues above the pre-war level. Chicks hatched by commercial hatcheries during the first 10 months of 1944 were approximately 2 million less than for the same period in 1943-a decrease of about 25 percent. Likewise, fewer chicks were shipped into the State in 1944. Egg prices dropped below ceiling level during the spring of 1944, while poultry meat prices remained at ceiling level throughout the year. Egg Quality Program.-The inspection bureau of the State Department of Agriculture and the State Marketing Bureau cooperated in the develop ment of Florida's egg quality program, resulting in an improved quality of egg offered to the consumers. The Florida Poultry Council and State and county agricultural workers promoted the program so as to develop and improve the quality of the egg. Egg Purchase Program.-The War Food Administration's surplus egg. buying program, which continued until the month of July and through which approximately 50,000 cases of eggs were purchased in the State, played an important part in making the producers and egg dealers grade conscious. The ceiling prices placed on eggs by the Office of Price Ad ministration were of considerable value in aiding the housewife to buy eggs according to grade. WFA and OPA, together with State agencies worldng on egg quality, improved the quality of Florida eggs. Egg candling and grading demonstrations were given at egg-buying stations set up by the War Food Administration, at which the producer was able to see the value of producing and selling eggs on a graded basis. Information on how to produce and maintain egg quality was furnished the public by means of radio, letters, pamphlets and at group meetings. Florida National Egg-Laying Test.-The 18th Florida National Egg Laying Test at Chipley started October 1, 1943, and ended September 22, 1944, with a larger number of heavy breed pens entered than in previous tests. The plant's capacity of 96 pens of 13 pullets each was filled with entries from 21 different states. Fourteen pens were entered by Florida breeders from 6 different counties. There were 46 pens of Single Comb White Leghorns, 24 of New Hamp shire, 13 of Single Comb Rhode Island Reds, 8 of White Plymouth Rocks and 5 of Barred Plymouth Rocks. Average production per bird was 209.8 eggs for the 357-day period. These eggs were given a credit of 217.8 points, indicating that the egg size averaged above 24 ounces to the dozen. The high pen for the year was a pen of 13 S. C. White Leghorn pullets owned by the -Foreman Poultry Farm, Lowell, Michigan, which produced a total of 3,630 eggs for a value of 3,765.55 points, or an average of 279.2 eggs and 289.66 points per bird. The high bird was a White Plymouth Rock owned by the Colonial Poul try Farm, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, which produced 326 eggs at a value of 354.90 points. This bird was the high White Plymouth Rock entered in all standard laying tests for the year 1943-44. The record is also a new high for the breed. Produce Healthy Pullets.-Strong, healthy pullets from a high-produc ing strain are necessary if eggs are to be produced profitably. During the year the value of good stock properly raised was stressed at group meetings and kept before the public at all times by means of radio, news articles, bulletins and letters and by personal visits. Extension recommendations were followed by 1,503 families in obtain ing better strains of baby chicks, 2,742 families iri improving methods of
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Annual Report, 1944 39 feeding, and 5,551 families in controlling disease and parasites. These recommendations were carried into 531 local communities throughout the State. Grow Green Feed.-The value of green feed for poultry has been stressed in Florida for years, but during 1944 special emphasis was placed on grow ing green feed to supplement the mash and grain ration. Where 'plenty of land is available and the all-purpose portable poultry house is used, green feed is best furnished from a permanent pasture of carpet or bermuda grass or white clover. The portable house, which is a 10' x 12' even-span house built on skids, makes it possible to move the birds to a new location before the sod is destroyed near the house. The Improved Coastal Ber muda grass is very po'pular for grazing in this manner. Culling Demonstrations.-Due to high cost and scarcity of feed and the necessity of reducing the number of chickens, considerable emphasis was placed upon culling during 1944. Culling demonstrations were given in different counties throughout the State and local leaders and flock owners were furnished information on culling practices by radio, bulletins, group meetings and personal visits. Control of Diseases and Parasites.-Losses due to diseases and para sites run into thousands of dollars each year. These losses may be reduced to a minimum through good management practices. The use of clean land, range rotation, absorbent litters, chicken pox vaccination and the control of lice and mites were given consideration during the year. Flock Records.-To insure reasonable success in the poultry business, a record of expenses and receipts must be kept over a 'period of a year so that the poultryman will know what his financial condition is at regular intervals. Florida poultrymen were encouraged and assisted in keeping records. Junior Poultry Work.-During the year 1,298 boys and 2,351 girls were enrolled in 4-H poultry club work. From this enrollment 720 boys and 1,526 girls completed their projects, with 98,578 'birds involved in com pleted projects. Poultry Organizations.-The 3 State poultry associations-Florida Poul try Council, Florida State Poultry Producers' Association and Florida Breeders and Hatchery Association-continued their policy of assisting in the development of the Extension 'poultry program. The local poultry associations held regular monthly meetings at which various timely sub jects were discussed. During the year these associations approved the following programs: 1944 production goals, surplus egg buying program, egg quality program and the National Poultry Improvement Plan. Turkeys.-Turkey management, including breeding, brooding, housing, feeding and sanitation, was emphasized during the year. The 1944 crop of turkeys was reduced from the record crop of 1943, in line with the re duction called for in the 1944 goals. The crop is selling at ceiling level and the sup'ply is short of demand.
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40 Florida Cooperative Extension BOYS' 4-H CLUB WORK R. W. Blacklock, State Boys' Club Agent The 1944 club staff was reduced to 1 full-time agent and 1 part-time di1;1trict assistant. N. H. McQueen, county agent in Charlotte, has been devoting about 16 percent of his time to promoting club work in DeSoto, Highlands, Hardee, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, Glades and Hendry counties and has been particularly interested and active in promoting the dairy calf program in this area. FOOD PRODUCTION UPPERMOST . Under wartime conditions with limited personnel there was but 1 job for boys' 4-H club work-production of food. Labor shortage was just as serious in Extension work as on the farm. The time found for working with farm boys could contribute most to the war effort if used in helping to get more crops and animals grown. The 10 district 4-H chairmen met and set state~wide and district 4-H production goals. Then the agents in each district met and decided on county goals. A comparison of 1944 production with 1943 shows: Corn, 388 acres increase; other cereals, 14 acres decrease; peanuts, 12 acres increase; soy beans, etc., 18 acres decrease; soil conservation, 1,464 acres increase; po tatoes, 16 acres increase; cotton, 15 acres increase; tobacco, 4 acres increase; home gardens, 44 acres increase; truck crops, 274 acres decrease; other ~rops, 109 increase; poultry, 28,887 decrease; dairy cattle, 5 increase; beef cattle, 1,121 decrease; swine, 705 increase; horses and mules, 68 in crease; other livestock, 1,784 increase; bees, 96 colonies decrease; forestry, 523 acres increase. Com Production,r--The use of a new hybrid corn-Florida W-1-was stressed, with results none too satisfactory, due to bad corn-growing weather. Yields were low but were above those secured with ordinary seed corn. In Holmes County, where 4-H boys planted 200 acres to Florida W-1, the yield averaged 17.5 bushels per acre, about 50 percent above average yield. Poultry.-There was not the great need for poultry products in 1944 and production of broilers was not stressed. There was an increase in number of poultry club members and in number of laying hens cared for by club members. Duval County had an exceptionally fine egg production project which combined business training with poultry management. Dairy.-Emphasis placed on the purchase of day-old heifer calves in 1943 continued through 1944. The calves placed in 1942 came into produc tion and added to the milk supply, as none of the animals left the State and many of the freshened heifers were sold to dairymen at attractive prices. When the 2,500 heifer calves placed with club boys in the last 3 years become producers there will be a measurable increase in the milk production in the State. In most instances the calves would have been used for meat had the boys not bought them. Swine.-N o attempt was made to increase production in the goals for 1944. Beef Cattle.-Although a smaller goal for number of club members enrolled in beef 'projects was set, the total poundage of beef produced was higher and of better quality than for 1943. Corn, Peanuts and Potatoes.-More emphasis was placed on these crops
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Annual Report, 1944 41 with an average goal of 60 percent increase, due to requests by the govern ment for increased production. Home Gardens.-A slightly higher goal was set for home gardens, but this was not reached, since most farm families had gardens in 1943. Forestry.-Goals were set in this for the first time. This was perhaps the only postwar problem attacked in our club program for 1944. The rapid cutting of our timber for war purposes was so great that it seemed advisable to start replanting some of the land. There were 2 phases em phasized-school demonstration plantings and replanting for. future com mercial production. Thirty-seven school plantings were planned and 200,000 pine seedlings set as goal for commercial plantings. CLUB ORGANIZATIONS Club organizations went by default in many instances, due to lack of time on the part of county agents. Agents were urged to try to keep their local clubs alive, but work with organization was not stressed. Some agents carried on even better clubs than before but most reported that it was impossible to do the necessary work. SUMMER CAMPS Here is where an effort was made to do more than before. The club camp is the best opportunity we have found to date to instill 4-H loyalty and enthusiasm. It is planned to increase and enlarge the summer camp. The summer 4-H camp has become an institution in Florida. There were 390 boys and 370 girls at Camp Timpoochee. Cherry Lake had 109 boys and 134 girls. Camp McQuarrie was open for 10 weeks with 979 boys and girls attending. There were 1,135 boys and 847 girls from Florida who had the oppor tunity to get a weeks' vacation of instruction and recreation. This was an increase of 340 over 1943. A special wildlife camp for white 4-H boys and 2 for negro 4-H boys were sponsored by a large cartridge manufacturing concern. The 1 for white 4-H boys was held at Camp Cherry Lake. No short courses were planned. All out-of-State trips were discontinued for 1944, and with the exception of a fat steer exhibit at Ocala, all State exhibits are off for the duration. SUPERVISORY PROBLEMS, METHODS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS There are 3 counties where a special man is employed to devote most of his time to 4-H club work. The county agents and assistant agents spent on an average of 1 day out of 9 in work with youth. Seven of the 61 counties reported no time spent in youth work. Two agents had 4-H club work in their program this year who had no youth work in 1943. With the let-up in special war work on the part of county agents there should be an opportunity for more time to be given to 4-H club work. The State Boys' Club Agent attempted to contact every county agent in his county at least once during the year. . A beef cattle judging contest was run in connection with the Fat Stock Show at Ocala. Seven counties were represented. A dairy judging contest was held in connection with a Jersey sale at the State Hospital Farm. The specialists have given cooperation in club work. The Dairy and Beef Cattle Specialists and the Extension Poultryman have helped agents
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42 Florida Cooperative Extension plan work in their respective fields. All specialists spent 1 or 2 weeks at summer club camps to assist in the educational part of the camp program. The Soil Conservationist gave time to help agents put on a soil con servation activity with their club boys. Without his efforts the project would have been a complete failure. The Farm Forester gave active and most important assistance in the 4-H school forest plantings. He was on the ground and directed most of the planting. Work with older youth has been disregarded, since almost every able bodied farm boy in Florida 17 years or over is in the armed forces. STATE AWARDS The $100.00 scholarship offered by the Commissioner of Agriculture for the champion 4-H beef producer at the Southeastern Fat Stock Show in Ocala was won by Jeannette Zetrouer of Marion County, who is now a student at Florida State College for Women. The Danforth Foundation Youth Camp trip was won by Henry Pittman Davis of Escambia County. Hillsboro County won the beef cattle judging contest at the Ocala show. SPECIAL OCCASIONS The Maritime Commission offered Florida 4-H club members an oppor tunity to name a Liberty ship in honor of some deceased Floridian who had contributed much to agriculture and 4-H club work. The honor went to the memory of William L. Watson, who was 1 of the first county agents employed by Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, and who helped establish Extension work in Florida and had served for years as county agent in Duval County. Since the yard where the ship was constructed (Panama City) did not grant permission for 4-H participation in the launching, a special dedication service was held at Camp Timpoochee. The ship was launched July 12, 1944. The Florida Club Agent and a Florida club boy and girl had the pleasure and privilege of assisting at the launching of the ship "Carl E. Ladd" for the club members of New York State, just 2 weeks after the William L. Watson was launched.
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Annual Report, 1944 43 FARM FORESTRY L. T. Nieland, Extension Forester Harvesting Forest Products for War.-To stimulate harvesting of farm timber for war purposes the Exten s ion Forester addressed all county agents, Farm Security supervisors, AAA workers, Soil Conservation Service personnel and other agricultural workers of the State during a series of meetings held in DeFuniak Springs, Madison, Gainesville and Lakeland. The need of wood for war was explained, solutions to problems were dis cussed and steps that lead towards meeting the war need for wood were pointed out. A circular letter appealing to farmers to make their forest products available for war, explaining what 'products were needed, stressing high prices, urging conservative cutting practices and advising how the assist ance of trained foresters could be secured, was pre pared and sent to all county agents for transmittal to their farmers. Forty thousand copies of a folder prepared by the USDA, WPB, WFA, Forest Service and Exten s ion Service entitled "Get Out Your Farm Timber for War" were obtained and sent with a personal appeal from the Extension Forester to each of 4,500 neighborhood . leaders and county agents requesting that they dis tribute them. Twenty-five thousand copies each of "Cut Victory Timber, But Cut It Wisely" and "Uncle Sam Needs Your Trees Now for Pulpwood," were supplied to county agents for distribution to farmers. Seventy-five hundred copies of a 5-page illustrated folder entitled "Wood for War" prepared by the Extension Forester with the assistance of the Extension Editor, setting forth the things Florida farmer s can do to in crease forest production, were distributed to county agents for redistribu tion to farmers. Five radio talks appealing to farmers to harvest their forest products for war purposes were prepared by the Extension Forester and delivered over WRUF during the Farm Hour, copies of which were furnished to county agents for broadcast over 9 State radio stations as a feature of their regular farm radio 'programs. Three newspaper articles emphasizing war needs for wood were prepared by the Extension Forester and were widely copied in State papers. Protecting Woodlands from Fire.-County agents in 51 counties were given instruction on damage to timber from fire, chiefly by pointing out actual cases of forest losses while accompanying the agents on visits to farm woodlands in their counties. While actually on the ground with the agent it was possible to discuss ways and means of preventing fire losses with both the county agent and the farmer. Bulletin s , leaflets, folders and mimeographed material giving informa tion on forest fire damage and how to prevent such losses were furnished county agents. They were provided also with mimeographed instructions covering the State's forest fire problem and outlining ways and means for solving it . In meeting the problems it is believed that the best approach to its solution lies in the adoption of a coordinated program of timber production, grazing through the establishment of improved pasture strips throughout timbered areas, and the development of the game and wildlife resources . Such a program has been outlined and copies furnished all county agents as a basis for demonstrations. This program was actively pushed during the year and is meeting with much support. County agents and farmers were assisted in establishing demonstrations in this 3-point approach to the solution of the State's greatest forestry problem. A large supply of fire preyention posters and other related materials were secured for distribution.
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44 Florida Cooperative Extension The Extension Forester, in cooperation with the Extension Animal Hus bandman and Extension Conservationist, sent a circular letter and packet of printed material on fire prevention to all county agents, calling on them to help in the rural emergency fire prevention program. Planting Forest Trees.-In 37 counties agents were given personal in struction in forest planting and all county agents were provided with bulletins and circulars giving information on planting forest trees. New developments in planting methods were explained and demonstration plant ings, including 8 native species of forest trees-slash pine, red cedar, longleaf pine, black cherry, yellow poplar, white oak, sweet gum and swamp chestnut oak-were continued in 3 counties. Emphasis was placed on planting trees which would supply farm needs for lumber, fence posts and fuelwood. Close cooperation was extended to 3 pulpmills in the State which sup plied 1,600,000 free slash pine seedlings to farmers and land owners, 4-H club members and vocational agriculture students in 38 Florida counties. They were obtained from the State Forest Service nursery at Olustee. Of the total, 995,025 seedlings were distributed to farmers, 4-H club members and others through the efforts of county agents. In Duval County, through a cooperative arrangement between the county agent and county school board, a school forest consisting of 11,000 slash pines and 1,000 red cedar trees was planted on the grounds of 11 schools. With the assistance of the Extension Forester and Extension Editor, the assistant county agent in Alachua County developed a filmstrip show ing the several steps in forest planting from the drying cones in the nursery shed to the planted trees on the farm. This filmstrip has been duplicated for use in other counties. A large manufacturing concern which furnished cork oak acorns and seedlings was assisted in the distribution of these to interested farmers and others for trial on an experimental basis. Cork oak seedlings of year ling size were planted on a wide variety of soils in widely separated parts of the State. 4-H Forestry Club Programs.-Instruction was given in 4-H club project work during 1 negro 4-H camp and 3 camps for white 4-H club members, with a total of 186 members receiving training. Eighteen days were de voted to these training projects. Subject matter covered included instruc tion in forest fire prevention, planting forest trees, tree identification, timber estimating, pruning forest trees, woodland improvement cutting, war uses for wood and the protection and restoration of game and wildlife. Assistance was given to 4-H club members at 3 meetings which were held at the Buck Pond 4-H Club demonstration forest in Marion County. Species planted included red cedar, yellow poplar, black cherry, white oak, swamp chestnut oak and a few cork oaks. The county agent in Escambia County was aided in developing a 4-H timber-grazing-game demonstration on 400 acres of severely depleted forest land which was donated by a public-spirited citizen. This project was started last year and to date 11 acres have been planted to slash pine and a little more than 9 acres have been cleared for 'planting improved pasture grasses next spring. A fish pond is under construction and 4 cabins are completed. The tract was fenced during the year. County commissioners, local civic clubs, Soil Conservation Service and several prominent business men are cooperating with the 4-H club council in development work . ' Controlling Forest Insects and Diseases.-During the annual meeting of the county agents at Gainesville a forest . pathologist and an entomologist at the University of Florida discussed forest disease and insect control.
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Annual Report, 1944 45 The agents were provided with bulletins and circulars on the subject. Radio talks, circular and personal letters and discussions during farmer's meet ings provided further information. Much of the insect damage can be traced to fire and bad cutting prac tices. With the adoption of better cutting practices and with more success ful fire 'protection, damage by bark beetles and turpentine beetles-the most destructive forest insects-will be greatly reduced. Statewide Timber-Grazing-Game Demonstrational Program.-Because the timber-grazing-game program is so far-reaching in its effect, applying to both farm woodlands and all of the vast cut-over lands of the State, it has been actively promoted during the year. An outline statement attached to a drawing showing how this program applies on the land, supplied to all county agents, was intended to serve as a guide in establishing demonstrations and in explaining the program to interested farmers . and forest landowners. In 21 counties this program was discussed in the field with the county agent and it was included in the general plan adopted by the Hillsborough County Postwar Develop ment Committee. Demonstrations are being established in 7 counties and plans are being made for additional demonstrations in 9 other counties. Preventing Destructive "Clear Cutting".-With heavy wartime demands for the harvesting of forest products for war purposes, preventing destruc tive "clear cutting" in all activities for increasing timber production on farms has been stressed . In all personal contacts with county agents and farmers, at all meetings of farmers, 4-H club members and agricultural workers, in circular letters, newspaper articles, personal letters, radio talks, and by selection of bulletins, folders, leaflets and charts conservative harvesting of forest products was emphasized. It was pointed out that destructive cutting of timber, even in wartime, is not necessary or justified and that it is against the best interests of both the landowner and the Nation . , County agents contributed materially to con s ervative cutting of timber by directing farmers to the Extension Forester, Timber Production War Project Foresters or Woodland Marketing Project Foresters for additional assistance in harvesting and selling their timber. Cutting More Fuelwood on Farms.-Assi s tance was extended to the Southern Forest Experiment Station at New Orleans in determining the fuel wood situation for 1944. In view of . the high market for fuelwood because wood is a replaceable fuel, to relieve congested transportation facilities and to conserve coal and fuel oil for war purposes-farmers were urged to cut and market low grade and salvage wood for fuel. County agents were urged to encourage greater production of fuel wood on farms for use both on farms and in the cities.
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46 Florida Cooperative Extension SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION K. S. McMullen, Soil Conservationist The standard of living for Florida's rural population, approximately 900,000, who earn their living directly from general farms, groves, ranches and forests is determined by the capacity of their lands to produce. Florida is a state of wide variations as to soils, type of agriculture, topography and climate. Soils are diverse, even in small areas. The economic value of a particular soil type-Norfolk fine sand as an example found in western Florida would likely be classed as submarginal, whereas in southern Florida this soil type produces citrus groves valued at $1,000 or more per acre. Likewise, the soil and water conservation program . is variable in accordance with these changing characteristics. Farmer determination, patriotism and hard work, coupled with the in telligent use of all scientific devices for increasing yields, conserving fertil izer, making labor and equipment more efficient, and the diligent and judicious use of soil and water conservation measures, gave as a reward the great and vital 1944 production of food, feed and woodland products. Though 1944 was a year of maximum strain on the land, it brought greater realization in the mind of the farmer, and perhaps in the mind of everyone, of the value and necessity for taking care of the land, that greatest of .assets to a man or to a people. SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS Soil conservation districts now cover 13,208,938 acres in 28 counties of Florida, reaching from Escambia county on . the west to Pinellas, Lee and Hendry on the south. Problems and activities by districts are many, as well as extremely varied. The problems, and likewise the programs, in the peninsular section of the State are widely different from those of central or western Florida. They are primarily water control, moisture conserva tion, forestry, wildlife, soil building and soil maintenance. Districts or ganized in this area are comparatively new, and work is just now begin ning to get under way. Supervisors of the Volusia district in Volusia County, Istokpoga district in Highlands County and the Pinellas district in Pinellas County report that conservation surveys and contour maps, along with detailed water control and water management plans, have been completed for several areas of each district. Soil conservation districts are being organized in Florida very rapidly and . it is anticipated that most of Florida, covering the principal agricul tural counties at least, will be organized into districts within the next 2 years. Plans should be made to guide adequately this movement and to insure its operation on a coordinated and cooperative basis. Educational Work in Organized Districts.-The educational work with organized soil conservation districts was conducted through the res pective county agents. One-day discussion conferences and field days were planned and held at the North Florida Experiment Station at Quincy and at the University of Florida Experiment Station. Applicable material published on soil and water conservation by the State Extension Service, State Experiment Station, Soil Conservation Service and U. S. Department of Agriculture was distributed and informa tion regarding special activities by any particular district was furnished other districts. Boards of supervisors were assisted in obtaining equipment. A detailed report on activities of all districts covering status of con
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Annual Report, 1944 47 servation surveys, conservation farm plans, educational activities, individ ual conservation 'practices and financial statement was compiled and distributed. Educational Work in New Districts.-Organization of 6 districts was completed during 1944-Charlotte, Alachua, Peace River, Hendry, Hardee and Lake. Organization of districts is in process in the following counties: Putnam, Indian River, Polk, Brevard, Highlands, Gulf, Lee and Manatee. Programs and work plans were developed through the cooperative effort of the supervisors, county agents and district conservationists. Two days were spent with the supervisors in each case. The immediate objective was to develop the program and work 'plan, but perhaps the greatest ac complishment was that of bringing the supervisors together where they could study and plan the operation of their districts. POST-WAR STATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The State was divided into 7 problem areas or adjustment areas, each area being fairly homogeneous in nature but different from the others in essential physiographic characteristics. The land-use capability classi fication was applied to sample surveys as nearly representative of each adjustment area as possible and the data expanded mathematically to rep resent the total acreage of the problem or adjustment area, and thus adjusted to the 1940 census data by land use-cultivated, idle, pasture, woodland and miscellaneous. Of the 34,727,680 acres of land in Florida there are 1,751,275 acres of cropland, 1,474,954 acres of which should remain in cultivation, 165,818 acres of which should be devoted to improved pastures, and 110,503 acres of which should be devoted to woodland; 462,248 acres of idle land, 264,172 acre:l of which may be converted to economical production of crops, 73,266 acres of which may be converted to economical production of pastures and 124,810 acres of which should be converted into woodland; 30,070,647 acres of woodland, 668,124 acres of which are suitable for crops or improved pastures and 23,390,523 acres of which should remain in woodland; 643,065 acres of pasture, 390,276 acres of which should remain in 'pasture, 320,124 acres of which may remain in pasture or be devoted to cultivated crops, and 13,665 acres of which should be devoted to woodland. There are 1,800,445 acres of miscellaneous lands. EDUCATION WITH YOUTH Two weeks were devoted to teaching soil and water conservation to regular classes at 2 1-week State 4-H club camps and 2 days were also devoted to teaching a similar class at a county 4-H club camp. The course was presented through the medium of discussion, lantern slides, field trips and moving pictures. The 1944 State Wildlife Camp for 4-H club boys included instructions and activities in .soil and water conservation for the first time. Instructions in soil and water conservation were provided in 4 separate classes each day for 3 days. One day was devoted to an extended field tour of farms where actual field studies were made of soil erosion and depletion, cover crops, terracing, crop rotations, 'pastures, forestry and proper land-use measures. In 7 counties 151 boys completed the activities of the National 4-H soil and water conservation contest and a $50.00 war bond was awarded to each of the 6 boys making the highest scores. Record of the boy receiving first place in the State was submitted for regional and national competition.
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48 Florida Cooperative Extension Servicing Vocational Agriculture Teachers.-The 1944 soil and water conservation program for Florida was presented to groups of teachers. A circular, "Put Conservation Farming Behind War Food Production," was prepared by , the Extension Conservationist and 11,500 copies were distributed in an effort to present a complete picture of the contribution of soil and water conservation to war food production and to show the assistance available to farmers in planning and carrying out such a pro gram. Sufficient copies of this circular were . furnished all teachers for distribution to each of their students as an outline for the teaching activities. SUMMER COVER CROP PROGRAM A survey has been made to determine the extent of present plantings of summer cover crops, extent of expansion that might be economically feasible, source of seed and advi sa bility of harvesting locally grown seed. Results of the survey were encouraging and plans have been made to go forward with the program in 1945 . . A campaign was conducted in the spring of 1944 to secure increased plantings of summer cover crops. Radio talks and news articles were pre ' pared and distributed on the value of summer cover crops. The demand for crotalaria seed has been far greater than the supply and .an appeal was sent out for all seed possible to be harvested. Sesbania (Microcarpa) is one of the most popular summer cover crops planted fol lowing the winter vegetables, and is particularly adapted to fields kept flooded or partially flooded during the summer. WINTER COVER CROP PROGRAM Farmers agree that as a winter cover crop for Florida blue lupine is far superior to any others introduced to date, even though it is apparently adapt e d only to western and central Florida. Although Austrian peas and vetches have year by year grown less po pular since the introduction of lupine, an appreciable acreage of these crops has been planted. County organizations that were responsible for the largest acreage of winter cover crops ever planted in Florida conducted a lupine seed harvesting campaign in the spring that yielded approximately 1,500,000 pounds of seed.
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Annual Report, 1944 PART III WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' WORI( HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK Mary E. Keown, State Home Demonstration Agent Ruby McDavid, District Agent Ethyl Holloway, District Agent Edith Y. Barrus, District Agent 49 County home demonstration agents are employed in 37 counties; assistant agents in 4 counties; and negro home demonstration agents are employed in 10 counties. Assistants for the emergency program in food production and conserva tion worked full-time in Washington, Okaloosa, Hardee and DeSoto-Char lotte counties. Assistants worked part-time in Alachua, Duval, Jackson, Marion, Polk and Hernando-Sumter counties. Negro emergency assistants worked in Suwannee, Broward, Lake, Manatee, Seminole and Volusia. PERSONNEL PROBLEMS Changes were made in 11 positions of home demonstration agents and assistant agents. Availability of higher salaries elsewhere, marriage, en larged home economics programs in the public school systems, difficulties and expenses of securing automobiles and family situations made it diffi cult to secure county workers who met the requirements considered es sential in this State. A plan has been set up to give training to graduates of the State College for Women who desire to enter home demonstration work and who have not had an opportunity to acquire a needed understanding of rural life and the relationship between urban and rural interests and the im portance of agriculture in Florida. With the cooperation and approval of the president of Florida State College for Women, funds have been made available to employ 2 home economics graduates to work as home demonstration assistants in selected counties. The work to be done is planned on periods from 3 to 4 months, is definite enough so results can be secured within that time and is work needed to be done in the county program. Professional Improvement in Service.-All home demonstration agents and emergency workers received considerable in-service training this year. Regional meetings in January provided information on the use of a plenti ful Florida food through 5 3-day short courses on fish curing, smoking and canning. Seventeen 1-day training courses on meat cookery were arranged and 6 2-day short courses on the use of home canned products gave the agents and the council leaders valuable training in food preparation. All emergency assistants were given a 2-day instruction course at the Extension Service headquarters in preparation for their work and were provided with definite outlines of work to be undertaken. PROGRAM PLANNING Home demonstration agents and local communities or groups conducted definite programs in 553 of the 712 communities in counties served by home
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50 Fl01ida Cooperative Extension demonstration agents. Three hundred three home demonstration clubs have been organized for work with rural women, exceeding by 33 the goal set at the beginning of the year and exceeding by 29 the number in 1943. The negro home demonstration agents directed 112 similar groups for negro women interested primarily in food production and conservation and home improvement. Small neighborhood groups or special interest groups which wern not considered as organized home demonstration groups functioned generally in the State to meet the needs of the women. County reports show 3,255 method demonstration meetings were held this year for women and 3,623 meetings for girls with a total attendance of 44,767 women and 73,957 girls. The emergency assistants gave useful help to 2,960 other women and girls who worked with them on established demonstrations in their home to increase food production and conservation. 4-H CLUB WORK Four hundred forty-eight 4-H clubs in the State have a membeTShip of 9,349 white girls from 10 to 20 years of age; 3,669 negro girls are en rolled in their 152 4-H clubs. Emergency assistants enrolled 844 white and 1,277 negro Victory 4-H girls in food production and conservation. Enrollment of girls in 4-H clubs showed a slight decrease from last year, although the total number of girls helped was higher. An analysis of the reports was made to determine the reason for this decrease. The number of girls enrolled for the first time in 4-H work almost doubled in 1944 over 1943, increasing from the 2,401 beginning 4-H work in 1943 to Fig. 6.-War Bonds were awarded by Governor Caldwell and Miss Keown to outstanding Florida 4-H club girls for their work during 1944.
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.. Annual Report, 1944 51 4,343 beginning 4-H members in 1944. Evidently all girls who enrolled in 1943 continued for their second year of 4-H work during 1944 because the present enrollment of second-year girls is 2,421. Further analysis showed that in 1943 2,433 girls of 14 years of age or older were actively enrolled in 4-H clubs while in 1944 the enrollment of girls in this age group dropped to 1,599. Apparently the reason for lower enrollment of older girls lies in the fact that the older girls must assume a steadily increasing amount of responsibility for home and farm duties or they have taken em ' ployment outside the home. Home demonstration agents from 38 counties devoted approximately 5,028 days to girls' 4-H club work, including training volunteer leaders serving the 4-H clubs. These figures show that just a little less than one half of the time of the county home demonstration agents was given to 4-H club work this year. Leadership Goals.-To increase the interest in 4-H club work in every neighborhood and community 729 club girls and 364 women voluntarily served as 4-H club leaders this year. The leaders, who received their train ing through membership in home demonstration clubs, attended 88 special training meetings with an attendance of 1,421. 4-H girls are recognized leaders and have been trained in organization, so have been able to give useful service in special campaigns conducted as a part of the war program. Achievement Goals.--4-H girls did outstanding work on farms and in homes helping to feed, clothe and healthfully house the families during this war crisis. They have been active in community war work. Their achievement goals have been set according to the national 7-point program for 4-H clubs for 3 years and have been the basis for planning work under taken by the Florida 4-H girls. Achievement Days.-County 4-H achievement days are held in all coun ties and do much to encourage completions of 4-H work, to encourage the develo ' pment of the 4-H girls, to recognize girls' accomplishments, and to bring the club girls and adults of the community closer together in under standing relationships. This year, because of transportation difficulties, counties report holding several local achievement days in place of the usual county-wide event. Exhibits are displayed, records and products judged, and team demonstm tions presented and a recognition service or skit program held. Club girls participate throughout. Agents report 288 achievement days were held with 9,248 in attendance. Camps and Short Courses.-During the period from May 9 through August 24, 1944, 19 camps were held for Florida 4-H club girls. Thirty eight counties were represented at these camps by 36 home demonstration agents, 2 emergency assistants, 12 county agents, 47 local leaders, 1,247 girls and 489 boys and 77 other assistants, including camp directors and instructors, a total of 1,914 people. Eight of the 19 camps were held jointly by county agricultural agents and home demonstration agents. Most of the camps were held at the district camps-Timpoochee, Mc Quarrie and Cherry Lake. Five were held as individual camps at local sites in Gadsden, St. Johns, Dade, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Broward and Palm Beach counties camped together in Palm Beach County. Seventy-six courses of instruction (40 different types of work) were offered at 19 camps. Courses included: Health, swimming, posture, sew ing, first aid, nutrition, food preparation, meal service and good manners, clothing construction, re'pair of equipment, canning, fire prevention and safety, and handicraft.
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52 Florida Cooperative Extension FAMILY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Home lmprovement.-Farm and family incomes have increased. In spite of building restrictions and shortages of labor, home improvements were made because the family wanted them and worked for them. Two hundred five new homes were built, 2,579 houses were repaired or remodelled and 1,088 were painted. The agents helped 1,884 families with house planning problems for building later . Recognition of the value of more attractive surroundings in improved family living came to 347 families who completely beautified their home grounds and the 338 who started lawns this year. County home demonstration agents worked with 16,670 farm families, helping the women and girls to make desired changes and improvements in their homes. Of that number 3,551 farm homes were served for the first time this year. Home improvement demonstrations, both interior and exterior, have been carried on by 4,081 4-H girls. Some are long-time demonstrations which have been the results of several years of planning and work. This year when more money is available some farm and suburban families have been able to s ecure needed su ' pplies for added rooms or repairs and im provement because -of need for housing facilities in crowded war or labor areas. The after-war home improvement plans are being started now as girls plan for the wise use of bonds for home improvement needs. One thousand five hundred thirty 4-H girls were enrolled in the beautification of the home grounds. Recreation.-Because recreation is so closely related to good family relationships and to satisfying home and community life, the home demon stration agents encourage recreation as part of the 4-H club training program. Some recreation is held for social purposes only, while other recreation serves to make money for community improvements or for war bonds. Need for family and community recreation has grown as travel facilities decreased. This year 3,152 families were assisted in improving home recreation and 148 rural communities improved their recreational facilities. Thirty-two home demonstration clubs for women maintained or assisted in maintaining community libraries which carried a total of 525 magazines and newspaper subscriptions. Canning Centers.-Ninety-three canning centers were operated under the direction of the home demonstration offices, 53 of which were established this year. The canning center usually is a neighborhood meeting place and many things besides canning are accomplished for the welfare of the community as the women work together there. Canning center build ings often are used as community meeting halls, which are lacking in so many rural communities. Seven hundred seventy-eight small neighborhood groups worked together this year on their canning. Sixty-three community buildings are owned by home demonstration clubs while 17 other clubs have club rooms. ' Four hundred eighty-four communities held entertainments for social purposes only, while 204 others held community entertainments to raise money for some community improvement. Home Industries.-Rural women and girls were busier in 1944 than in any other year att~nding to essential farm and home work. Therefore, they did not have time to develop home and fireside industries and stand ardized home and farm products as extensively as in other years. Forty two girls and 410 women had standardized products for market. Reports voluntarily made to the county home demonstration agents by women and girls showed they sold products totalling $1,174,252.14.
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Annual Report; 1944 53 :Food Production.-Home gardens, fruit orchards, home poultry and home-raised dairy 'products and meats all were considered essential war time activities. Fifteen thousand fourteen families asked the home demon stration agents-white and negro-for help in securing a good food supply through home production. A smaller number of city families attempting to grow gardens and chickens, and the general broadcast over the State by demonstrations, press articles, radio and specially prepared circulars, of food production information and recommended procedures, influenced the gardening program this year. A total of 24,952 home gardens were grown by women and girls enrolled in home demonstration clubs and by emergency assistants. Of this number, 5,477 gardens were grown by negro women and girls. Forty-six special garden courses were given to train 928 women and 62 courses to train 892 4-H girls as garden leaders. As an investment for food production a few years hence 3,212 calendar fruit orchards were started this year with 1,035 additional orchards planted by negro families on their farms. Thirty-five thousand eight hundred four trees and vines were also planted in orchards previously started. Poultry.-Nearly 5,000 families improved their home food supply by raising their own poultry and eggs. Poultry raising was not so popular in urban backyards this year as last, but farm women and girls kept their farm flock production about the same, reporting they owned 312,350 hens and 17,266 cockerels and raised 736,098 chickens. Three million three hun dred thousand dozen home-produced eggs were used in preparing the family meals. 4-H club girls realized a total of $26,333.00 from the sale of 'poultry and eggs. Dairy Cows.-4-H girls cared for 650 dairy cows. This 4-H dairy work assured many families of the dairy products so essential to good family health. The value of good milk to the family was recognized by at least 3,672 families who asked for help in improving the family food supply by producing more milk. Two thousand thirty-two cows were bought this year, bringing the number of cows owned by home demonstration women and girls to 10,762. Two hundred twenty-seven milk goats also helped out the milk supply. Cheese and other dairy products made from this milk supplied needed protein and added to the palatability of the diet of 9,213 families. Livestock.-The livestock grown by 4-H girls numbers 2,070 beef cattle and 1,546 other animals, including goats, swine and rabbits. This is a decided increase over last year's figures but is in line with the increased interest in the improved livestock industry throughout the State. The Marion County home demonstration agent reports that 10 girls began the year's work on raising beef cattle to sell at the Fat Stock Show . in Ocala in February. Seven of the girls completed their work, exhibited their animals and sold them at the sale. The girls all realized a good sum of money from the sales and a total of about $4,000. Some 4-H girls have increased their number of animals for another year. A State winner in the records and livestock contests this year was Jeannette Zetrouer. Food Conservation.-Much more judgment was used in canning than in 1943, when a sort of food frenzy seemed to strike the city people lest rationing would catch them without food. This year non-farm families did can but they chose fresh fruits and vegetables and used a good canning budget. In general, better canning methods have been used. Canned products undoubtedly are of much higher quality. More home canning equipment has been bought, more fresh vegetables have been raised and more freezing units have been installed. Fifteen thousand five hundred eighty-seven families reported they cured 2,768,810 pounds of meat and 5,469 families
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54 Florida Cooperative Extension stated they made home-produced meats into 469,625 pounds of sausage. The total amount of food canned was 3,122,294 quarts-148,243 quarts of which were canned by negroes. Club girls individually canned approximately 209,778 quarts of food during the past year and improved workroom and storage facilities at home. Older 4-H club girls served as canning leaders, showing inex'perienced adults in their community how to can according to the best methods. Food Preparation.-4-H club girls have assumed greater responsibility than ever before toward seeing that the busy farm and war-working fami lies were well fed. Thirty-seven counties have reported 3,584 girls com pleted the 4-H food preparation demonstrations. Meals planned and served at home numbered 39,915. Nutrition.-During the year 14,937 families worked with the home demonstration agents to improve their diets through applying a better knowledge of nutrition to their family food problems. As a special service the agents taught 371 nutrition courses in cooperation with the American Red Cross; 17 of the agents reported they were registered as certified Red Cross nutrition instructors. Thirty-two 1-day training courses and demonstrations on the use of meat, peanuts and home-canned products were given in 29 counties. The nutrition and health and food preparation program has gone hand in hand with the food production program and with home improvement work. Special War Services.-4-H girls are recognized leaders and have been trained in organization, so have been able to give useful service in special campaigns conducted as a part of the war program. Women and girls, white and colored, collected more than 58 tons of scrap metal and 50 tons of waste fat. They saved 32,080 glass containers and filled them with food. Home demonstration women and 4-H girls did valiant work in making investments in government bonds and stamps and in their leadership in bond drives. Voluntary re'ports given by 165 home demonstration clubs for women in 26 counties show bonds bought amounted to $744,412.35. 4-H girls of 25 counties representing 259 clubs report purchases amounting to $123,997 . 85. Together these rural girls and women have invested close to a million dollars as a part of their battle in their country's cause. Home demonstration clubs and county councils which have been saving and earning money for club buildings and scholarship funds report they have invested their savings in government securities in the amount of $17,630. Maintenance of Good Health.-Although not generally organized as a health agency, home demonstration work contributes definitely to better family and community health and 14,937 families worked with the home demonstration agents in improving their diets while 1,977 mothers sought help on child feeding problems to insure healthy youngsters. Also, 4,318 families reported they profited from information given them on resistance to and prevention of colds and other common diseases. Agents induced 4,101 ' families to be immunized against various diseases such as typhoid, small pox, etc. Sanitation measures can account for considerable improvement in the health of families; 1,884 women reported they had a general house clean ing; 989 homes were screened against flies and mosquitoes; 210 inside toilets and 189 outside toilets were installed; 61 sunshine water heating systems and 239 water systems were put into rural homes; and 588 mat
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Annual Report, 1944 55 tresses were made from home-grown cotton and 691 were renovated in the interest of good sleep. Child Care.-The aim of the child care program for 4-H girls was to teach them to help their small brothers and sisters be healthy. 4-H club girls have made a real contribution to victory by giving good care to their little brothers and sisters while their mothers must be away or while they are busy with extra home or farm work. The program included care, management, food and clothing, depending upon the age of the 4-H club girls and the child in her care. Each phase of the child care demonstration was recommended by the Extension special ist concerned. It helped girls to learn how to take care of children properly and in some cases was a means of a little cash income. Realizing that every child is our concern and 4-H girls especially, the State home demonstration staff and the county home demonstration agents and volunteer leaders coo'perated in every way possible to plan for chil dren's health and welfare in war and peace. They assist . with the well-baby clinics, school clinics and health check ups. They help with the program for young children of employed and farm mothers; assist with the school lunch program and nutrition pro gram; help provide and encourage recreation programs and facilities; hold camps to train leaders and 4-H girls; train leaders to help with some forms of recreation; help families to provide safe 'play space at home and in the neighborhood; help protect children from hazards and disease. Farm Labor Needs.-Information on labor-saving methods and sharing labor and equipment in order to get crops harvested was given by 16 agents to 1,181 farm families. Also, 474 volunteer home demonstration leaders assisted with explaining the emergency labor program and enlisting a systematic understanding among both farm and urban people. Agents estimate these leaders got 973 persons not regularly engaged in agricul ture to help with farm work and helped to place 111 in different year round jobs. Also, 9,011 women and 9,612 girls reported they did farm work this year; 303 girls and women reported operating tractors, 268 plowed and 194 used cultivators. Nine hundred thirty-four women and 61 girls in 25 counties reported they managed the farm operations while th e men of the family were away in military service or in war industries. Farm Safety and Fire Prevention.-In 24 counties 4,544 girls, both white and colored, and 2,387 women in 15 counties enrolled for special fire and accident prevention projects. A special outline for work to be done by 4-H girls was prepared and used to good advantage. Thirty-seven special training courses for leaders were given to 694 women in 7 counties and 89 courses for the 1,518 4-H girls who served as group leaders. Clothing.-Clothing demonstrations enrolled 6,132 4-H girls. Through these demonstrations 28,318 new garments were made and 7,904 garments were remodelled. The State Clothing Specialist helped the agents develop the 4-H cloth ing program in the counties through visits to individual club groups and to county groups. During the visits exhibits and demonstrations were given to help promote a wartime program. Clothing work was taught at 4 of the summer 4-H camps. WORK WITH RETURNING VETERANS A large percentage of men now in the military service came from rural communities and are looking forward to re-establishing homes there. Others who are new to country life will wish to settle in the country.
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56 Florida Cooperative Extension All will be faced with the necessity of an adjustment within themselves to a peace-time world that is different from the world they remember. The civilian population must likewise make adjustments in their thoughts and actions to meet those of the returned veterans. Ways an which home demonstration workers and organized home dem onstration work are giving useful service in such an undertaking are by: Making ready for the veteran and his family; serving in an advisory capacity to gjve reliable information on and assistance with social, spiritual, economic and educational 'problems; and giving special educational assistance to be gimiers through direct teaching of useful skills and activities. NEGRO HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK PROGRESSES Negro home demonstration work is conducted in 10 counties with large colo:red populations. The work of the negro home agents with both women and girls, as weil as with other members of colored farm families, pro gressed satisfactorily during the year. The colored farm families rallied behind their leaders to do everything they possibly could to help produce needed foods and other farm 'products. The negro district home demonstration agent supervises the 10 agents in counties, with the guidance of the State Home Demonstration Agent. State specialists supply needed materials for use in the negro programs and assist with the training of negro agents.
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Annual Report, 1944 57 CLOTHING AND TEXTILES Joyce Bevis, Specialist in Clothing and Textiles The records of the clothing and textile work done during 1944 show that the clothing program was carried on in 496 of the 553 communities of the State where home demonstration work is done. This is 130 com munities more than last year. Twenty-nine counties reported 2,445 cloth ing demonstrators among home demonstration members and 7,032 among 4-H club members; 7,808 families were assisted with construction prob lems; 6,291 families were assisted in the selection of clothing; 7,302 famili e s were assisted with care, renovating and remodeling; 1,613 fami lies were assisted with clothing accounts and budgets; 966 families were helped with care and repair of sewing machines; and 15,232 homemade accessories were made by club members. Red Cross Work.-A number of counties are continuing Red Cross sew ing and knitting. The Santa Rosa County home demonstration agent re ports the club women in that county made 300 night gowns, 200 men's shirts, 150 petticoats, 75 half petticoats and 75 knitted sweaters. Dade County reports that 5,175 hours were spent by home demonstration club members in sewing for the Red Cross during 1944. 4-H CLUB WORK During 1944 6,132 girls were enrolled in the 4-H clothing program and 4,141 completed their demonstrations. Through these demonstrations 26,318 garments were made and 7,904 garments were remodeled. Help was given the agents in developing the 4-H club program in sev eral different ways. Much interest was aroused through visits to 4-H club meetings where the Specialist stressed the wartime clothing program and showed exhibits of 4-H clothing demonstrations, remodeled clothes, accessories made at home, sack articles and Christmas gifts that were made at home. Courses in clothing construction, personal grooming, good manners, leadership, handicrafts, swimming and safety in the home and on the farm were taught to 449 girls and boys at summer camps held for 4-H club groups. The Specialist attended and judged clothing exhibits at many of the county achievement days. The State winner in the dress revue for 1944 was Barbara McKinney from Dade County. EMERGENCY WAR FOOD PROGRAM Since the Emergency War Food Program deals with the production and conservation of food, feed and fiber, the Clothing -Specialist took a part in helping to develop the emergency program by making available to the workers helpful leaflets, news letters, bulletins and exhibits. One of the exhibits available at the State office which was useful to the emer gency assistants in developing their program was a collection of suitable work clothes to be used indoors and outdoors. The exhibit included a sample costume of each pattern recommended by the U. S. Department of Agri culture as suitable work clothes and also included the uniform for the Woman's Land Army. In cooperation with district and home demonstration agents, the Special ist held approximately 30 leader-training meetings in the different counties to train leaders to help carry on a useful wartime clothing program in their communities. This training included help in program planning, mak ing and arranging helpful exhibits, wise use of additional leaflets, bulletins
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58 Florida Cooperative Extension and booklets, and planning and giving demonstrations for both 4-H and home demonstration groups. The Specialist related this leader training and clothing work to other phases of homemaking, thus showing the presidents of these groups how other demonstration leaders could help their agents extend useful knowl edge in foods and nutrition, gardening, canning, home improvement and home management to many more people. Although no bulletins on clothing and textile work were printed during the year, good use was made of available Federal and commercial bulletins. At the beginning of the year the Specialist attempted to simplify a record book to be used for clothing demonstrations. The agents used this record book in mimeographed form during 1944 to decide if it were what was needed and desired. Considering suggestions for changes, it is ex pected that this mimeographed record book will be printed in 1945. One of 2 helpful exhibits which were prepared at the State Home Demonstration Office during the year for Statewide use illustrated ways of using scraps and remnants of old materials that were collected by the specialists for the past several years. The exhibit included dickeys, collars, bags, hats and other accessories. Another exhibit was 1 of various types and styles of bags, hats and other accessories that can be made at home froni materials, looper clips and yarns. Much interest developed among the women and girls through the use of this exhibit and the available commercial patterns for making at tractive hats and bags. With all the possibilities and wonders in the making and with all the discoveries that have resulted from wartime research there seems to be much in store for us in the field of clothing and textiles for the postwar period. The future world will be a wonderful place if we, as consumers, use our knowledge wisely and remember to do the things for ourselves that wartime conditions have taught us to do.
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Annual Report, 1944 59 FOOD, NUTRITION AND HEALTH Anna Mae Sikes, Nutritionist The food, nutrition and health program has developed through the 32 years since its establishment in Florida with 2 fundamental Florida food problems foremost in mind: First, how to assist farm families to provide better diets for themselves through the use of more home-grown and home conserved foods; and second, to help rural people improve their health and physical fitness by assisting them to acquire a better working knowledge of food values and of nutrition generally. With the declaration of war the home demonstration nutrition program became an essential war program and took its proper position in defense on the home front. The training in skills and leadership given to thousands of rural women and girls in the past proved its permanent value manyfold under war conditions. MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS The longtime goal to kee'p the family well fed required additional im petus as war made increased demands on food supplies and health. Many farm women and girls did outstanding work in fields, thus helping meet labor shortages and increasing food production. Wartime food production goals for home gardens and poultry were met and in most counties exceeded. Best methods of cooking food to save nutritive values and for palata bility were the theme of 7,841 demonstrations given by the Nutritionist and home demonstration agents. Merchants and agents cooperated in working out practical aids for housekeepers in saving and using rationed foods and in spending the ration points to get greatest nutritional value. Special emphasis has been placed on the need to use abundant foods and spare those foods that are not so plentiful. Home demonstration workers participated with other agencies in pro moting and guiding the expanding school lunch program. In 1944 home demonstration agents continued to give nutrition and canteen courses. In some instances rural women who have been trained through home demon stration work have served as nutrition leaders. In 8 counties 29 Red Cross home nursing courses were taught to ap proximately 545 women and girls. Through Red Cross nurses and local doctors ty'phoid and diphtheria immunization were given. Health examina tions and home sanitation were stressed at club meetings. Cooperative nutrition committee programs have been developed in many Florida counties with home demonstration agents and leaders taking active parts in analyzing nutrition situations and helping to decide upon the most urgent needs within a county. All activities of the home demonstration wartime nutrition program have been aimed at helping . rural families keep physically fit through im proved food habits and an adequate diet; helping them meet their own food needs by larger production and more 'preservation; helping them use to best advantage the foods available, through good meal planning and con senration of food values in cooking and handling; and helping them co operate, with understanding and willingness, in government war measures such as food rationing, food price ceilings and war food-use programs. Nutrition and Physical Fitness.-In this phase of the nutrition program the goals were: To keep informed on developments in nutrition; to keep physically fit through improved food habits and adequate diet; to correct food attitudes and habits with children and adults to meet nutritional standards; to relate nutrition and health 'programs more closely; to pro
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60 Florida Cooperative Extension mote better planning and securing of the family food supplies, whether home-produced or purchased; to aid home-makers in providing good meals, especially while so many women are working and where school children and war workers get part of their meals away from home. Other goals were to spread information on rationing and use of new foods or alternates and to improve nutrition and food preparation. Another important goal was to work in close cooperation with all health authorities, including the State Board of Health, for control of malaria, hookworm, typhus and all communicable diseases. Methods used in developing this program were training meetings, public demonstrations, radio, exhibits, newspaper articles, quizzes, motion pic tures, filmstrips, circulars, leaflets, pamphlets, county nutrition courses, home visits and the school lunch program. Records show that this phase of the program was conducted in 35 counties and 535 communities; 1,493 families in 37 counties improved their diets during the year; 1,977 families in 36 counties were assisted with child feeding problems; 171 nutrition instruction courses in 18 counties were at tended by 2,266 women and girls; 4 , 110 women in 26 counties took positive preventive measures to improve health through immunization programs; 1,635 families in 21 counties participated in first aid or home nursing courses; 4,318 families in 33 counties were helped in preventing colds and common diseases. Food Preparation and Meal Planning.-The food preparation and meal planning phase has been a pproached through building health with the proper selection , preparation and attractive serving of the right foods. During the year method demonstrations were given showing the correct preparation of all groups of foods. However, because of wartime needs, particular work was done on "utility beef", peanuts, soybeans, quick and yeast breads using enriched flour, honey, syrup and vegetable cookery. Twenty-nine agents and 20 leaders in 29 counties reported they gave 610 demonstrations in the use of enriched flour and cereals. Thirty-two agents and 26 leaders in 32 counties gave 747 demonstrations on the use of meat alternates. The record of the number of families adopting improved practices in food preparation shows: Baking, 4,111 families in 35 counties; meat cook ery , 6 , 695 families in 35 counties; vegetables and fruit cookery, 6,069 famili e s in 34 counties; dairy products, 4,067 in 32 counties; poultry products, 4,002 families in 34 counties; and fats, 3,396 families in 25 counties. Reports show that 9,942 families in 35 counties were assisted with food preparation and that 672 leaders in 30 counties assisted with this program. In 34 counties 13,369 families reported that they plann e d their meals ac cording to available foods locally produced. Production of th~ Home Food Supply.-During the war emerg e ncy there has been a continued emphasis on the need for home production of food as a means for providing es s ential foods for an adequate d i et. Objectives for rural families were: A victory garden to furnish vegetabl e s for use fresh and for preservation-always including green and yellow vegetables; fruit orchards where possible; a cow or 2 for adequate milk supply, butter and cheese; a poultry flock for meat and eggs; and meat animals . Families were assisted in making a food plan and estimating th e amount of different foods needed on a 6-months' or a year's basi s . Demon s trations were given before groups showing how home production , conservation and utilization of foods can contribute to better family nutrition. Accomplishments in producing the home food supply are indicated by the following report: 851 volunteer local leaders in 27 counties assisted with educational work in connection with home production of the family
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Annual Report, 1944 61 food sup'ply; 3,490 families in 28 counties improved family food supply by making changes in home production; 10,035 families in 36 counties im proved vegetable supply; 4,509 families in 37 counties improved fruit sup ply; 4,492 families in 35 counties improved meat supply; 3,672 families in 36 counties improved milk supply with 1,069 families in 26 counties making more butter and cheese; and 4,950 families in 37 counties improved their poultry and egg supply. 4-H Club Work.-The goals of the 4-H club food, nutrition and health program were: To interest every 4-H club member in physical fitness, vigor and general good health; to encourage members to help plan, grow and preserve an adequate food supply for family needs; to help club mem bers work out a daily pattern for 3 adequate meals for themselves; to encourage older members to work out patterns for the family's 3 meals and to plan so that they will furnish the 'protective foods; to understand how to prepare and serve the "basic 7" foods efficiently; and to give team demonstrations and arrange exhibits as a means of extending information and teaching skills to the neighborhood or community. Method demonstrations were used extensively alone and in combination with discussion meetings, exhibits and filmstrips by the Nutritionist in training home demonstration agents, 4-H club leaders and members. 4-H club members were trained by the Nutritionist, home demonstration agents and rural 4-H club leaders to give team demonstrations in food preparation and meal planning. In addition, demonstrations were given by club members on the school lunch, posture and health improvement. During the year 5,478 4-H club girls in 37 counties planned, prepared and served 44,484 meals to their families. In addition 1,221 girls in 24 counties had health examinations and 4-H girls in 7 counties completed home nursing and first aid courses; 4-H girls assisted with the school lunch program with food 'preparation and service at times; 3,856 4-H club girls in 35 counties grew home gardens; 417 acres of home orchards were planted by 4-H club girls in 20 counties; 2,285 girls in 36 counties cared for poultry flocks to help the family meet the egg su pply; and 576 girls in 26 counties owned and cared for the family cow. Health Acitivities.-The maintenance of health was stressed as a war time necessity, both because of a shortage of doctors and nurses and to avoid absenteeism from work. More value was put on securing informa tion on food, nutrition and health and improving health habits. Special attention was given to the immunization programs and to the prevention of nutritional diseases.
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62 Florida Cooperative E xtension GARD EN I NG AN D F OOD C O NSE R VAT IO N I sabel le S. Thursby, Economist in Food Conservation Reports from hom e demonstration agents from over the State unfold many s plendid stoTies of achievement and of family and group adjustments to social and economic changes during this the third year of World War IL FOOD CO ERV ATION Goal s were greatly exceeded this year, 'particularly in canning. In 1943, 14 times as many containers of vegetables were filled as in 1938. Mainly this su rfeit of canning took place among townspeople. Older hom e demon stration club member s through years of experience in canning maintained their usual budget which had been found satisfactory. By early spring this year, however, the fear of not having enough food had passed. Pantries were st ill bulging from the excessive canning pro gram of la st year. Many had continued s u ccess ful victory gardens. Fresh vegetables were plentiful on the local markets. Th ese factors tended to decrease the number of gardens grown by amateurs and t he amount of some foods canned. Canning Equipment.-The purchase of ca nning eq uipment, especially pressure cookers, reached high proportions. Many urban women, recentl y made aware of their value in securing a better food s upply, were among those purchasing equipment. While the goal towards establishing severa l more up-to-date canning centers with a choice of steam and gas or fuel oil units has not been realized, sma ll er centers in many cou nties have been overhauled and mod ernized . In Palatka, where a considerable amount of truck crops i s grown, a center was built entirely new on the platform of the Farmers' Market . Fig. 7 . -Canning ce nt ers such as this operated throughout the State, helping both rural and urban families to conserve needed foods .
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Annual Report, 1944 63 A large, well-equipped, steam-operated center was completed early in the year in Duval County. Agents and their leaders stressed better use and care of canning equip ment, canning by budget and better quality finished products to increase the satisfaction gained from the hard work involved and to contribute to better family meals and more enjoyment of canned food. Agents have furthered the can-for-quality movement by means of intensive training meetings for chairmen and leaders; by demonstrations to clubs on correct use of equipment; by demonstrations on newer techniques in food preserva tion methods other than canning-brining "under cover" in low salt solu tions; by comparisons of methods used in dehydration and freezing to secure quality products; and by distributing up-to-date directions for fruit and fruit juice canning, vegetable and meat canning. Canning for shipment overseas was the reason for most calls for help this year. The majority of those canning for overseas had never canned before and had to be given special instructions. From 1 canning center 650 cans of chicken, steak, black beans and rice, spaghetti and meat balls, pickles, smoked fish and shrimp, salami, salted and sugared nuts, candies, cookies, cake and other good things were included in the output. Fishery Workshops.-Four fishery workshops strategically located were planned and a technologist of the Fish and Wild Life Service of the U. S. Department of Interior was loaned to the Extension Service for a month of intensive work with the home agents. Many of the agents participated in these instructive demonstrations of up-to-the-minute methods and tech niques in smoking and canning fish. VICTORY GARDENS AND ORCHARDS . Fewer victory gardens were grown in urban areas this year but fresh vegetables were plentiful in the markets. Because of the influence of the great national educational drive, gardening practices have been improved and fruit plantings have been increased. In some sections labor shortage was so acute that many heretofore home garden growers gave their time to helping with both truck and field crops. In Alachua County the county flower-zinnia-was grown by 185 club members to beautify homes, to exhibit at the 15th annual zinnia show and to sell. Each year 1 home demonstration woman makes a neat sum from the sale of zinnia plants alone. Planting zinnias along the fence by the highway, a 4-H club girl put up a poster announcing that zinnias were for sale. So successful was she at this venture that she is planning to follow the same plan another year. In 1944, 92 families of Madison County added nursery plants to their orchards in the amount of $1,816.30. Each of the 9 home demonstration clubs held plant exchanges and hundreds of pears, grapes, figs, peaches and plums were added to the home orchards through this source. Orchards that were established through the community home orchard drives are now bearing satsuma oranges, pears, peaches, plums, kumquats and blue berries. Budded pecan trees also have come into bearing that were planted as a result of these yearly cooperative fruit tree drives. Records submitted on gardening activities for the current year show 16,353 planted, with 4,600 homes having vegetables for sale. The number of calendar fruit plantings this year was reported as 3,212 with 22,902 trees and vines. Berry plants and vines other than grapes are listed as 53,289.
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64 Florida Cooperative Extension 4-K:CLUB WORK FOR GIRLS Reports show 4,019 gills enrolled in gardening with 2,766 completing the project. The number''of girls enrolled in canning was 3,225 and 39,635 containers were filled with ' : fruits, vegetables and meats . Girls from 17 counties scoring highe s t in their respective counties submitted records and stories of achievement in gardening' ( and canning to the State office for judging. ' Much canning was done as a part of the family food supply. Valuable assistance was given in community canning centers in canning for the school lunch program and in helping neighborhoods in many ways during peak seasons of farm work. MISCELLANEOUS Citation for Achievement.-The home demonstration woman recognized by the county personnel as having made ,the greatest contribution to her club and community in promoting production and conservation during the year was awarded a $5 war stamp. The stamp was attached to an attra c tive and appropriate scroll with a border of hand-colored Florida fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, cans and jars of foods and cookers. Mango Forum.-Five summers ago the Broward County home demon stration agent announced the first mango forum. It was called during the peak season of the too-little known nutritionally valuable fruit so that a large collection of different varieties could be gotten together to interest residents of the region in growing more of the finer, choice mangos. The agent gave considerable time and effort to this work and the forum gathered interest and numbers with each meeting. The Specialist in Food Conservation, for 2 summers, participated in the instruction at the forum. Demonstrations were given on conservation and otherwise using the mango in the menu at both forums. There are still other relatively unknown but valuable fruits and fruit products that should receive similar attention. If the guava, for instance, now rated highest of any known fruit in vitamin C, were given this needed consideration and the deserved research, the health education and the horticultural development of the State would be greatly benefited.
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Annual Report, 1944 65 HOME IMPROVEMENT Virginia P. Moore, Specialist in Home Improvement Because of the shortage of labor and materials fewer homes are being built, but families needing new homes have given more thought to the new home to be built with government bonds in the future. Recently there has been more thought given to the remodeling of old homes. There are now several remodeling plans under way and the Home Improvement Agent has visited the home and helped with remodeling plans and furnishings. Remodeled furnishings are being used until a better grade can be secured. Painting and rejuvenating furniture have been very popu lar the past year with young peo ' ple. A "hobby" is supplied when they develop a home improvement demonstration and it makes them want to stay at home and work on their home improvement problems, thus making their homes happier places in which to live. Compilation of the county home demonstration agents' reports shows the following: HOME IMPROVEMENT Number of families assisted with house-planning problems .. . .. ......... . .. . Number of sunshine water heating systems installed ........ .. . .. .......... .. . .. Number of homes repaired .............. .... ............................ ... ...... .... ......... ...... .. Number of homes screened ............... .... ............ .. ............ .. ......................... .. .. Number of 4-H girls enrolled in rural electrification ........... .... .......... .. .. . Number of homes making complete improv e ment of grounds according to plan . .......... . ........................... ... ........................ ... . . ............. . ............. . . Number lawns started this year ...... .. ............... .. ...... .. .. .... .. ........ .. ............ .. .. . Number pieces electric equipment re paired .. .. .......... ...... ........ .... .. .. ........ .. .. THRIFT Number of families who have utilized wast e materials such as sacks, 1,884 61 1,885 989 8 3 347 338 2,249 mill remnants, etc ................ .. ........... . ............ .. ............ . ............................... 11,991 Number mattresses made ...... ..... ........... .. ........... ...... .................................. .. ... 610 Number mattresses renovated . ........ .. .. .. ...................... .... .. .. ...... ........ .... .. .. ..... 691 . Number of rug s made ........................ .... ........... .... ........................................... 1,238 4-H GIRLS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS The 4-H girls showed greater enthusiasm this year in home improve ment by: Painting and papering rooms; mending; planting and cutt i ng grass and hedges; and setting out trees, annuals and perennials. There were 1,530 4-H girls enrolled in the beautification of home ground s , with 1,041 completing; 1,027 4-H girls enrolled in home management, better housekeeping and streamlining housework, with 724 completing; 2,551 4-H girls enrolled in home furnishing and room improvement, with 1,705 com pleting; and 793 4-H girls enrolled in rug making and other home industries, with 507 completing the project. Also, ther e were 1,468 rooms improved and 5,495 pieces of furniture made or rejuvenated. NEGRO WORK The Home Improvement Agent works with negro home demonstration agents as with the white agents. Ways of doing household tasks were stressed this year.
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66 Florida Cooperative Extension One objective with the negroes was to have the wash bench the correct height on which to place their wash tubs and to have the tubs under a shade tree or build a pergola on which to grow vines. This adds to the beauty of the premises as well as to the comfort of working. Runn i ng water and sunshine hea _ ters were stressed. The negro farmers are interested in our simple instructions for installing these sunshine heat ers so as to have hot water for the weekly wash, which is a means of livelihood for many nice , old, expert washerwomen. In some cases bath rooms have been added and an increase is expected in such conveniences when materials are available. Negro home improvement work has grown in those counties where there have been negro home demonstration agents. More "sleeping rooms" with better ventilation and glass e d-in windows, screened windows and screened porches are some of the things that have been stressed . The Home Improvement Agent also stressed a neat table with na'pkins, a plate, glass, cup and saucer and 10-cent store "silver" knife, fork and spoon . Having a neat table where all could gather to eat with a family blessing and better food has given the negro family a certain re s pect for them s elves. On e negro agent rep o rt s that priorities, rationing and scarcity of ma terials to do needed repairs around and in the home have brought about keener interest in doing minor repairs and with the increased income due to members of the family being in the armed forces and employed in defense industrie s, plans are being made to build new homes and repair old ones as soon as building materials are available. Home im'provement accomplishments, with all members of the family as s isting, for that county were: Houses rebuilt , ... . .. . , ... . . . .. . . . .. . . ... .. . . .... . . .. . . . ... . . .. .. . . . . .. ..... ... . . .. .. . 1 Porches repaired .. . ......... .... . . . . . .. . ..... . ... .... . .. ... . ...... .. . . .. . . .. ... .. ... 15 Rooms painted . . . . ............... . . . .......... .. . . . . . . . . .......... . . . . . .. . ............ 4 Shelves built to store canned foods . ... ......... .... . .. . .. ..... .. .. 75 Cabinet s built . . . . . . . . ...... . .. .. . . .. .. ........ . . .. .. .... .... . .. . ..... . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . 15 Outdoor toilets . .. .. . ... . ... . ... . . . . . . . . . . .... .. . . . . . . . ..... ...... , ... . . . ... . .. . .... .. . 35 Houses painted .. .. ...... '. ..................... . .... . ... . ........ . .. . .. . . . . . ....... . ... 3 Houses screened ....... ....... ... .............. . .. . . .. .. . ............ .. .............. 2
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Annual Report, 1944 PART IV-NEGRO WORI( ACTIVITIES WITH NEGRO FARMERS A. A. Turner, Local District Agent PROBLEMS AND ADJUSTMENTS 67. Transportation was a major problem during the year. Circulars were used by county and home agents, where possible, to get information to farmers, thereby conserving gas and tires. District short courses were held in central counties-Leon and Marion-due to transportation difficulties and other wartime problems. In some counties there were no fairs. Local agents held community achievement days at convenient places and times. Labor shortage still prevailed in all counties worked by agents. More able-bodied men left the farm for induction and war jobs, leaving the farm with many problems. Agents used their influence in helping those who remained to make adjustments in order to carry on the work by using women, boys and girls, as well as men who were not eligible for the draft. The communities, in a number of cases, pooled their labor and cooperated in assisting one another in harvesting crops. WAR ACTIVITIES Neighborhood leaders were organized in all counties worked and the agents reported very satisfactory results. Training meetings were held and local agents assisted the District Agent in explaining the program and various problems, as well as in making adjustments to solve pressing problems. These leaders have pledged to render whatever service they can in helping to carry out the wartime program. Due to many problems arising in various sections of the State, it was necessary to add an emergency war worker to each of the following counties to carry on Extension work: Br.idford, Madison, Union and Washington. These emergency enployees are doing very satisfactory work. With added income in the family, the investment in war bonds and stamps was stressed and all agents assisted in various war bond drives and encouraged farmers to do their part. All counties made outstanding reports. Local agents in their association with defense councils urged clubs to save scra'p metals, paper and other necessary war materials. Rationing of food and clothing still prevailed and agents stressed the importance of caring for clothing and homes and emphasized the production of more food. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Gadsden and Jackson were the outstanding counties in the production of peanuts. Every farm family was encouraged to have a home garden and, in the face of rationing of canned vegetables, a year-round garden was emphasized. In Alachua County home garden sales amounted to $5,000.00. Some families have increased their number of milk cows during the year and have been able to make enough butter for the family and have received good sales for the surplus. Due to meat scarcity, families increased their poultry production and, with careful attention to the upkeep of flocks, feeding and general care, have produced more poultry and eggs for home use as well as market.
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, 68 Florida Cooperative Extension In Columbia County 1,800 pounds of turkey were sold, netting the fal'mers $363.00. Farmers have begun to take more interest in swine production si nc e rationing began. In Jefferson County 16 purebred Duroc-Jersey pigs were purchased by 4 farmers at a cost of $200.00. Other counties reported con siderable increase in swine production. In some counties more and more interest is being manifested in in creasing cattle for beef. It is believed thi project will create interes t in all counties during the coming year because of the great demand and good prices offered for beef. In Hamilton County 1 farmer of the Spring Branch comm unity sold 21,000 stalks of seedcane at per stalk. Three other farmers so ld 12,000 sta lk s to local markets for chewing purposes for an average price of 5 per stalk. Increased production of corn for home consumption and for market purposes was noticeable. This crop still prevails as a major food and feed crop among farmers . In Gad den County 9 flue-heated sweet potato beds were constructed, with good result s from the s ale of plants. Over 400 acres of sweet potatoe s were planted in Columbia County; 250 acres being of the Louisiana Copper Skin strain. Fig. 8.-The display of Army equipment made by negro soldiers is of much interest to the negro 4 -H boys attending a club camp.
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Annual Report, 1944 69 ANNUAL AGENTS ' MEETING The Annual Agents' Conference w ' as held at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, November 8, 9 and 10, 1944, in conjunction with the Annual Farmers' Conference. 4-H CLUB WORK Out of 2,803 boys enrolled in 4-H club work, 2,117 completed their projects during the year. Corn projects were carried on by 1,114 boys with 1,026 completing. Projects devoted to home gardens enrolled 1,776 and 1,614 complete
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70 Florida Cooperative Extension NEGRO HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK Floy Britt, Local District Home Demonstration Agent Major goals in the 1944 supervisory activities were increased food pro duction, conservation, nutrition, home improvement, health, clothing, mar keting, community activities, farm labor and special war activities. These goals were emphasized in the program because they supplied the needs of the rural families and aided the war effort. Individuals were interested through club and community m e etings, newspaper publicity, local leaders, circular letters and personal contact. Their accomplishments during 1944 were: Food production-7,969 gardens grown, 1,122 fruit trees and vines added, 150,473 chickens owned by club members, 248 , 408 dozen eggs produced and 2,135 family milk cows owned by club members; food conservation-128,385 containers filled with fruits and vegetables, 4,424 containers filled with fruit juice, 19,858 containers filled with meat, 162,636 pounds of meat cured and on cold storage, and 18,116 pounds of lard made; nutrition-2,070 families improved diets, 3,430 families planned and served balanced meals and 714 families planned food budgets for wise buying; home improvement-1,334 houses screened, 878 families remodeled houses; 271 families painted houses, 1,307 families improved home grounds, 16 families installed water systems, 15 installed electric lights and 1,324 families used improved methods in housekeeping; health-2,598 persons followed recommendations in prevention of colds and common diseases, 1,912 practiced better first aid and home nursing methods and 1,520 girls and women received helpful training in home nursing and first aid; clothing--4,986 garments mended and remodeled, 13,610 new garments made, 1,131 homemade accessories, 5,817 household articles made, 1,410 families practiced better renovation and remodeling, 254 families planned clothing budgets and 2,776 women and girls followed recommenda tions in better clothing protection and care; and marketing-$7,208.00 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables sold, $47,431.00 worth of poultry products sold, $628.89 worth of milk and butter sold and $269.14 worth of rugs, quilts, spreads, craft and other articles sold. ASSISTANCE WITH PROGRAM Four hundred nine volunteer local leaders played a very important 'part in helping the agents determine the program in the counties. These leaders, including men, women, boys and girls, are dependable persons who are good demonstrators and have been given special training by the local agent. This has enabled them to render valuable help in their coun ties. Besides assisting the agents in getting information to the rural families, the local leaders help with community and county exhibits, fairs, achievement programs, picnics, rallies, camps and short courses. It is through this type of service that many worthwhile achievements are made. Assistance given by the State Home Demonstration Agent, district agents and Extension specialists has been very helpful to the negro agents. When specialists are visiting in counties where negro home demonstration agents are employed, the negro agents are invited to attend special demon strations, get information and use it in their work. Agents receive data and information from the U. S. De ' partment of Agriculture and the State Extension Service. This is studied and pre sented in a simplified form over the State. In counties where there are no negro agents, the county home demon stration agent has rendered much assistance to the negro groups. They
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Annual Report, 1944 71 have furnished bulletins and educational material to teachers, assisted negro agents with short courses and home nursing courses and worked with negro home economics teachers in nutrition programs, mobile canteen units and Red Cross and home nursing classes. RESULTS ACHIEVED As a result of the many project activities carried on in various negro sections of the State there is being developed a finer group of rural negroes. Rural people are thinking more about promoting better health, better edu cation and making their home comfortable, convenient and attractive. Rural families are learning to appreciate good family relations and the importance of working and playing together. With these qualities exist ing rural families are going to be able to render valuable service to their homes and communities and to their country. In Duval County open house was held on May 11 and demonstrations were given to 67 persons from rural and urban sections of the county on canning chicken and. packing overseas boxes. In Madison County during National Negro Health Week, 42 schools promoted a clean-up program, 27 cemeteries were cleaned and 27 ministers preached health sermons. The county-wide effort created much interest and the people of the county have become health conscious. In continuing our effort to establish more wholesome living for rural families through the development of pride in rural farm and home owner ship and in promoting peace and good will among families in the com munities, we must keep in mind that the success of our work de'pends not on how much we do, but on how much we can get others to do. STATISTICAL REPORT, NEGRO WORK (Men and Women) GENERAL ACTIVITIES Months of service (agents and assistants) ........................................ 284 Days of service: In office-2,103; in field-4,928 ................................ 7,031 Farm or home visits made ........................................................................ 17,074 Different farms or homes visited ............................................................ 5,010 Calls relating to extension work: Office, 18,309; telephone ............ 6,727 Days devoted to work with 4-H clubs and older youth .................... 2,365 News articles or stories published ........................................................ 222 Bulletins distributed .................................................................................. 20,189 Radio talks broadcast or prepared ........................................................ 5 Training meetings held for local leaders or committeemen ............ 337 Total attendance of men and women ............................................ 7,350 Method demonstration meetings ............................................................ 2,579 Total attendance .................................................................................... 37,897 Meetings held at result demonstrations ................................................ 404 Attendance .............................................................................................. 4,928 Tours conducted .......................................................................................... 29 Achievement days held for 4-H, older youth and adult work............ 45 Encampments, leader meetings and other meetings ............................ 855
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72 Florida Cooperative Extension SUMMARY OF EXTENSION INFLUENCE Total number of farms in counties worked ........................................ 9,197 Farms on which changes in practices have resulted from agricultural program this year and in past ............................................ 3,405 Non-farm families making changes as result of home demonstration and agricultural programs ...................................................... 1,299 Farm homes in which changes in practices have resulted from the home demonstration program .................................................. 1,919 Farm homes in which changes have resulted from home demonstration and agricultural program this year .................................... 774 Different farm families influenced by some phase of the extension 'program ................................. 5,450 Other families influenced by some phase of the extension program 2,756 COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PLANNING Members in agricultural planning group 238 Unpaid ............................................ ......................................................... 229 Paid .......................................................................................................... 9 Communities in agricultural planning .................................................. 52 Members in community agricultural planning .................................... 239 Planning meetings held ............................................................................ 564 Days devoted to planning work by county and home demonstration workers ................................................................................ :................... 289 Unpaid voluntary leaders or committeemen ........................................ 785 Days of service by voluntary leaders or committeemen .................... 257 CROP PRODUCTION Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Communities in which work was conducted ......................................... . Voluntary leaders and committeemen ................................................... . LIVESTOCK, DAIRYING, POULTRY Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Communities in which work was conducted ....................................... . Voluntary committeemen and leaders ................................................... . Breeding and improvement organizations ........................................... . Farmers assisted ....................................................................................... . CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Communities in which work was conducted ....................................... . Voluntary local leaders and committeemen ......................................... . Farmers assisted in soil management ................................................. . Soil management associations assisted during the year ................... . Farmers assisted in forestry and wildlife conservation ................... . FARM MANAGEMENT Days devoted to work ............................................................................... . Farmers assisted ............................... , ......................................................... . 957 1,169 1,076 601 667 370 138 11,585 135 275 195 2,417 3 1,414 138 2,713
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Annual Report, 1944 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 73 Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 57 Communities in which work was conducted .......................................... 76 Voluntary leaders and committeemen .................................................... 41 Agricultural and nonsagricultural groups assisted ............................ 99 MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 898 Communities in which work was conducted ........................................ 1,247 Established cooperatives assisted ............................................................ 9 New cooperatives assisted in organizing ................................................ 13 Value of products sold or purchased by cooperatives assisted during the year ( established and new) .................................... $ 18,581 Value of products sold or purchased by farmers or families (not members of cooperatives) assisted during year ............ $1,372,917 HOUSING, FARMSTEAD IMPROVEMENT Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 353 Communities in which work was conducted ........................................ 336 Voluntary leaders and committeemen .................................................... 199 Families assisted in house furnishings, surroundings, mechanical equipment, rural electrification ........................................................ 8,470 NUTRITION AND HEALTH Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 1,316 Communities in which work was done .................................................... 787 Families assisted: Improving diets, 5,974; food preparation, 1,307; total .............................................................................................. 7,281 Families assisted with food-preservation problems ............................ 5,517 HOME MANAGEMENT-FAMILY ECONOMICS Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 121 Communities in which work was done .................................................... 126 Voluntary leaders assisting .......................................................... '............ 110 Families assisted ........................................................................................ 1,441 Clubs or groups assisted in buying food, clothing, household sup'plies ............................................................ ....................................... 99 Families assisted in buying food, clothing, household supplies........ 1,333 Families assisted with consumer-buying problems ............................ 1,750 CLOTHING AND TEXTILES Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 195 Communities in which work was done .................................................... 145 Voluntary leaders assisting ...................................................................... 171 Families assisted ........................................................................................ 4,175 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS-CHILD DEVELOPMENT Days devoted to work ................................................................................ 101 Communities in which work was done .................................................... 123 Voluntary leaders assisting ...................................................................... 123
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74 Florida, Cooperative Extension RECREATION AND COMMUNITY LIFE Days devoted to work ........................... . ....... .. ............ .. ................... .. ........ 149 Communities in which work was done 209 Voluntary leaders assisting ..................... . .............................................. 334 Families assisted in improving home recreation ................................ 558 Communities assisted in improving recreational facilities . ............... 83 Community groups assisted with organizational problems, programs of activities, or meeting programs ........................ . ............... 116 Communities assisted in providing library facilities 8 SUMMARY OF 4-H CLUB PROJECTS Projects completed by boys ....................... . .. . ........................................... 6,621 Projects completed by girls .................................................................... 18,135 Boys completing corn and peanut . projects ............................... , ............ 1,732 Boys completing fruit projects .................... . .. . .... . . . .................. . .............. 133 Boys completing garden projects ........... .. ....... .. .. .... ........................ ; ....... 1,614 Boys completing market gardens, truck and canning crops . ......... . ..... 26 Boys completing dairy projects ...................... . ................... .. .. . ............... 309 Boys completing poultry projects .......................................................... 639 Boys completing cotton and tobacco projects .................... . ................... 163 Boys completing potato (Irish and sweet) projects ....... ... .... ....... ....... 507 Boys completing beef cattle and swine projects .................... . ........ .. ... 907 Girls completing dairy projects .... .... . . . ..... ...... ........................ . .............. . 639 Girls completing poultry projects ....... .. ................................................. 1,229 Girls completing home gardens ..................... ... . . . . ................... .. ............... 2,124 Girls completing fruit projects ................ . . .. ............. :.............................. 559 Girls completing market gardens, truck and canning crops................ 436 Girls completing food selection and preparation projects .. . ..... . .. . ...... 2,044 Girls completing health, home nursing and first aid ......... .... ............... 1,484 Girls completing clothing, home management, home furnishing and room improvement projects ............. . ....... . ...................... ..... ............... 3,917 Girls completing food preservation projects ....................... .. ............... 2,015 4-H Membership Boys: Farm, 2,445; non-farm, 188; total . . .................... '. . . . . ............. 2,633 Girls: Farm, 2,806; non-farm, 863; total . . ... . ........ ..... ... . . . .. .. :..... ..... 3,669 4-H cl':b n:iembers ~aving health examinations because of participat10n m extension program ................ .. ................ . ...... . ...... . .... . ........ 1,784 4-H clubs engaging in community activities such as improving school gro . unds and conducting local fairs .................... . ... ............ 259
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INDEX Achievement days, 51 goals, 51 _ Activities with negro farmers, 67 Adjusting production to wartime needs, 24 Agricultural Adjustment Agency, 8, 14 Agricultural conservation, 14 Agricultural economics, 11, 23, 73 Agricultural trade associations, 26 Agronomy goals and accomplishments, 28 Animal husbandry, 31 Assistance to returning veterans, 8 Assistance with negro program, 70 Barrus, Edith Y., 49 Beale, Clyde, 17 Beef cattle , 31, 40 Bevis, Joyce, 57 Blacklock, R. W., 40 Boys' 4-H club work, 40 Brahma breeders' association, 32 Breed for better herd replacements, 36 Britt, Floy, 70 Broadcasting activities, 18 Brown, Hamlin L., 34 Bulls for herd replacement, 31 Camps and _ short courses, 51 Canning centers, 52 equipment, 62 Cattle and horse shows, 32 Changes in staff, 9 Child care, 55 Citation for achievement, 64 Citrus, 21 grove management, 26 Civic organizations, 25 Clayton, H. G., 14 Clothing and textiles, 12, 55, 57, 73 Club organizations, 41 Commercial vegetables, 21 Community canning centers, 25 Conservation of natural resources, 11, 72 Contribution to war effort, 11 Cooper , J. Francis, 17 Cooperation with agencies, 8 Cooperative agricultural planning, 11, 72 i Copper wire, 16 Corn, 40 production, 40 Cotton, 20 County agents' activities, 20 Cow, the family, 37 Crop production, 11, 72 Dairy, 40 Dairy cows, 53 number of farms in Florida having, 37 Dairy feed payment program, 15 Dairy program, 8-point, 34 Dairy situation, 21 Dairying, 34 Dairyin g , livestock, poultry, 11 Dennis, F. M., 37 Dennis, R. S., 14 Economic information .and outlook, 23 Editorial and mailing, 17 Egg culling demonstrations, 39 Egg purchase program, 38 Egg quality program, 38 Emergency Farm Labor, 8 Emergency programs, 15 Emergency war food program, 57 Family accomplishments, 52 Family relationships-child develop ment, 12, 73 Farm building permits and priority assistance, 16 Farm forestry, 43 Farm labor, 25 Farm labor needs, 55 Farm lumber program, 16 Farm machinery and supplies, 15 Farm manangement, 11, 23, 24, 72 Farm records, 24 Farm safety and fire prevention, 55 Farm Security Administration , 8 Farm transportation, 16 Farmer cooperatives, 26 Federal income tax, 24 Feed concentrates, 36 Fertilize all forage, 34 Financial statement, 9 Fishery workshops, 63 Flock records, 39
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ii Index Florida A. and M. College, 8 Florida Council of Farmer Cooper atives, 25 Florida Farm Bureau, 8 Florida National Egg-Laying Test, 38 ' Florida State College for Women, 8 Florida's poultry industry, 37 Food conservation, 53, 62 , Food, nutrition and health, 59 Food preparation, 54 and meal planning, 60 Food production, 40, 53 Forage as pasture, silage and hay, 34 Forest farming study, 24 Forest insects and diseases, 44 Forest trees, planting, 44 Forestry, 41 4-H club work, 33 4-H forestry club programs, 44 Fuelwood on farms, 45 Gardening and food conservation, 62 Girls' 4-H club work, 50, 57, 61, 64, 65 Grades, standards and packages, 26 Grazing crops, 34 Grow green feed, 39 Hampson, C. M., 23 : Harvesting forest products for war, 43 . Health activities, 61 Heifers for herd replacement, 31 Hog work, 33 Holloway, Ethyl , 49 Home demonstration work, 49 . Home food supply, 60 Home gardens, 21, 41 Home improvement, 52, 65 : Home industries, 52 . Home management family eco nomics, 12, 73 . Housing, farmstead improvement, 12, 73 Individual farm planning, 24 . Institute of Inter-American Affairs, 8 Junior poultry work, 39 Keown, Mary E., 49 .Leadership goals , 51 Liberty ship launchings, 42 Livestock, 53 and pastures, 22 dairying and poultry, 11, 72 early marketing of, 31 Local leaders, 22 Lumber, farm, 16 McDavid, Ruby, 49 McKinney, Barbara, 57 McMullen, K. S., 46 McQueen, N. H., 40 Maintenance of good health, 54 Major achievements, negro, 67 Major activities and accomplishments, 59 Mango forum, 64 Marketing activities, 24 Marketing and distribution, 12, 73 Meat supply, farm families', 33 Mehrhof, Norman R., 37 Men's work, 20 Microcarpa, 48 Milk, 36 Moore, Virginia P., 65 Negro boys' 4-H dub work, 69 Negro home demonstration work, 70 Negro home improvement work, 65 Negro problems and adjustments, 67 Negro work, 67 Nettles, W. T., 20 News and farm paper items, 18 Nieland, L. T., 43 Noble, C. V., 23 Nutrition, 54 and health, 12, 73 and physical fitness, 59 Organized food distributors, 25 O'Steen, A. Woodrow, 37 Pasture development, 32 Peanuts, 20, 40 Pecans, 26 Personnel problems, 49 Pigs, 33 Post-war state development pro gram, 47 Potatoes, 40 Poultry, 40, 53 disease and parasite control, 39 keeping, 37 livestock and dairying, 11 organizations, 39
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Index iii Preventing destructive "clear cutting", 45 Printed materials, 17 Program planning, 49 Protecting woodlands from fire, 43 Pullets, 38 Recreation, 52 and community life, 12, 74 Red Cross work, 57 Results achieved, 71 Returning veterans, 55 Savage, Zach, 26 Service to veterans, 23 Shealy, A. L., 31 Sheely, W. J., 31 Sikes, Anna Mae, 59 Smith, J. Lee, 20, 28 Soil and water conservation, 46 Soil conservation districts, 46, 47 Soil Conservation Service, 8 Special occasions, 4-H, 42 Special war services, 54 Spencer, A. P., 7, 14, 20 State awards, 42 State Board of Health, 8 State Cattlemen's Association, 8 State Council of Farmer Cooperatives, 8 State Dairymen's Association, 8 State Defense Council, 8 State Department of Agriculture, 8 State Live Stock Sanitary Board, 8 State Poultrymen's Association, 8 Statistical report, men and women, 10 negro work, 71 Summary of Extension influence, 10, 72 Summary of 4-H club projects, 13 Summary of negro 4-H club projects, 74 Summer camps, 41 Summer cover crop program, 48 Supervision and adjustments, 7 Supervisory problems, 41 Swine, 40 Thomas, Jefferson, 17 Thursby, Isabelle S., 62 Timber grazing game demonstrational program, 45 Timmons, D. E., 24 Turkeys, 39 Turner, A. A., 67 U. S. Department of Agriculture, 8, 14, 18, 19, 30, 43, 46, 57, 70 U. S. Department of Interior, 63 Victory gardens and orchards, 63 Vocational agriculture teachers, 48 War activities, negro, 67 War Food Administration, 8 War work, 23 Wartime beef and hog suggestions, 31 Watson, William L., 42 White-fringed beetle area farm pro gram, 30 Winter cover and manure crops, 28, 48 Winter feeding, 32 Women's and girls' work, 49 Work stock, 33 Youth education, 47
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