By F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in the Wilmington Star on Oct. 23, 1944, and the Wadesboro Messenger and Intelligencer on Oct. 26, 1944.
Anson County rural life will be disrupted as little as possible by postwar conditions if plans now being studied by the Anson Agricultural Workers Council can be made effective. The council is composed of members from every agricultural agency and rural organization in the county and there is a cooperative spirit present not found in many counties.
Much of this is due, of course, to the effective leadership of Jimmie Cameron, who has been county agent there for nearly 30 years and who, with the home agent, Mrs. Rosalind Redfearn, has served his people continuously without friction and with the highest interest of the rural folks always in mind.
The other evening Jimmie held a dinner meeting in the old National Hotel in Wadesboro with representatives present from all the official life of the city and county. Each representative was asked to tell briefly just what his organization had in mind for postwar work and how plans were being made now to meet the situation.
It was interesting to hear that the mayor of Wadesboro, the County Commissioners, the health department, the educational authorities, the welfare department, the civic clubs, the bankers, and even the ministers had in mind some activity which would tend to brunt the evils of a postwar let-down in business. All of these people spoke briefly and to the point. The Extension workers, the rural electrification people, the farm security and soil conservation folks, the vocational teachers, and the Triple A committee also had suggestions, and Mr. Cameron reminded them that much more than planning would be needed. He asked for action because, as he pointed out, Anson has much of its acreage in cotton and the outlook for cotton after the war is not very rosy. He told of other crops that could be grown profitably and pointed out that in the previous fall the farmers had used 440,000 pounds of winter peas, 30,000 pounds of vetch, 30,000 pounds of crimson clover, and about 14,000 tons of limestone in an effort to make the soil more fertile for these substitute crops.
There are 851 rural boys and girls organized into 4-H Clubs and studying just how they may improve farming and homemaking in the county. The rural electrification line serving Anson and adjoining counties has 1,728 patrons at present with 28 new extensions built last year and with many more awaiting the close of the war. At that time, Mr. Cameron said, there would be a demand for more brooders, water pumps, milking machines, milk coolers, and host of other electrical appliances needed by the rural people. The people have increased their flocks of chickens and their turkeys and the increase to food and feed crops has been little short of phenomenal. Jimmie says that local Neighborhood Leaders are responsible for much of the good work being done by the rural people of Anson County, and he looks for their influence to be continued.
These people meet with their neighbors to discuss the importance movement that should be undertaken and usually they get concerted action. For instance, last spring there were about 60 food conservation meetings held among the women with 1,823 people present and learning how best to conserve food of all kinds.
Building richer soils, checking soil erosion, establishing a diversified crop system, and improving the farm and farm home surroundings is the main goal of the present Anson County farm program. There are many well laid out fields in the county as a result of terracing done, and these take the place of gullies and washes. The winter rye grass and small grain planted each fall add a touch of beauty to the countryside each winter in addition to providing grazing and hay and grain for cattle.
Already about 90 farm families are shipping milk to outside markets. Two routes have been established leading to the Carnation processing plant in Albemarle, another goes into Charlotte, and a third into Hamlet. As the acreage to permanent pastures and grazing crops increase, more cows will be added and the sales of milk and cream will be enlarged. The 90 families now selling surplus milk say that they get an average of $40 per month.
Anson also is one of the leaders in growing beef cattle. Adam Lockhart was a moving spirit in having the present Hereford Breeders Association organized and served as its first president. He has in mind now an overall livestock association that will include all breeds and kinds of cattle. Some 23 farmers are growing beef cattle in Anson now, and these will be increased if the grass and grain situation warrants.
Anson grows excellent cotton. In the Sandhills section there are fine fields of crotalaria. Anson peaches are noted for their flavor. There is more alfalfa and the old county, rich in tradition and populated with some of the finest people in North Carolina, is on its way to becoming a well balanced farming county. The postwar plans now under way will hasten this. Particular attention will be paid to poultry, eggs, milk, and swine. Hens are kept in flocks of from 100 to 1,000 for egg production, and the eggs are satisfactorily handled by the truck routes. There are plenty of local hatcheries which use eggs from locally grown, blood-tested, producing flocks.
Last year, the poultry income of the county amounted to around $150,000. The growers are improving their turkeys and are adding to the fine reputation that these birds now have on the North Carolina market. The growers brought in 110 new purebred toms bred by the poultry department of State College and will endeavor to produce a medium-sized broad-breasted bird, which will give the most meat at the least expense.
No comments:
Post a Comment