Rowan Farmers Report Good Year, November 1949

By F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in the Charlotte Observer Nov. 7, 1949

Rowan is not only a county of comfortable rural houses and profitable farms but it is likewise one of the great grain and livestock sections of North Carolina.

County Agent P.H. Satterwhite says that some good yields of the new Atlas wheat were secured in the county last spring despite a rather disappointing season for small grain over North Carolina generally. One of the best yields was that made by D.H. McLaughlin of Corriher community on Mooresville, Route 3. Mr. McLaughlin produced 165.85 bushels of wheat on four acres or an average of 41.5 bushels per acre.

All of this wheat was saved for seed along with that grown by six other Rowan farmers. This was apportioned out this fall among the township winners in the small grain contest with each winner being privileged to buy six bushels each. The Atlas wheat has good resistance to rust and mildew, and it yields better than any other wheat in the state.

Rowan farmers also have been busy this past summer installing hay drying units of various kinds. Marion Brown of Salisbury, Route 5, and J.R. Penry, Cleveland, Route 2, installed the slatted floor kind in their two barns and were able to cure out a fine quality of bright hay without regard to outside weather.

Along with the mechanical hay dryers, dairymen of the county are building grade “A” barns and elevated milking parlors to save time and labor. Carl Hall Jr. of Mt. Ulla, Route 1, is one of those to construct a new type barn this fall. Mr. Hall is using the best ideas from plans available by the Agricultural Engineering department along with progressive ideas of his own. His new barn has cost him only about $1,000 in cash outlay but will have all the necessary storage space and the shelter needed as a lkounging place for 50 to 60 head of cows. He also included in milking parlor. His neighbor, Roy Freeze of China Grove, Route 1, is watching this building operation with high interest because Mr. Freeze plans to switch to the premium grade “A” kind this winter.

Hog growing continues to expand in Rowan and much of this expansion on the part of the young people is stimulated by the Rowan County endless chain pig club. Charles Cline of Mt. Ulla was given a beautiful purebred spotted Poland China gilt this summer, coming from Jerry Frye of Salisbury, Route 5. Jerry received his gilt over a year ago and last may she farrowed a litter of eight nice pigs. One of the best of these went to Charles Cline, according to the plans under which the endless chain operates. In time, Charles will pass along one of his gilts to some other boy.

In the meantime, Linwood Foil of Salisbury, Route 5, is adding two more links to the chain by donating two fine Hampshire gilts to M.D. McKnight of China Grove, Route 1, and Jack Clendinin of Cleveland, Route 2. Mr. Foil has a small but excellent herd of purebred Hampshires and wants to see the breed spread over Rowan County. He also is concerned that every farm family shall grow its own home supply of pork.

Three other good farmers in Rowan are interested in the spread of Hampshire hogs and they are planning to help form a North Carolina Hampshire Breeders Association to promote the breed. They feel that some of these other hog breeders are getting the jump on them and are getting their particular breeds used more widely than are the Hampshire variety. Hugh Elliott of White Farms, Salisbury; M.T. Brown of Salisbury, Route 5; and M.E. Price of Salisbury, Route 5, are among those interested in starting a Hampshire swine breeders’ association, and they say the organization will be formed in the near future.

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Grade "A" milk was meant for direct consumption. Other milk was used for milk products like cheese or canned condensed milk.