Missouri Bankers Association Appeal FOR Production and Conservation OF War Foods COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL AND GOOD ROADS DEVELOPMENT F B BRADY. CHAIRMAN GEO MCCANSE W. J. MCOEE J. E SMITH D NEAN STAFFORD TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MISSOURI BANKERS ASSOCIATION: The cry has gone out from the Departments of Agriculture and from those in authority at Washington for every business and for every loyal citizen to produce, economize, and conserve the resources that are incident to winning the war. We bankers are vitally interested in helping in every way possible the cause of food production, and in order that we may all work together in heeding the call of those in authority and of those who know, this appeal is made. ONE MORE ANIMAL ON EACH FARM MEANS MILLIONS. It is imperative that we give attention to pure seed, and that we urge every tillable acre to do its part in raising food and feed stuff. It is absolutely necessary that our meat production be increased. We can easily relieve this situation if each will help a little. It is con- servatively estimated that if every farmer in our state alone would raise one more calf it would bring an income in ten months of $6,976,- 200.00 to them and at the same time do a great service in the matter of food production. Add to this the increase of one more pig and one more sheep and this amount will be more than doubled. MEAT FAMINE. We recently received a letter from one in authority who stated that there was a likelihood of famine in meats and urged the adoption of most stringent measures to prevent such a condition. One of the bulletins sent out from the Department at Washington is authority for the statement that since the beginning of the war the European supply of cattle, sheep, and hogs has diminished 115,000,000 head and the depletion still goes on. It is estimated that it will take twenty-five years to replenish this loss. We should at this time and at all times deplore the sacrificing of animals half fatted, and the selling of females. We should encourage the breeding of these ani- mals for increased production. Since our government has pledged a fair and profitable price for all our increase of cattle, sheep, and hogs, there is no good and sufficient reason why we should not heed its appeal for greater meat production. PORK PRODUCTION. The following excerpts are taken from a letter written by Joseph Hirsch, Chairman of the Agricultural Commission of the American Bankers Association. This message was sent to us through our State Association. Many things he states in this letter about the produc- tion of hogs can be applied with emphasis to the production of cattle and sheep : "The U. S. Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Food Administration concur in the opinion that through pork production meat supplies can be in- creased faster and more profitably than in any other way. There should be a national increase in the number of sows bred this spring. One of the best ways in which national interest in pork production can be stimulated is by BANK PIC. CLU13S. It is our suggestion that you call attention of your mem- bership to the necessity for increased pork produc- tion and urge the organization of pig clubs in banks in your community. Also urge your members to cam- paign that more sows be bred, tell them to urge farmers to exercise every precaution to prevent dis- ease and to feed and care in the best possible way for all pigs produced." One of our large packers recently said: "Pork and pork products are almost as necessary to our fighting men as ammunition. Increas- ing the supply of pork is the big job for our American stockmen today." FARMERS' RESPONSIBILITY. In talking to your farmer friend you will find in many instances that he is prone to resent any suggestions regarding his business. He has some reason for this 'tis true. We know that his work is hard and that his hours arc long, and that disease and weather conditions can soon reduce his profits to a minimum, but he must realize that upon him rests the greatest responsibility and the greatest task that any man has ever known. President Wilson in his appeal to the farmers says: ,k At the present moment it is our plain duty to take adequate steps that not only our own people be fed, but that we may, if possible, answer the call for food of other nations now at war. In this greatest of human needs, I feel that the American farmer will do his part to the uttermost. By planting and increasing his produc- tion every way possible every farmer will perform a labor of patriot- ism for which he will be recognized as a soldier of the commissary, adding his share to the food supply of the people." If we can pre- vail on the farmer to raise a little more live stock and a few more acres of crops, and interest the boys and girls in pig clubs, calf clubs, and sheep clubs, we shall have accomplished much for their own good and at the same time we shall have done our country a valuable service. CALF, PIG, AND SHEEP CLUBS. We bankers can do a great work in encouraging the young people in the forming of the above clubs. This movement will be found profitable in many ways, and will form friendships between us and these young people that will eventually develop into a mutual busi- ness relationship helpful to both us and them. We must never lose sight of the fact that the boys of today are the business men of to- morrow. Information concerning these clubs can be obtained from the Extension Department of our Agricultural College or from the office of that splendid paper, THE BANKER-FARMER, published at Champaign, Illinois, by the Agricultural Commission of the Amer- ican Hankers Association. We wish every banker in our State would become a reader of this paper. It is your publication and it will broaden you in your work. TRYING TIMES FOR OUR NATION. Lastly, we must not forget these trying times for our Nation. We who can't fight must use our best efforts to produce, economize, and conserve. Men and women must do their full duty. We must realize that no sacrifice we can make can equal the one those brave boys are making. We must do everything we can to help and equip them during these strenuous days of their service. We are making this appeal for them. We must not forget that the morale of the soldiers in the fighting line is largely governed by the possible free- dom of their food supply. We are not sending this letter as alarmists, but in the earnest hope that wc will all be awake to our responsibility every minute of the day. Very respectfully yours, GEO. A. McCANSE, W. J. McGEE, J. E. SMITH. D'NEAN STAFFORD, F. B. BRADY. Chairman. Committee on Agricultural and Good Roads Development, MISSOURI BANKERS ASSOCIATION. Chillicothe, Missouri, January 15, 1918. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/appealforproductOOmiss