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Newspaper
The Mellette County Pioneer
Location
Wood, South Dakota, United States of America
Date
Jun 22, 1923
Page
1
The State college at Brookings distributed a special article to press outlets detailing Mellette county alfalfa tour. The story appeared in the state daily and several weekly papers last week, highlighting the event and its regional reach.
Mellette county farmers and businessmen announce the first alfalfa tour in the state on June 26 and 27. Editor Fred C. Sirch and County Agent Rudolf organize visits to fields east and west, with speakers Nick Casper Ralph E. Johnson W. C. Allen and W. J. Arnold. The event aims to boost hay seed acreage and livestock production through practical culture methods and demonstrations.
Letters from farmers describe sowing alfalfa since 1916, expanding acreage to 75 acres with 40 acres of sweet clover, and cutting oats for hay before they ripen. They claim alfalfa yields exceed native soil crops, seed crops prove profitable, and neighbors consider an alfalfa tour valuable for the county.
Letters from FE G Rudolph of White River South Dakota and Carter South Dakota discuss alfalfa planting methods on bottom land and new seedings. Rudolph notes best stands occur when alfalfa follows three years of corn with good cultivation, while Carter details seeding depths timing and the value of alfalfa for hogs and feed costs from cattle.
The Danker cattle ranch just north of Wood, formerly A K Wood ranch, shows alfalfa origins in 1910 with a ten acre field, now sixty acres of alfalfa. P F Danker owns it, adding land under cultivation. 140 acres newly broken this year. Mr Brown operates the ranch preparing 315 acres of corn and other crops.
The Alfalfa Tourist itinerary covers June 26 8 00 am start at Wood with visits to S A Hill farm Danker ranch Cody Sinning farm and Butterfield ranch plus meetings and a lawn supper with speakers. June 27 starts 7 30 am at White River visits Cedarbutte Alex Peterson Chas Smith Albert Arp and Frank Day ranches ending with an acre orchard giveaway by Humphrey Nurseries to a Farm Bureau member.
A roster of speakers for the alfalfa tour includes Nick Casper president of the Western South Dakota Alfalfa Seed Growers Association in Rapid City. Ralph Johnson agronomist in Brookings. W. J. Kennedy animal husbandry in Ames. W. J. Arnold secretary in Sioux Falls. Sunshine Specialist W. C. Allen editor of Dakota Farmer. Irwin D. Aldrich immigration commissioner in Pierre. W. H. Jones railroad agent in Omaha. J. H. C. Muckler of the Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul R R. a state college rep with motion picture gear. International Harvester rep. White River Cowboy Band. Chris Anders Ford representative in Mellette county. caution to keep cars in line and 100 feet apart. safety first and drinking cups requested for all participants.
On June 27 an alfalfa tour banquet will be hosted by White River boosters to spark interest in alfalfa seed and hay acreages. The tour, first of its kind in South Dakota, aims to strengthen cooperation between business people and farmers to make Mellette County a leading alfalfa dairy and livestock region. Subscribe for the Pioneer and consider advertising.
County agent circulated letters asking for experiences in planting alfalfa. The editor urges readers to share methods for seed bed preparation planting rates usage per acre harvests and alfalfa values to encourage more letters and practical tips.
The writer explains preparing soil by plowing five to six inches then disking and dragging for a firm seedbed with a dust mulch. Seeding uses a 7 foot grass drill at about ten pounds per acre, half inch deep, with no nurse crop and no weed clipping to avoid sunburn. Weeds are said to protect the alfalfa in summer and winter. (Continued on page 5)
The Pioneer reports Ford ahead of Harding with more than 5,000 ballots counted in the initial week of nationwide presidential voting trials. The test centers recorded strong turnout and early results shaping early momentum for the candidates.
Early returns from fourteen states in the Pioneer national Presidential Voting Test show Henry Ford leading with 16,788 votes. Governor Al Smith of New York trails Harding but runs second to Ford with 14,456 in the first week of voting from small towns and rural areas.
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