---
title: Farming Problems in 1919
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/farming-problems-in-1919-1918/
description: A text broadsheet headed by a portrait photograph addresses 'the Farmers and the Agricultural Forces of the United States' over the Secretary
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Farming Problems in 1919

[![Farming Problems in 1919, 1918 US poster: A text broadsheet headed by a portrait photograph addresses 'the Farmers](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/farming-problems-in-1919-1918.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/farming-problems-in-1919-1918.jpg)

# Farming Problems in 1919

A text broadsheet headed by a portrait photograph addresses 'the Farmers and the Agricultural Forces of the United States' over the Secretary of Agriculture's printed signature and the Department's seal. It praises wartime production, says it is too early to set spring planting advice, and asks for more livestock and fats and for stronger farm organisations.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Farming Problems in 1919

To the Farmers and the Agricultural Forces of the United States:

DURING the period since we entered the war the farmers of the Nation have responded magnificently to the appeals for increased production, and all the people have complied with the urgent requests for fuller conservation. During this present fall season our farmers have planted an increased wheat acreage and a large acreage in rye. It is too early now to make detailed suggestions for the spring planting season. We do not know how the fall grains will come through the winter and we are not now able to forecast the demands and the conditions which will prevail after the first of the year.

This Department, the agricultural colleges and other organizations will continue to give definite thought to all the problems, and at the proper time will lay the situation before you.

Two things seem to be clear:

One is that for a considerable period the world will need particularly a larger supply than normal of live stock, and especially of fats. We should not fail, therefore, to adopt every feasible means of economically increasing our livestock products. As a part of our program we should give due thought to the securing of an adequate supply of feed stuffs and to the eradication and control of all forms of animal disease.

The other is the need of perfecting the organization of our agricultural agencies for the purpose of intelligently executing such a program as may seem wise. We should not only have the best possible organization and cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges, the State departments of agriculture and farmers' associations, but we should especially strengthen the local farm bureaus and other organizations which support so effectively the extension forces and assist them in their activities. The perfecting of this organization is highly desirable not only during the continuance of the present abnormal conditions but also for the future. The local as well as the State and Federal agencies are of supreme importance to the Nation in all its activities designed to make rural life more profitable, healthful and attractive, and, therefore, to secure adequate economic production, efficient distribution and necessary conservation.

The main purpose of this appeal is to direct attention to the necessity of continuing our state of preparedness and of strengthening the foundations of our agriculture.

[signature: D. F. Houston]
Secretary of Agriculture.

November 13, 1918.
```

The portrait photograph at upper left is not captioned. The Department of Agriculture seal sits at lower left.

[← Faith in Canada: use it all for Victory Bonds (Canada, 1918)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/faith-in-canada-victory-bonds-1918/) [Feed a Fighter: Eat Only What You Need, Waste Nothing, That He and His Family May Have Enough →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/feed-a-fighter-1918/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account.
- [Tomb of Darius I at Naqsh-e Rustam: the king in relief beside his inscription DNa, c. 490 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dna-inscription-darius-i-naqsh-e-rustam-490bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Testimonial, Card stacking)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Seljuq gold dinar of Sanjar, dated 493 AH, with the Abbasid caliph named on one face](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/seljuq-gold-dinar-sanjar-caliph-name-1099/) (Great Seljuk Empire · 1099 · Testimonial)
- [Estoire d'Eracles page with Bernard of Clairvaux preaching the Second Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 180v)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-bernard-preaching-second-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial)
- [Opening page of the Estoire d'Eracles (William of Tyre in French), with the Crucifixion and Pope Urban II preaching the First Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 1r)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-urban-ii-preaching-first-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial, Transfer)