A digest of the annual report of the Barberry Eradication Campaign in South Dakota, 1927 /

Abstract

Black stem rust is the worst enemy of the grain grower in the Northwest. It is the biggest hazard that the producer of cereal grains faces in his efforts to harvest a profitable crop. During the last ten years its yearly toll in South Dakota alone has averaged almost 9,000,000 bushels of grain. Barberry eradication has been found to be an effective means of reducing these excessive stem-rust losses. This project was started in South Dakota in April, 1918. Since that time the task of finding and destroying this harmful bush has continued as rapidly as possible with the time and funds available. The results of this campaign are highly gratifying to those who understand the campaign and have followed it. Every year from 1918 to 1927 the total number of bushes found and destroyed has increased until 131,725 barberries, large and small, have been destroyed on 1,244 properties in South Dakota. The willingness of the property owners and the support of the citizens and organizations within the State have made these results possible. The barberry eradication campaign in South Dakota is directed by a State Leader, under the supervision of the Office of Cereal Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., in cooperation with the South Dakota State College, the State Department of Agriculture, and other State and civic organic zations. The Conference for the Prevention of Grain Rust, Minneapolis, composed of representatives of agricultural and allied interests, cooperates closely with the campaign. In certain years losses have been much higher. In 1916 the average loss per farm was approximately $800. Three types of survey have been used in finding barberries. These are the first or preliminary survey, the second survey, and the resurvey.