State government, as I have suggested, is to create the kind of cir-
cumstances in which the farmer can be most successful in what he
does. We are doing this in research, in the application of the find-
ings of research through our Extension Service and in the various
service and control programs in behalf of agriculture.

As the chief executive of the State, I have tried for the past seven
and a half years to bring about a greater prosperity for Maryland
farmers. By emphasizing agricultural research, and by giving ad-
ditional assistance to the farmers in such fields as water conservation,
disease and insect control, drainage, irrigation and a wide variety of
other services, I feel that we have been able to improve the condition
of the farmers of our State. The figures on that score are impressive,
to say the least. In 1959, my first year in office, the gross cash sales
from the farms of Maryland totaled $263 million. Last year that
figure had reached $321 million. Cash sales per commercial farm
over that seven-year span increased by about 40 per cent. Two pro-
ducts — broilers and milk — account for more than half of the gross
sales from our farms. The progress in these areas of production is
reflected in the corn yield. In 1959, the 413, 000 acres of com har-
vester yielded a total of 22. 5 million bushels, for an average of 54. 5
bushels an acre. In 1965, Maryland farmers produced in excess of
37 million bushels of corn from 501, 000 acres or a per-acre yield of
74 bushels. The gigantic strides that are being made in scientific
farming are evident in these figures, and in particular the figure on
yield per acre.

On the national scene, according to information I have received,
there is no longer the concern that there was only a few years ago over
farm surpluses, except perhaps for cotton and tobacco. The concern
now is producing enough farm products to supply the food needs of
the world. With the ghost of farm surpluses laid, and with the grow-
ing demand for more production to meet world needs, the future of
agriculture in the United State is bright. There is every reason for
us to hope and expect that Maryland will benefit from this trend.
And so, the opportunities for those of you who are going into farming
during the next few years look good indeed.

Now, I should like to say this before I conclude these remarks: I
am told that the Keep Maryland Beautiful Committee has asked
the cooperation of the Future Farmers of America in the distribution
of litter baskets. You know, as I said earlier, we are most fortunate in
the gifts the Creator bestowed upon our lovely State. It is our re-
sponsibility as good citizens to keep it beautiful. Any help that you

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