Using improved crop varieties is one of the quickest and most effective ways to step up yields. Here are the crop varieties recommended for 1955. Each is backed by long and painstaking experiments and research.

Hiring custom work and machinery is an important means of cutting machinery investment and cost on Iowa farms. It is particularly advantageous on farms without a large acreage over which to spread fixed costs.

For most Iowa farm families, 1955 promises to be another sort of in-between year-one of neither feast nor famine. It should be good compared with the late 30's but not as good as the late 40's.

The purpose of these sections is to keep you informed on what your agricultural experiment station is doing as well as to give you the results of research. This month's report features "home an family living" research.

Liming is the cornerstone for building sound soil fertility, conservation and management programs. At times liming can act as a "shot-gun" treatment, and returns are usually high for the money invested in it.