RADIO FARM SERVICE

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 2, 29 July 1927, Page 13

RADIO FARM SERVICE

EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA | While the total number of listeningin sets in New Zealand ds about 20,000, mostly in the towns, it comes as a startling comparison to learn that in the United States no fewer than 1,252,126 farms are equipped with radio receiving sets. The increase to May was remarkable, being 120 per cent. in less than two years. It is quite evident that American’ farmers are fully alive to the advantages of a_ radio broadcasting service. With a view to ascertaining the needs of farmers and their ideas for improving the service a questionnaire was sent to 10,000 radio owners, An analysis of the replies shows that American farmers, by nearly two to one, prefer radio talk to Tnusic and a very strong dislike for jazz is expressed. In music they want old-time tumes and classical music. Aside from educational farm programmes, weather and market reports, political talks are evidently popular and more current news pro grammes are in demand | Farmers are not using the radio merely for entertainment. The day’s work is now planned according to the weather forecasts sent out by the weather bureau and received by radio much more quickly thar was formerly possible. Market reports are eagerly followed and numbers of farmers report definite savings in dollars and cents as a result of this service Not only that, but hundreds of the reports from farmers cite instances where the educational programmes prepared by the radio service and broadcast | through nearly 100 commercial and State College stations, have been promptly applied to the immediate advantage of the individual radio user. Many stockmen report larger and more profitable pig crops as a result of the adoption of better practices outlined by radio Othets claim that information from these radio programmes has enabled them to gct their poultry a

projects on a sound financial basis. Still others report thriftier livestock and improved marketing practices as a direct result of their recent radio schooling. More cotton on tewer acres, better food in the home, and more eggs from the chickens are listed among the benefits received. These farm listeners, however, have very definite ideas about how they want the programmes presented. In reply to one question, ‘Do you prefer lectures to be given by ati announcer, who can be clearly understood, rather than by the authorities themselves?" the answers were more thau four to one in favour of the trained gnnouncer. Asked to indicate how they preferred farm information presented, 3148 farmers voted for some form of dialogue style, as against 1497 who indicated a preference for the straight lecture form. Among the suggestions for improving service were: Select speakers with good broadcasting voices; train broadeasters on delivery; make talks short and to the point; schedule talks often enough and regularly enongh for folks to get the habit of listening; anject enough atmosphere or entertainment into educational programmes to avoid their becoming dull; and prepare talks in simple and every-day terms.

Practically all phases of farm life ‘were touched on. Among the radio programmes requested were those dealing with: the most economical way of preparing hogs for market, clover as a soil builder; improvement of country reads; the control of insects and rodents; marketine pork, beef and grain: teeding the dairy cow; spraying and orchard care; treating tence posts; raising colts; making charcoal; the production and harvesting of leeume hay; utilisation of soft timber for farm buildings; seneral farm management; the farm labour problem; and fox farming. One farmer asked for information on whether to sell or not to sell the farm. As the result of the lectures there -has been a great demand for literature | mentioned in the addresses.

An enthusiastic listener-in, whose home, fortunately, occupies an elevated site at Fsland Bay. Wellington, takes a delight in demonstrating to his friends the fact that broadcast sound reaches the distant listener actually before it is heard in the immetliate vicinity of its origin. This: fact, it will be remembered, was stressed by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister, in his speech on the occasion of the opening of 2YA. The Island Bay man’s demonstration is simple, but convincing. 5 He leaves the window open when the chimes of the Post Office clock are to peal forth. "Fime after time," he says, "my friends have been astonished to hear the distant stroke of the clock after it has been much more clearly heard per medium of my loudspeaker."