The 1956 spring pig crop for the United States is 8 percent smaller than the 1955 crop, according to USDA's June 1 estimate. The 1956 spring pig crop includes those pigs farrowed during the 6-months period of December 1955 through May 1956.

The "best" plan or organization for any farm depends on conditions as found, the resources available and what the operator wants to do. Research is providing some guides to use in deciding on the plan you want.

These sections, appearing monthly in Iowa Farm Science, are designed to keep you up to date on what your agricultural experiment station is doing and to give you the results of current research from Iowa State College.

Testing your soil is an important part of good soil management. An accurate soil test can best determine your soil's particular nutrient needs and result in reliable fertilizer recommendations.