（７）大地とともに　With the earth

With the earth

It took about 10 years for proceeding cultivation and stabilizing the crop yield. Crops were selected to be highly cashable, and were rapeseed and wheat at the beginning of cultivation. After World War I, bean fields were expanded due to bean boom. Fields of potatoes for starch processing and military oats were expanded as well. In addition, people’s passion for rice cultivation overcame the difficulties of climate, and created paddy fields in the land of north.
Teshio Agricultural Experiment Station was established in 1916. It encouraged people living with the land, and leaded into agricultural and dairy mixed style of farming in searching for suitable agriculture for this land.

大地とともに

開墾が進んで農作物の収穫が安定するまで、10年あまりの歳月を必要とした。作物は、少しでも換金性の高いものが選ばれ、開拓当初は菜種、麦類であった。第一次世界大戦後は、豆ブームによる豆類、澱粉加工用の馬鈴薯や軍用燕麦の畑が広がった。また、米作りへの熱い思いは、気候風土の困難をのりこえ、朔北の大地に水田をつくりあげた。
大正5年の庁立天塩農事試作場の開設は、大地とともに生きる人々を勇気づけ、この地に適した農業を探る中から、農牧混同農業への道を開いた。