[U.S. Government Campaign to Promote the Production, Sharing, and Proper Use of Food. Book II, Campaign to Promote the Food Production Goals for 1943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
U. S. GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN
TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION, SHARING,
AND / PER USE OF FOOD
BOOK nü
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE
FOOD PRODUCTION GOALS FOR 1943
Prepared by the
U. S Department of Agriculture In Cooperation with the Bureau of Campaigns Office of War Information
I. THE PROBLEM
Food, in a World at War
Food must be available to accompany every new striking force launched by the United Nations as well as to maintain those already in action. Food must be available to keep the home fronts strong. Food must be available for the peoples set free to help them add their strength to the fight against the Axis.
Food is a weapon of war and it is the policy of our government to use this weapon to shorten the war, thus saving the lives of thousands of our own sons, brothers, and husbands in uniform as well as the lives of thousands of people of other nations who are our friends. They will join the fight as the United Nations reoccupy lands now held by Hitler.
A hungry army has two strikes against it. So we must make sure that our armed forces get the amounts and kinds of food they need for the job they have to do.••.indeed not only our armed forces, but those of our fighting allies as well I
But the role of food in total war doesn(t stop there. The fellow at the lathe, the woman in the airplane factory, the housewife in the home, the children who must hold and improve in peacetime our gains toward a better world in the coming decades.•• .these, too, need the proper amounts and. kinds of food. The worker needs it to be on top of his job....to have the fewest days off for illness, to have the fewest accidents from abnormal fatigue, to be able to put the highest possible quality of workmanship into every hour spent in the factory and to have high morale.
And this goes not only for American workers.•• .but for the Englishman in Birmingham, the Russian in Magnitogorsk. They, too, need food to keep our united battle for production going at full tilt against the Axis. American food shipped to Russia is used almost entirely by the military forces but that helps to make more food available for the Russian workers behind the battle lines.
Food stores must be accumulated many months in advance of a military campaign. As the size of our armed forces and the length of our battle lines increases the demand for food grows greater for immediate and for future use.
Stockpiles of food must be accumulated to follow up the United Nations1 armies of invasion. Food from America is helping to build more power in Africa to turn against the Axis. Millions of people in Europe, stripped of their food supplies by Hitler, look to the day when they can be liberated to help fight the Axis, but they will need food to do it. Hitler uses starvation and looting as a weapon of conquest. The United Nations1 strategy calls for the use of food to build ever-increasing power against the Axis.
Many civilians in this country, for the first time in years, have the purchasing power to buy the kinds and amounts of food they need. They need this food more than ever now for top-notch health and energy to do their part to win the war on the production front.
In 1936 the diets of more than a third of our families were obviously in
- 2 -
need, of improvement according to a nation-wide survey made by Dr. Hazel K. Stiebeling of the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Home Economics. The diets of 45 percent of the workers* families were Mfair,M and 26 percent were “poor.*1 Now this situation is changing and it means greater demand for food. In 1935-36» according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 53 percent of the nation’s families had incomes of $1,000 or less per year. The number in this low-income class dropped to 32 percent in 1942.
There has been a large increase in the group receiving an annual income of $2,000 or more. In 1935—36 only 16 percent were in this class. In the first 3 months of 19^2 the number in this class had increased to 39 percent.
It all adds up to the greatest demand for food the world has ever seen.
The Part of U. S. Farmers in United Nations Food Strategy
The greater part of the responsibility for production of food for shipment to the other United Nations rests with farmers of the United States. They have the greatest resources for food production and the best geographical location for shipment to the fighting fronts of the world. Farm production in the United States is an essential part of war production for the United Nations.
Shipping capacity is gaining on production capacity. Dehydration of foods is adding the equivalent of extra ships by reducing the space required for transportation of food. The foods produced can and will be transported to the areas all over the world where they are needed.
Military and lend-lease buying is expected to take a fourth of our total food production in 19^3» as compared with 13 percent in 19^2 and 4 percent in
This is the situation into which the 19^3 farm production goals have been fitted. The goals are scaled to hard necessity, taking into account increased demand and, at the same time, limited labor, machinery, and supplies, and limited transportation.
The 1943 goals call for increased production of many essential commodities and the requirements for these essentials must be met. To meet these requirements will take extensive shifts of land, labor, and equipment from non-essential to essential production. There will not be enough labor, materials, and equipment fully to meet all demands. Farmers must share in the nation* s total resources of manpower and materials. This sharing is part of the total job of making the nation’s resources contribute the most toward victory.
Total crop acreage has reached the limit that is practical with the labor, machinery, fertilizers, and other productive resources available. In 19^2 weather was almost universally good for crop production throughout the United States and crop yields per acre averaged 12 percent above all former records. If yields in 1943 should be about the average of the 5 years, 1937-19^1» Instead of abnormally good as in 1942, about 11 percent less production would be obtained from the same crop acreage as in 1942.
The 1943 goals call for a 12 percent increase in production of livestock
- 3 -
products and the same total crop acreage as in 1942» The shifts in crop pro-* duction in 1943 will be more important than total crop acreage. The most important changes from 1942 represented by the goals for 1943 are these: More meat and milk, more poultry and eggs, more of the vegetables high in food value and less of those low in food value in relation to volume; more corn; more peanuts for food and oil; more long-staple cotton and less short-staple; more potatoes, and more dry beans and peas.
To do this job, the nation’s farms, like the nation's factories, must convert completely to war production. Here the Department of Agriculture's longtime program of stabilization and development of our agricultural resources stands us in good stead today — for it has helped to make this nation the greatest food producing country in the world — enabled us to meet the food demands of total war and still keep our own people better fed than those of any of our allies or of our enemies.
Farmers were ready for a greater task when war broke out in 1939. With improved land through soil conservation and with great stores of grain in reserve that could quickly be turned into meat and milk and eggs, farmers were ready to increase production quickly. They established a new food production record in 1940, bettered that record in 1941, and broke the 1941 record in 1942. But in spite of three years of record production in succession and a fourth new record called for in the 1943 goals, demands on U. S. food supplies have increased even more rapidly than production. The nation will need the help of everyone who can lend a hand in food production. Planting a Victory Garden for home food production will be one of the best ways for most town and city families to help. The needs for 1943 are so great that every food production Resource must be mobilized to meet the demand.
II. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM TO INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION
Everywhere United Nations fighters are found, the food supplies are United Nations supplies. United Nations food production is going where it will do the most good toward winning the war — from the best source of supply to the place where it is needed most and can be transported most quickly and efficiently. Australian food, especially meat, helps to feed American forces in the South Pacific. The victorious British Eighth Army and the First Army in Africa, like our own troops there, are supplied with dried eggs, dried milk, canned pork, concentrated orange juice, cheese, and other foods from U. S. farms. Wheat and meat and eggs from Canada join the United Nations food supplies in Britain.
A worldwide operation such as is involved in supplying the food for the United Nations war operations requires organization and planning. The people of each nation cannot go on blindly turning out what they have been accustomed to turning out. The customary production may or may not fit the war needs of the United Nations. Food is too important as a weapon to allow chance to dictate its supply.
Hence the United Nations have been planning ahead for food supply just as for munitions supply and military operations. England has increased acreage of crops by 50 percent since 1939 and the goals for 1943 call for a 10 percent increase over 1942. The planning of this year's production goals
- U -
for the United States started with the deliberations of the Combined Food Board of the United States and the United Kingdom. On this Board Secretary Claude B. Wickard represents the United States, Mr, B. H. Brand of the British Supply Council, the United Kingdom. On sub-committees of the Board, the various United Nations are represented in accordance with their food supply problems.
This Board has charted the needs of the various nations, and made arrangements to supply these needs with the minimum possible use of shipping facilities. Shipping has been the bottleneck in the job of supplying food to the United Nations. The aim of the planning around the globe is to produce just as closely as possible to the point where the food is to be used, and to get the food shipped in the most condensed form so as to save shipping space.
The Combined Food Board thus determines what are the needs of the United Nations for U. S. food. Then these needs are reported to the Secretary of Agriculture. Then the Secretary’s advisory committee on food requirements adds in our own needs for army, navy, and civilian population, and arrives at the total requirements for food production, processing, and distribution by this nation. The Secretary* s Committee represents all the U. S. Government agencies concerned with food — Army, Navy, Agriculture, State Department, Lend-Lease, Board of Economic Warfare, War Production Board, and Office of Price Administration.
And so the goals for food and other farm production in the United States have been set as part of the total strategy of the United Nations.
Aiding the Parmer to Beach the Goals
Jour major problems will affect farmers’ production plans for 19U3 and the plans of the Government for helping farmers to meet their goals.
Working in conjunction with other agencies of Government, the Department of Agriculture has worked out a comprehensive farm labor program which includes draft deferment; the recruiting, training, and placing of underemployed farm workers on more productive farms; transportation of seasonal labor; and mobilization of local labor for emergency harvest work.
The farm transportation program of the Department operates through State USDA War Boards and Farm Transportation Committees in every county. These committees are developing rural truck transportation conservation programs and handling mileage allowance appeals for farm trucks which are required to have Certificates of War Necessity.
The farm equipment and supplies program operates through State and County USDA War Boards to provide assistance to farmers with their problems resulting from shortages of critical farm production equipment and supplies. This work includes responsibility for rationing of farm machinery and certification of applications for scarce materials.
III. OBJECTIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN
The first objective of the 19^3 Food for Freedom campaign is to get farmers to fill out with their community committeemen farm plans and farm work
- 5 -
sheets. The plans will set individual goals. The inventories will reveal the resources of each farm for meeting the goals, and the specific needs for aid from neighbors, government agencies, and private agencies in order to help meet the goals. After the plans and work sheets are filled out comes the follow through on the job of production. This will require thorough understanding on the part of farmers of the importance of food as an implement of war and the necessity of meeting the production goals to assure unhampered progress of the war program.
Farmers are being asked to turn out the greatest production of all time and they will have a tight supply of labor and equipment and materials to do it with. An important factor in the goals campaign in 19^3» therefore, will be to give farmers the recognition they deserve and the encouragement they need. It will be important to the morale of farmers to tell the public generally the facts about the amazing job farmers are doing and the importance of the work farmers have done in their national farm program as a basis for the tremendous increases in production which they are now able to turn out.
A third objective of the campaign is to bring about a thorough understanding on the part of the public generally that the United States must supply large amounts of food to the United Nations to insure victory and that everything possible is being done to assure adequate civilian food supplies. As has been pointed out by Secretary Wickard, Americans will continue to be the best fed people in the world. But civilians must understand the wartime necessity of overall management of food supplies and the importance of adjustment of civilian diet and eating habits to supply situations that change rapidly with war demands. Consumers should understand that it will be necessary to mobilize all of the nation1s food production resources to meet war needs and that anything they can do to help in production and in harvesting where labor shortages develop will be important.
IV. SPECIFIC STRATEGY, CAMPAIGN ANGLES
1. Putting Farming on the Front Line
“Food is Ammunition** and other catch-phrases are worn-out and meaningless to many people. They need new significance. Food and fighting seem poles apart. Far removed from the excitement, danger, and destruction of war, the people need a powerful stimulus to connect peaceful acres with a shell-torn battlefield — even to associate the farm tractor with its offspring the tank.
To show U. S. food as a front-line combatant is the fundamental job.
Remind Americans that the farmer keeps our fighting men what they are today — the best fed soldiers on earth. The health and strength of our fighting men, as far as these qualities depend on food, are in his keeping.
Tell the people that of the food we send to Russia practically all goes to Russian soldiers, who, as Elmer Davis said “have killed more Germans than everybody else put together....Every German who is killed by a Russian is a German whom we won’t have to kill or, for that matter, a German who will never have a chance to kill American soldiers.**
- 6 -
Tell the people how U. S. food captured a fort In North Africa to win a bloodless battle and save American Ilves. Here Is the story: American soldiers approach a french fort. An American officer demands surrender. The french officer refuses. Then American soldiers roll back the canvas cover of a truck, revealing a cargo of food. The french capitulate. Not a shot fired — not a life lost, food instead of bullets I American lives saved!
2. The farmer Needs a Build-up
The public needs to know of the war importance of the farmer’s job. The farm part in the war is inspiring:
(a) An American farmer (Secretary Wickard) represents the United States on the United Nations’ Combined food Board. Through Secretary Wickard, who is in charge of the federal Government’s wartime food program, every farmer is represented at the meetings where the United Nations’ food strategy is planned.
(b) If there were Army and Navy ME’s” for farm production the farmer would have won it three years running. When the war broke in 1939, American farmers were ready. With land Improved by soil conservation — with foresighted stores of grain in reserve that could quickly be turned into meat, eggs, milk — farmers were all set to go into high gear quickly. They established a new food production record in 19UO, bettered that in 19U1, and broke the 19^-1 record in 19^-2. for 19^+3 they are asked to set a new record. They will be proud to accept the challenge and the eyes of the world are on them.
(c) farmers have already shown how quickly they are capable of mobilizing. When the Japs took over a large part of the far East, they cut off an important U. S. source of vegetable oils. American farmers were asked to Increase their oil crops (soybeans, peanuts, flax). On short notice they jumped their production more than enough to offset the billion pound loss.
(d) food, the farmer’s war product, has equal priority rating with tank&, airplanes, guns on some United Nations’ shipping schedules. (When a poster portraying war uroduction Is drawn, the farmer should be given his due. He should be visualized shoulder to shoulder with the other war workers.)
(e) Because he is way ahead of the rest of the world in methods, the American farmer has greater resources for food production. He has the most strategic location for supplying the war fronts with food. Therefore, the American farmer has to do a big share of the United Nations’ feeding job.
3» Why Are New food Production Records Necessary?
The greatest single reasons is — to keep our soldiers fighting. Soldiers eat more — twice as many calories and twice as many proteins, on the average, per day as they did in sedentary civilian life.
- 7 -
One-fourth of our entire 19^3 food, production will go to our soldiers and sailors and to our fighting Allies.
The United Nations1 plan for victory calls for a series of giant offensive blows. ’’When” they will strike may depend a great deal upon how soon sufficient food supplies are ready. Bight now the army is building up stockpiles of “food for future offensives.“
So here1 s a thought you can put into the farmer1 s head as he travels up and down his field:
”... Speed, speed, one more row before I quit. The next big Allied offensive is getting up steam. They need this food. The quicker I do my part, the quicker the boys will be on their way deeper into the enemy territory.“
U. Why Pan1t Our Allies Feed Their Own Troops?
Answer this by explaining how the capture of the Ukraine, Russia1s richest food-producing territory, caused a food shortage, just as the capture of the Dutch last Indies by the Japs affected our rubber and tin supply. The Russians could move their factories back of the Ural Mountains, but they couldn’t move the Ukraine. The public will understand this direct cause-and-effect reasoning.
Tell them that England has been making heroic efforts to feed herself — has increased her crop acreage by 5°^ and has set 19^3 food goals calling for a 10^ increase over 19^2. Ordinarily, a food-importing nation, England depended upon Europe, Canada, South America, and Australia for supply. Today Europe is under Hitler. Canada is sending all she can — probably a greater proportion of her output than we are. And South America and Australia are two to three times as far from Europe as the U. S. Ship shortages call for the quickest transportation possible. Our central location to world fighting fronts means we must do a big share of the job. But it works both ways, too. Australia is helping to feed our soldiers and sailors in that part of the Pacific. British perishables provision our troops over there and save shipping.
5« Why Should X Change to War Crops?
In the “Goals” program the shifts in crop production will tell the story of whether or not the goals can be met. Total acreage cannot be greatly increased.
The farmer is in much the same position as the automobile manufacturer was in 19^0. The Allies1 strategy board had taken an inventory of what was needed to stop Hitler. It totaled up to thousands of planes and tanks. There was only one solution. The American automobile maker was in a position to do the job better than anyone else in the world. But a shift was imperative. So came the epic upheaval and conversion of an industry that has had such remarkable success.
Today the United Nations' strategy board has taken stock of the food situation in the same way. It's not a question of halting Hitler but of licking him and his partners. And a prime need is for certain foods in tremendous
511535 0 - 43 -2
- 8 -
quantities. This time it's the American farmer who is best qualified, to do the job though it means another drastic conversion — extensive shifts of land, labor, and equipment from nonessential to essential production.
It calls for increasing production of fighting foods — proteins for stamina, vegetables high in mineral and vitamin content, foods that can be concentrated to ship compactly. (See Appendix A for shifts in production needed.)
6. Government Backs the Farmer Every Step of the Way
(a) To meet the 19^-3 goals the Department of Agriculture, working with other government agencies, has set up a labor program including draft deferment; recruiting, training, and placing of under-employed farm workers on more productive farms; transportation of seasonal labor; and mobilization of local labor for emergency harvest work. (See Appendix B.)
(b) Price Supports and Credit Assistance. The farmer can expand production to the limit, assured of adequate credit, price protection, and fair returns.
(c) Keeping Farm Trucks Rolling. County Farm Transportation Committees are actively cooperating with farmers and commercial haulers of farm produce to help keep a million and a half trucks rolling.
(d) Equipment and Supplies. Working through State and County USDA War Boards, the Department of Agriculture will assist farmers in meeting problems resulting from shortages of machinery, fencing, welding rod, fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides, packing supplies, construction materials. (See Appendix B.)
V. TIMING OF CAMPAIGN •
Note: For more detailed information, see Appendix C — The Administrative Job of the Department of Agriculture in the 19^3 Farm Mobilization.
January 12 — Opening of campaign. Farmers gather in county or community Farm Mobilization Day meetings for explanations of the goals and plans for complete mobilization of the resources of farmers and Government to meet the goals.
January 12 — Mobilization phase. Community AAA Committeemen and their to assistants, working under the supervision of County USDA
March 1 War Boards go into action to get sign-up on every farm.
This period will include arrangements by Government agencies represented on War Boards for services needed by farmers to meet goals — assistance in obtaining credit, labor, equipment, and materials.
March 1 — Follow-up phase. Information and assistance with production
through problems.
harvest
- 9 -
APPENDIX «AM
1943 FARM PRODUCTION GOALS
MW ANIMALS
Goals for meat in 1943 (beef, veal, lamb, mutton, and. pork) call for 25.7 billion pounds of meat, nearly 50 percent more than the 1936-40 average. Even this level of production, after providing for military and lend-lease needs, will not supply as much as civilians would like to buy.
Hoge. The goal for pork and lard will require a slaughter of 100 million hogs, weighing on the average, 10 pounds more than hogs marketed in 1942. Achievement of this goal will supply 13.8 billion pounds of pork and 3.4 billion pounds of lard.
Cattle and Calves. The goal for beef and veal calls for an output of 9,730,000,000 pounds of beef from a slaughter of 20.1 million head of cattle, and 1,130,000,000 pounds of veal from a slaughter of 10.3 million head of calves. The objective of this goal is maximum output of beef and veal in 1943 and in subsequent years. Achievement of this goal will require a slaughter of 9 percent more cattle and calves than is estimated for 1942.
Sheep and Lambs. The national goal for lamb and mutton calls for outwit of 990 million pounds from the slaughter of 24.1 million head of sheep and lambs.
Achievement of the goal will require some reduction in numbers of sheep and lambs on farms as of January 1, 1944, as compared to 1943.
MILK
The 1943 goal of 122 billion pounds of milk, although less than the goal of 125 billion pounds in 1942 is 2 percent above estimated production for 1942. It appears to be about as high as can be achieved, although demand will be far in excess of the goal. It will lack about 15 billion pounds of the quantity needed to maintain the 1942 per capita level of civilian consumption.
The need is so great that every emphasis must be given to maintaining dairy production and increasing it wherever possible. An increase of about 2 percent in the number of dairy cows is expected and in many areas it would be possible to increase production per cow with heavier feeding.
EGGS AND POULTRY
The egg production goal of 4,730,000,000 dozen will require an increase of 9 percent over estimated 1942 production. In addition, the goal for chickens for meat of 4 billion pounds is 2S percent over the high production of 1942. The goal for turkey slau^iter is 15 percent higher than in 194-2.
Even with a 9 percent increase in production, the requirements for military forces and lend-lease will be so greatly increased that the quantity available for civilian consumption will be no greater than in 1942.
- 10 -
FEED GRAINS AND HAY
Total national acreage goals for the four principal feed grains—corn, oats, barley, and grain sorghum—for 19U3 exceed the 19^2 goal by more than 2 million acres. The goal for corn of 95 million acres is U percent above the 19^2 planted acreage, and for grain sorghum 20 percent more than the 19U2 goal.
The 19^3 goals for feed grains were established at a level intended to enable next year1s goal level of livestock production to be continued and probably increased in 19^. Although 19^2 grain production was the largest on record, if average yields are assumed for 19^3» feed grain reserves would be reduced considerably following the 19^3 feeding season.
In most areas a greater quantity of meat can be obtained per acre of land and per unit of labor from corn than from any other crop. An increase in the acreage of grain sorghum is needed for expansion of livestock production in the Great Plains area and as a substitute crop for wheat. A reduction in the acreage of oats is needed to permit expansion of corn acreage and leave enough acreage for soybeans in the Corn Belt.
HEMP
The hemp program calls for 200,000 acres for fiber and 50,000 acres for seed. This will require a thirteen-fold increase in acreage for fiber and an increase of about one-third in the acreage for seed.
Because war in the Pacific has curtailed supplies of manila and sisal fiber, hemp production has become essential in this country to relieve the threatened shortage of rope and twine for military and essential civilian purposes.
RICS
The 19^3 goal for rice is 5 percent greater than the 19^2 goal but 7 percent less than 19^2 planted acreage. Rice production is limited by the fact that some land used for rice production in 19^2 would not be available for growing rice in 19^3 and ^7 the fact that the area suitable for rice production is limited. However, rice producers are urged to seed as large an acreage as possible.
Rice produced in the United States is now needed in the Caribbean area which formerly secured large quantities from the South Pacific area. With this supply cut off, the United States is the chief source for the Caribbean area. With a crop of 66.8 million bushels called for in the 19^3 goal, needs could be met reasonably well.
OIL CROPS
The increase in the acreage of soybeans, peanuts, and flaxseed for oil in 19^2 was sufficient to offset the loss of oil imports. The goads for these crops for 19^3 are intended to maintain the fats and oils supply. Maintenance of adequate supplies of vegetable oils is vital chiefly because of their importance to food supplies in the manufacture of margarine, shortening, and salad oils.
Soybeans. The goal of 12 million acres for soybeans is 12 percent more than estimated 19^2 acreage harvested for beans and 3 million acres higher than the
- 11 -
1942 goal.
To achieve this goal and at the seme time increase corn acreage will require that farmers in the Corn Belt make substantial reduction in the acreage of oats. In the Southern States, crushing facilities are available for more soybeans and further increase in acreage can be made in the areas where satisfactory yields of oil varieties can be obtained.
Peanuts. The peanut acreage goal of 5i million acres, picked and threshed, is 49 percent over the estimated 1942 acreage. If the goal for 194? is to be achieved, substitution for other crops, particularly short-staple cotton, will be necessary. Considerable increase in acreage is called for in the newer producing areas. Peanuts can be substituted for cotton in some of the low-yielding, short-staple areas, but in most of the older peanut producing areas the shift to peanuts has already reduced feed crops nearly to a minimum. In areas of the Southeast where peanuts have been used largely for hog feeding, a moderate increase in acreage is requested. The Largest increases are called for in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas where conditions are suitable for expansion.
Flaxseed. The goal of 5^ million acres for flaxseed is 18 percent greater than 1942 planted acreage. Some expansion in acreage is expected in the flax areas of California, Texas, and Arizona. Flax acreage might be increased in eastern Kansas and Oklahoma and might replace oats to a limited extent in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.
DRY BEANS
The 1943 goal for dry beans, calling for a 55 percent increase over 1942 planted acreage, will require the planting of 3»3OO,OOO acres, an all-time high. To reach this goal special emphasis will be required in all areas suitable for bean production. Military and lend-lease requirements for beans are high and more will be needed for civilian consumption as a source of protein.
DRY PEAS
The goal of 725,000 acres for dry peas will require a 45 percent increase over the estimated 1§42 planted acreage. Plantings fell short of the goal in 1942 but the request for a big increase in acreage was not made early enough to permit the necessary adjustment in cropping programs. Dry peas, like dry beans, are a desirable source of protein and military, lend-lease, and civilian requirements will be high.
SUGAR
The sugar beet goal for 1943 is the same as for 1942 and almost the same as the all-time high planted acreage of 1942. Acreage of sugar beets cannot well be increased above 1942 acreage. Beets compete with other highly essential food crops such as potatoes and beans. Labor requirements are high for sugar beets and in some areas 1942 plantings represented maximum capacity for processing plants.
The 1943 goal for sugarcane is 3 percent higher than the 1942 acreage. On
- 12 -
the basis of normal yields, production from the acreage called for in the 19^3 goal would utilize to capacity practically all of the available processing capacity.
POTATOES
The 1943 goal for potatoes is 17 percent higher than the estimated 19^2 acreage. If the 19^3 goal acreage is achieved it will be 5 percent higher than the average for the 5 years, 1936-^0. Civilian requirements are expected to be higher and potatoes are being dehydrated in large amounts for military use.
SWEETPOTATOES
The goal for sweetpotatoes is 1,000,000 acres—Ul percent above the estimated 19^2 acreage.
VEGETABLES
Fresh Vegetables. The goal for all commercial truck: crops for fresh marketing in 19^3 is one percent less than the acreage in 19^2. If yields are normal, rather than abnormally good as in 19^2, total tonnage of fresh vegetables from 19^3 acreage would be only about 93 percent of the total reported in 19^2 but would be about the same as the average for the period 1936-^0»
The total of 1.7 million acres provided for in the 19^3 goal is largely made up of the 21 most important commercial vegetables, not including potatoes and sweetpotatoes. The goals provided for increases in some types of vegetables and decreases in others. The changes are based largely on nutritive value and requirements for labor and shipping space.
The goals call for increases in acreage of carrots, kale, lima and snap beans, sweet corn, onions, cabbage, beets, and tomatoes. There are no changes from last year for peas, spinach, and asparagus. Decreases are suggested for artichokes, peppers, lettuce, eggplant, watermelons, cauliflower, cantaloupes, cucumbers, and celery. If watermelons and cantaloupes are excluded from both the 19^2 acreage and the 19^3 goals, total acreage for 19^3 would be 2 percent above 19^2 acreage.
For 19^3, increased market garden production near centers of consumption will be important wherever suitable land and enough labor is available. Increases in production near large consuming centers will be important in saving transportation and utilizing available local labor. Expansion of home gardens as an additional source of supply will be necessary in 19^3 both on farms and in urban communities.
Canning Vegetables. The problem of producing vegetables for canning is so much affected by tin plate supplies that definite plans cannot be made until a determination is made of the amount that can be allocated for canning. A total pack of vegetables about the same as 19^2 is expected but there may be preference for some types. In general, the pack of beans, tomato products, peas, beets, and carrots needed will be as much as can be obtained with available processing capacity. Canners were required in 19^2, to set aside 35 percent of their pack for Government purchase, and Government requirements may take 50 percent or more of the 19^+3 pack of the more important vegetables.
- 13 -
fruits
Total production of the 11 major fruit crops for the 19U3-UU season is expected to he about at the 19U1-U2 level but about 5 percent less than the large 1942-U3 crop. There has been some abandonment of acreage of berries, particularly of strawberries. Increased packs of frozen berries will be important in 1943 because of the expected shortage of canned fruits and fruit juices.
Dried Fruits. Maximum production of dried fruits will be necessary in 19^3* Military and lend-lease requirements will be larger and civilian demand will be greater because of the reduction in supplies of canned fruits and juices.
Canned Fruits. The supply of canned fruits and juicés in 19^3 will be limited largely by the amount dried and by the amount of metal that can be allocated for the manufacture of cans.
WHEAT
The goal for wheat in 19^3 1» 5 percent less than the goal for 19^2 and 6 percent more than acreage as harvested in 19^2, hut nearly the same as the acreage seeded for the 19^2 crop.
RYE
The 19^3 goal for rye is 6 percent less than the acreage harvested in 19^2. This acreage, at normal yields, would produce about Uo million bushels, compared with the 57 million bushels produced in 19^2. However, with the large supplies in prospect at harvest time in 19^3 the carryover at the end of the following year is expected to be about U5 million bushels compared with the 1936-^0 average of 16 million bushels.
COTTON
The goal for cotton in 19^3 is 3 percent less than the acreage planted in 19^2. However, further expeuision of acreage of long-staple cotton is desirable to meet war needs. Production of medium staple lengths should be maintained. There are large supplies of short-staple cotton and producers should shift wherever practicable to longer-staple varieties or to other crops for which the war need is greater.
TOBACCO
The 19^3 goals for tobacco remain about the same as in 19^-2 for all types except Burley. The goal for Burley is 10 percent larger than in 19^2. Tobacco goals will be in terms of acreage allotments. Because of the upward trend in tobacco consumption and in 1end-1ease requirements, consumption in 19^3 i« likely to be greater than 19^3 production.
- lU -
Agricultural Production Goals for 1943, with Comparisons (Assuming normal crop yields in 1943)
February 6, 1943
Commodity : Units • • 1942 Goal or Expected 1942 Reported or Expected 1/ 1943 Goal or Expected 1943 Percent of 1942 Reported 1/
• Thousands Thousands Thousands Percent
Wheat : Acres 55,000 52,533 52,500 100
:Bu. 793.000 981,327 651,000 66
Rye : Acres 2/ 3.550 3,837 3,600 94
:Bu. 48,000 57,341 40,000 70
Rice :Acres 1.320 1,505 1,380 93
:Bu. 65,000 66,363 66,800 101
Corn : Acres 93.750 91,011 95,000 104
:Bu. 2,675,000 3,175,154 2,834,000 89
Oats : Acres 40,000 42,656 37,300 87
:Bu. 1,200,000 1.358,730 1,137,650 84
Barley : Acres 16,000 19.433 18,000 93
:Bu. 360,000 426,150 392,000 92
Grain Sorghum : Acres . 10,000 9,755 12,000 123
îBu. V 120,000 4/ 1^9.795 152,400 102
Hay, all : Acres 2/ 72,000 72,744 71,100 9«
:Tons 94,000 105,328 94,500 90
Flaxseed : Acres 4,500 4,691 5,500 117
:Bu. 36,000 40,660 39,875 98
Soybeans for Beans :Acres 2/ 9,000 10,762 12,000 112
:Bu. 153.000 209.559 216,000 103
Peanuts Picked & Threshed : Acres 2/ 5,000 3.690 5,500 149
:Lbs. 3,750,000 2,504,440 3,712,500 148
Dry Beans : Acres 2,600 2.135 3,300 155
:Bags 20,400 19,608 25,542 130
Dry Peas : Acres 665 501 725 145
:Bags ¿/ 6,450 7.160 6,627 93
Cotton : Acres 25,000 23,310 22,500 97
:Bales 6/ 12,000 12,982 11,300 87
Tobacco: •
Flue-cured :Acres 2/ 841 792 1/ 841 1/106
:Lbs. 750,000 824,115 750,000 91
Burley : Acres 2/ 383 351 8/ 421 8/ 120
:Lbs. 350,000 331.005 385,000 116
Other domestic :Acres 2/ 272 237 2/ 272 1/115
:Lbs. 286,000 262,068 286,000 109
Sugarcane (for Sugar & Seed, :Acres 2/ 330 329 340 103
(Sugar) :Tons 9/ 525 537 525 98
Sugarbeet s :Acres 1.050 1.049 1,050 100
(Sugar) :Tons ¿/ 1.900 1,664 1,900 114
Potatoes : Acres 3,060 2,793 3.260 117
:Bu. 384,000 371.150 407,700 110
Sweet Potatoes : Acres 2/ 850 707 1,000 141
:Bu. 70,000 65.380 82,780 127
Commercial Truck Crops : Acres 2j 1,840 10/ 1,692 1.676 99
Hay Crop Seeds : Acres 2/ 4,919 3,392 4,709 139
Hemp for Fiber : Acres 200
Fruit (fresh equivalent) 11/:Tons 15,018 14,718 14,610 99
- 15 -
Commodity Units 1942 Goal or Expected 1942 Reported or Expected 1/ 19M Goal or Expected 1943 Percent of 1942 Reported
Thousands Thousands Thousands Percent
Cattle and Calves on
Farms, January 1 Nos. 74,600 74,600 76,200 102
Cattle and Calves Slaughter Nos. 28,000 27,900 30,400 109
Dressed Weight Lbs. 9.585,000 9,980,000 10,910,000 109
Sheep and Lambs on Farms,
January 1 Nos. 56,000 56,000 55,000 98
Sheep and Lambs Slaughtered Nos. 22,900 26,000 24,100 93
Dressed Weight Lbs. 940,000 1,060,000 990,000 93
Hogs:
Spring Pigs Nos. * 12/ 61,013 70,200 115
Fall Pigs Nos. • — 12/ 43,721 50,300 115
Hogs, Slaughtered Nos. 83,000 80,000 100,000 125
Dressed Weight Lbs. 11,125,000 10,940,000 13,800,000 126
Lard Lbs. 2,820,000 2,500,000 3,400,000 136
Milk Cows Nos.12/ 25,200 25,200 25,720 102
Milk Lbs. 125,000,000 119,412,000 122,000,000 102
Farm produced eggs Doz. MB MB 3.996.580 4,345,000 109
All eggs 14/ Doz. * _ 4,396,240 4,780,000 109
Chicken, total slaughter 14/ Lbs.lg/ — — 3,118,000 4,000,000 128
Slaughter from ”general”
farms IA..15/ *• 2.385,000 2,635,000 110
Slaughter from specialized
areas Lbs.15/ —, — 495,000 1,100,000 222
Turkey, slaughter Lbs.12/ — - 485,000 560,000 115
1/ Revised, to January 31» 19^3« Further revisions in some livestock estimates will be announced, early in 1943. Percentage revisions represent a change in 1942 estimates, not in 1943 goals.
2/ Harvested.. All others are planted acres.
3/ Equivalent production on acreage of grain sorghums for all purposes.
4/ Estimated November 1, 1942.
5/ 100-pound bags, uncleaned.
6/ 500-pound bales.
]/ Allotment same as 1942. Acreage expected same as 1942.
8/ Anticipates an increase in allotment and a corresponding increase in acres.
¿/ Tons of sugar.
10/ For fresh market.
11/ Includes apples, apricots, sweet and sour cherries, figs, peaches, pears, plums and prunes, grapes, oranges, grapefruit and lemons. For dried, canned and fresh use.
12/ December 1942 pig crop report.
13/ Average number on farms during year.
14/ Includes an allowance of about 10 percent of farm production for nonfarm production.
15/ Dressed weight.
- 16 -
APPENDIX "B"
PROGRAMS TO AID FARMERS
IN ATTAINING GOALS
1. FARM LABOR PROGRAM
Drawing on the experience gained in 19^2, the Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with other Government agencies, has developed a comprehensive farm labor program to help farmers meet their manpower needs. With this program and the cooperation of farmers, the manpower problem in 19^3 can be met for essential farm production.
Major aims of the program are: (1) to keep on farms a basic corps of experienced farm operators and workers engaged in essential agricultural war production; (2) to replace those essential farm operators and workers who already have left the farm labor force; (3) to provide an adequate supply of seasonal fam labor, particularly during the harvest season; (U) to increase the efficiency of all agricultural workers.
Retaining Essential Farm Operators and Workers
An amendment (known as the Tydings amendment) to the Selective Service Act provides for occupational deferment from military service of Selective Service registrants who, as fam operators or workers, are producing essential agricultural commodities. A farmer's or fam worker's eligibility for this defement is based on his production of war units. The war units plan, devised by the Department of Agriculture and approved by War Manpower Commission, gives war unit values to all crops and livestock products important to the war effort. These values are based chiefly on the amount of labor required in their production. Selective Service regulations have suggested to local draft boards that an operator or worker who is producing 8 or more war units may be considered eligible for defement.
Occupational defement is a big step forward in assuring the retention in agriculture of a basic corps of skilled operators and year-around workers. Another important step, too, is the War Manpower Commission directive providing for employment stabilization on dairy, livestock and poultry farms. Under this directive, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to safeguard herds of dairy cattle and calves from undue depletion through sale for slaughter, and to take appropriate action to effect an increase in the number of dairy, livestock, and poultry fam workers and in the number of animal units on small fams.
Also, the Department of Agriculture has been given certain responsibilities for wage stabilization by the Director of the Board of Economic Stabilization and is concerned with maintenance of fair wages for fam laborers so that there will be,enough labor to assure full production.
Replacing Essential Fam Operators and Workers
Working with the U. S. Employment Service and the U. S. Office of Education, the Department is recruiting underemployed fam operators and workers in labor surplus areas, training them for essential fam occupations if neces-
- 17 -
sary, and then placing them on more productive farms where they can Increase food output.
Providing Seasonal Workers
To help meet the needs for seasonal farm labor, the Department will continue to transport domestic and Mexican agricultural workers to areas of labor shortage and plans to increase the use of Japanese evacuees and conscientious objectors on farms. It is expected that some farm workers will also be obtained from Canada; also Puerto Hico and the Bahamas. More farm labor shelters for seasonal workers are expected to be established to serve additional areas. To the extent that other labor is unavailable, volunteers will need to fill the gap. The Department will cooperate with other Governmental agencies and private organizations and individuals in mobilizing such secondary sources of farm labor as school youths, women and persons normally employed in nonagricultural work. This will be one of the most important sources of seasonal labor during 19U3, and much of the success of this effort will depend upon local leadership.
Increasing farm Labor Efficiency
The Department will help increase farm labor efficiency by assistance in training inexperienced helpers, helping to arrange for exchange of labor and equipment, and with information on the use of labor-saving devices and methods and the arrangement of farm operations so that seasonal peaks are reduced and the available labor utilized to the fullest possible extent.
But despite all that the Department can and will do, there is much that only the farmers can do. They need to cooperate with their neighbors in the use of machinery and labor, produce and harvest the essential crops before the less essential, accept the necessity of using inexperienced persons and give them the necessary training, and employ women and youths*
2. THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
A large part of the transporting for farmers is done by the million and a half trucks operated by farmers or commercial haulers of farm produce. To help maintain this part of the transportation system and use it efficiently the Secretary of Agriculture on October 6 established a Farm Transportation Committee in every rural county. State War Boards act as official State Farm Transportation Committees.
The first big Job of the Committees was to help farm truck operators fill out applications for Certificates of War Necessity. Their next Jobs, even bigger, are: (1) studying rural truck traffic, (2) developing rural truck transportation conservation programs, (3) handling appeals for mileage allowance corrections of Certificates of War Necessity.
The Job of the Committees and their volunteer assistants in every community is to help farmers maintain essential agricultural transportation.
State and County USDA War Boards have been assisting farmers to develop transportation saving programs. Many County War Boards have set up committees which have studied local hauling patterns, made valuable suggestions for
- 18 -
revision of routed, hauling such as milk pick-up and. delivery, arranged neighborhood pools, and assisted farm supply and product haulers.
This work will now be a part of the responsibility of the County Farm Transportation Committees.
Two war agencies have rushed plans to limit truck mileage. The Office of Defense Transportation requires that all trucks must have a Certificate of War Necessity. These Certificates are designed to give information to the Government about the operation of every commercial vehicle, and to provide a basis for specifying mileage allowance.
The Office of Price Administration, through its local Price and Rationing Boards, rations all gasoline, tires, repairs and replacements for care and trucks, but it is leaving the responsibility for determining reasonable truck mileage allotments to ODT and the County Farm Transportation Committees.
3. FARM EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES PROGRAM
Working through State and. County USDA War Boards, the Department of Agriculture will assist farmers in meeting their problems resulting from shortages of critical farm production equipment and supplies. Although farmers will be unable to buy as much farm machinery as they would like, assistance can be given in making existing supplies produce more through the organization of neighborhood sharing groups and by arranging for more custom work. War Boards will be able to give help and advice on securing scarce materials and substitutes for those unobtainable. County Farm Rationing Committees, operating under the direction of the State USDA War Boards will review applications for purchase of new machinery and issue purchase certificates for applications which they approve.
farm machinery programs including repair, maintenance, and the organization of community sharing groups will be important during the coming months.
Machinery. The War Production Board has determined that only enough materials can be taken from armaments and other civilian production to permit the production of 2} percent of the machinery and about 167 percent of the repair parts produced in 19^0. This does not include a subsequent authorization of an additional 90*000 tons of Bessemer steel for manufacture of new farm machinery, which raised the total from 137.000 to 1S7.000 tons for the first quarter of the current manufacturing year. Production quotas have been established on various items of machinery and equipment, and distribution of the available machinery will be made on the basis of State and County quotas.
Under the rationing program, machinery is classified into two schedules. Items in Schedule I consist mainly of heavy farm machinery and all such items are or will be rationed as the quotas are worked out.
Items in Schedule II consist mainly of hand-operated and horse-drawn machinery and equipment. Distribution of these items will be regulated, but once the items are in dealers1 hands, they are not subject to rationing.
Fencing. Farmers are expected to get about 5$ percent as many rods of fencing
- 19 -
as they normally buy. Fencing supplies will be rationed, to retailers.
Welding Rod.. The War Production Board divides the supply of welding rod, an important it an in machinery repair work, among all essential users» including military and civilian, in such proportions as will contribute most to the war production program. County USDA War Boards are certifying applications for welding rod submitted by local welders.
Fertilizers. The supplies of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash govern the supply of fertilizers. Of these, nitrogen is the most critical, largely because the military will require nearly all synthetic nitrogen the Nation can produce.
The phosphate supply is adequate to meet probable demands, but the potash situation falls between the short nitrogen supply and the adequate phosphate supply.
The use of chemical nitrates is governed by a Food Production Order which gives essential war food and fiber crops first priority on the available supply*
Insecticides and Fungicides. Demand for insecticides and fungicides for crop protection, and of insecticides for protection of livestock and stored foods and feeds, is expected to be greater in 19^3 than in any previous year as a result of the increased production goals, the increased value of the crops, and the greater knowledge of insecticides and fungicides and their value in pest control.
Through conservation of restricted materials and use of available substitutes, it is expected that adequate protection can be given to all essential crops, animals, and products.
Supplies are shortest for pyrethrum and rotenone. For rotenone, it is possible to substitute nicotine, cryolite, and arsenic for some uses. In some cases nicotine may be substituted for pyrethrum.
Due to military needs, arsenic, copper, and mercury are available to agriculture in slightly less than normal quantities.
Packaging Supplies. Many packaging and container problems will trouble the farmer. Milk cans will be limited in number, of lighter material, and rationed. No further steel drums are available. Wooden boxes and other wooden containers will be short. Difficulty may be expected in obtaining boxes, crates, and baskets for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Future burlap requirements will have to be supplied from present stocks in possession of bag manufacturers and from imports. Inadequate shipping space places further limitation on future importations.
Tin cans are under rigid control by the War Production Board.
Construction. War needs for critical materials used in construction have necessitated the curtailment of nonessential construction, including agricultural, for the duration. The Department of Agriculture and its War Boards recommend to the War Production Board individual construction projects that contribute to
- 20 -
the agricultural war program.
Farmers are limited to an expenditure in any one year of $200 for construction lumber for dwellings and to $1,000 for lumber for other farm buildings. Construction beyond this figure may be done only by special permit from the WPB through the USDA War Boards.
4. PRICE SUPPORTS AND CREDIT ASSISTANCE
From the standpoint of price protection, farmers have nothing to fear in expanding production to the limit. The objective of the price policy of the Department of Agriculture is to give price assistance to the production program at a level sufficient to assure producers of attractive returns for the desired production.
Farmers are assured by the Act of Congress approved October 2, 1942, that: (1) Loans will be offered to cooperators at not less than 85 percent of parity in the case of corn and wheat and not less than 9° percent of parity in the case of cotton, rice, peanuts and tobacco {with certain exceptions); and (2) price supports will be maintained, within the limits of funds available to the Department of Agriculture, at not less than 90 percent of parity on all commodities for which the Secretary of Agriculture has publicly requested increased production. For a number of the commodities which are most needed, support prices will be well above the minimum level.
The Department of Agriculture will support, until June 3$» 19^» and the case of hogs September 30» 1944, a price for eligible producers of each of the following commodities at not less than the price level stated with adjustments where applicable for location, type, grade, and class:
The 1943 crop of dry peas (smooth types) of the following classes: Alaska, Scotch Green, First and Best, White Canada, and Marrow Fat; not less than $5*50 per hundredweight for U. S. No. 1 peas and $5*25 per hundredweight for U. S. No. 2 peas, in bags, f.o.b. cars at country shipping points. The incentive program payment offers to farmers a payment of $15 for each acre over 90 percent of the farm goal up to 110 percent of the goal.
The 1943 crop of dry peas (wrinkled types) of the following classes: Aiderman, Perfection Profusion, Surprise, Thomas Laxton; not less than $4.25 per hundredweight for U. S. No. 1 grade, $4.00 for U. S. No. 2 grade in bags, f.o.b. carrier at country shipping points.
The 1943 crop of dry edible beans of the following classes: Pea, Medium White, Great Northern, Small White, Flat Small White, Pink, Pinto, Cranberry, Light Red Kidney, Dark Red Kidney, and Western Red Kidney; not less than $5-60 per hundredweight for U. S. No. 1 beans, and $5*45 for U. S. No. 2 grade, in bags, f.o.b. cars at country shipping points. In addition, the new program offers a payment of $20.00 an acre for dry beans planted in excess of 9° percent of the individual farm goal, up to 110 percent of the goal. The Commodity Credit Corporation will make loans on uncleaned beans in order to enable farmers to get immediate returns from this crop.
Hogs: Not less than $13-25 per hundredweight, average for good to choice butcher hogs weighing 240 to 2/0 pounds at Chicago.
- 21 -
Eggs, purchased on an offer and acceptance basis equivalent to no less ^than 30 cents per dozen in the spring and early summer and an annual average price of 34 cents per dozen, basis U. S. average farm price.
Butter, no less than 46 cents per pound for 92 score butter, Chicago basis; cheese, the equivalent of 27 cents per pound including subsidy for American Cheese, Plymouth basis. Dry skim milk, 12.5 cents for roller and 14.5 cents for spray process, extra grade Midwest basis.
The 1943 crop of soybeans for oil: Not less than $1.60 to $1.75 per bushel depending on oil content, U. S. average farm price, for Yellow or Green Soybeans of high oil content. In addition, under the incentive payments program, payment of $15 per acre will be made to farmers on each acre over 90 percent of the farm goal to 110 percent of the goal.
The 1943 crop of flaxseed for oil: Not less than $2.70 per bushel, basis No. 1 flaxseed at Minneapolis. Under the incentive payment program, farmers are offered’a payment of $10 for each acre over 90 percent of the farm goal up to 110 percent of the goal.
The 1943 crop of American-Egyptian cotton: 48 cents per pound, net weight, for No. 2, 1^-inch American-Egyptian cotton.
The 1943 crop of potatoes: 9° percent of the parity price calculated as of the beginning of the marketing year, but not less than specified prices for certain grades of potatoes in specified commercial areas. In addition, farmers will be offered a payment of 50 cents a bushel on the normal yield of the acreage planted to potatoes in excess of 90 percent of the individual farm goal, up to 110 percent of the goal. The program will be effective on acreage planted after February 1.
Sweet potatoes: An incentive payment of 5° cents a bushel on the normal yield of the acreage planted to sweet potatoes over 90 percent of the farm goal up to 110 percent of the farm goal is provided for farmers in approved areas.
Grain sorghums: Under the incentive payment program farmers will receive a payment of $8 an acre for each acre over 90 percent of the fam goal up to 110 percent of the goal.
Canning crops: Minimum support prices on four major canning crops grown for processing — tomatoes, peas, sweet corn, and snap beans — will be made on the acreage contracted with certified canners, at the following levels (prices given on a countrywide basis — minimums for states are specified): tomatoes - $24.25 per ton; green peas - $81.50 per ton; sweet corn - $18 per ton; snap beans - $91 per ton.
Truck and vegetable crops for fresh consumption: Production payments will be made at the rate of $50 per acre for each acre on which one or more of the vegetables is planted in excess of 90 percent of the farm goal up to 110 percent of the goal. The maximum acreage eligible for payment will be 20 percent of the goal, except on farms with goals less than 5 acres. On these farms, payment for acreage in excess of 90 percent of the goal will be made on a maximum of one acre. No farm goal of less than 3 acres will be determined, but any farm for which a goal is not set will be considered, for purposes of com-
- 22 -
puting payments, to have a goal of 3 acres and. thus eligible to earn up to $50« The list of designated, crops includes carrots, snap beans, lima beans, beets, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and green peas.
In addition, the Department will announce specific support prices for beets, carrots, pumpkin, and squash for processing, and cabbage for kraut. In general, these support prices will be maintained through certification of canners agreeing to pay specified prices to growers and Government commitment to purchase the processed commodity at a level which will support grower prices at about the same level as in 1942. Specific support prices for dried apples, apricots, peaches, pears, prunes, and raisins will be announced.
The Department of Agriculture is recommending a single price program for all peanuts, whether for edible use or for oil, which will assure growers an average return between SO and 85 percent of the parity price for peanuts, which was $151.60 per ton as of January 15» 19^3- Such a program would require new legislation. If a single price program or its equivalent is not possible, price support programs similar to the 1942 program will be continued in 1^43 for both peanuts for nuts and peanuts for oil. In addition, the incentive payment program provides a payment of $30 for each acre over 90 percent of the farm goal up to 110 percent of the goal.
Hasp seed will be purchased at not less than $10.00 per bushel and hemp straw at prices ranging from $30 to $50 per ton, according to grade, for the crop produced in 19^3»
Credit Assistance. Besides credit from local banks, Government credit aids are available. Both the Farm Credit Administration and the Farm Security Administration provide financial help to assist farmers in meeting their goals.
The FCA renders assistance principally through the Production Credit System and its Banks for Cooperatives.
Production Credit Associations serving all sections of the Nation last year made loans totalling $418,000,000 to approximately 225,000 farmers. Such loans enable farmers to buy seed, fertilizer, feed, spray materials, gasoline, tile, cement, lumber, fencing, livestock, poultry, machinery and other aids to increased production. Loans are made for any amount from $50 up for any sound production purpose, the amount depending on the farmer* s needs and ability to repay.
The rate of interest on Production Credit loans is 4J percent, charged only on the actual amount borrowed and only for the time the money is in use. Security is usually a first mortgage on crops and livestock, or sometimes a first lien on other personal property.
Repayments are made as the crops, livestock or products are sold. Dairymen, for example, usually pay in installments out of their checks for milk or cream. Loans for crops usually fall due during the marketing season. In all cases, repayments may be planned to fit the farmer's needs.
The Banks for Cooperatives make several types of loans to farmers* cooperative associations. These loans are especially important now because
- 23 -
cooperatives play a big part in dairy output. Farmers* cooperatives, for example, produce about one-third of our total dry skim milk.
Three classes of loans are made to farmers* cooperative associations: Commodity loans, generally extended for not over 9 months; operating capital loans which also are short-term loans; and facility loans, made for the purpose of buying or refinancing land, buildings and equipment used by the cooperative. <
Rates of interest are li percent on commodity loans; percent on operating capital loans; percent on facility loans.
Through the Farm Security Administration, two types of loans are available to help farmers increase production.
Food production loans are made to farmers who do not have the security necessary for borrowing from banks and other lending agencies. These rehabilitation loans enable farmers to buy livestock, poultry, machinery, and other equipment to increase production. Along with the loans, the Farm Security Administration provides an educational program through which borrowers are supervised in efficient farm management practices. Complete farm and home management plans are worked out for each farm, putting its operation on the most efficient basis — thus helping to assure repayment and also increasing production.
Farm ownership loans also are provided to enable tenant farmers to become farm owners. Through these loans, tenant farmers get opportunity to farm better land and thus increase production. Under this program also, a farmer with acreage too small to provide full-time employment can get a loan to buy more land adjoining, or near his farm. Under this program, funds are also provided for essential improvements in farm buildings.
On January 21 Secretary of Agriculture Claude R. Wickard announced a broadening of the Department of Agriculture's program to help farmers increase production in 19^3» He made available through the Food Production Administration a new source of credit at the county level for the production of essential wartime food and fiber. Between $200,000,000 and $225,000,000 of additional funds became immediately available.
Under the new program loans will be made to producers upon approval of a Department of Agriculture county loan representative, and the chairmen of the County USDA War Boards. Financing will be through the Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation of Washington, D. C., a corporation under supervision of the Farm Credit Administration. Individual loans will be limited only by the amount needed to do the production job. The loans will be for one agricultural season, not to exceed one year, but renewals may be granted under proper circumstances. Interest will be at five percent. Collateral will be first liens on the commodities, livestock or other items being financed.
The new program is not for the purpose of refinancing existing indebtedness except for that incurred during the current season. Loans will not be made for purchase of real estate or for extensive permanent improvements, but will be available for repairs and needed minor improvements which will facilitate production.
- 24 -
Instructions will be issued regarding the handling of loans which the County War Boards determine require supervision of the type given by Farm Security Administration Supervisors. It is anticipated that where the War Boards recommend, these loans will be handled by Farm Security Administration Supervisors as representatives of the Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation.
The loan representative in each county will be named by the War Board. The Secretary1s instructions permit the War Board to name any one of several persons already in official agricultural work in the county. The loan Representative may be an employee stationed in the county by a Department agency (Farm Security Administration, Emergency Crop and Feed Loan) or an employee of a Production Credit Association, or a AAA county or community committeeman, or a person eligible to be a committeeman.
The Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation of Washington, D. C., under which the new source of credit will be made available at county levels for the production of war-essential foods and fibres, was created under the Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932 to meet farmers1 and stockmen1s needs for short-term credit.
With the growth of the Production Credit Association system of short-term financing, the emergency need for the 12 regional agricultural credit corporations diminished. Their active lending operations have been greatly reduced since 1934. All but the Minneapolis corporation have been consolidated into the Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation of Washington, D. 0., through which lending operations, commenced in the State of Washington in 1941, are already being carried out.
- 25 -
APPENDIX ”C”
THE ADMINISTRATIVE JOB OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
IN THE 1943 FARM MOBILIZATION
Secretary Wickard has directed that all resources of agriculture be mobilized for maximum production of the needed crops and livestock in 19^3» President Roosevelt proclaimed January 12 Farm Mobilization Day.
The time schedule follows:
January 11 through January
(a) This is the period for the sign-up campaign. The AAA Community Committeemen (and their assistants appointed by the County War Board) to sign up farms in the county. Committeemen explain to farmers that the farm plans and accompanying data gathered will constitute the basis for action by the County War Board in advising the Selective Service Boards with respect to draft deferment under the provisions of law, in advising thè rationing boards on eligibility for machinery, nitrogen, fertilizer, etc., advising the responsible agencies with respect to provision of needed labor.
(b) Community Committeemen review farm plans as they are signed up, mark "urgent” those which require immediate attention by the County War Board with respect to provision of services, certification of draft deferment status, etc., and forward at once to the War Board. Those not requiring urgent attention forwarded in a group when the sign-up is completed.
(c) County War Board meets as often as necessary to handle promptly all farm plans forwarded by Community Committeemen for urgent attention. If necessary daily meetings held until the urgent cases disposed of. In handling the farm plans, each agency representative on the Board, so far as he has legal authority to do so, will state whether his agency can or cannot provide the services and assistance needed to make the farm plan effective. The County War Board will notify the farmers whose plans are reviewed of the commitments made by the agency representative and those that are refused so that the farmers may adjust their plans accordingly.
February 1 to March 1
(a) County War Boards follow up oil commitments for services and assistance made in the urgent cases to make sure that the farm plans can be effectuated.
(b) At the same time, the County War Boards review farm plans not marked "urgent,” obtain commitments from the agency representative on whether the services and assistance needed can or cannot be rendered, notify the farmers of the decision, and make a schedule of the times at which the commitments are to be fulfilled for each farmer. This schedule is to be used in the later follow-up.
The plan calls for completion of the entire mobilization of farm and Government resources by March.
- 26 -
(c) To help build, morale for the tough job ahead it has been suggested to County War Boards that during this period they encourage local organizations to honor the farm families in the county by publicizing the county* s farm production of 1942, and its plans for 194} especially through telling the stories of particular farm families representative of the whole.
One of the ways in which this might be done would be to have a committee designated by the County War Board select one or preferably several farm families typical of the whole. All such might well be publicized. The committee might go a step further by selecting by lot one family to receive special recognition on behalf of all the farm families of the county. This procedure eliminates the recognition having the appearance of a contest.
Consideration of the Committee
In selecting meritorious families the committee should consider the following:
(a) Production — the family met or exceeded all the production goals for the farm for 1942, overcoming difficulties arising from war conditions. (The difficulties should preferably be the typical and usual ones — those which confronted many other families in the county.) The family, making use of all services available, now is signed up for maximum possible war production in the 1943 Farm Mobilization.
(b) Conservation — the family has taken definite and positive steps to maintain the productivity of the farm through soil-building and conserving practices.
(c) Community — the family should typify the best in cooperation and community activities such as: pooling labor, machinery, and transportation, or any other characteristics thought important by the committee.
(d) Family — the family should typify courage, level-headedness, devotion to service with a minimum of wavering and have contributed materially to community accomplishments.
In many counties arrangements can be made for a public recognition ceremony sponsored by a civic or farm organization.
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943 O - 511535