Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-06-11
LABOR SCARCE AS THE
WHEAT HARVEST NEARS
Harvesters' Chief Problem This Year
Supply of Hired Farm Labor
72 Per Cent of Normal.
Labor and binder twine.

AdbOI anu UIuucT IWIuS.
On the eve of the harvesting sea.
son the wheat-grower's thoughts turn
to these two necessary items, partic
larly the former. which caused him
much worry during the years of the
was. OF course, labor is the chief
problem, but binder twine is some
thing that must be reckoned with as
we'll, and in its own way is a very
important feature in the harvesting
operations.
The wheat,grower need have no
|apprehensions as to the supply OF
binder twine this season. Reports
to the Bureau of Plant Industry
of the United States Department OF
Agriculture, indicate that there will
be plentiful supply of this commod.
ity for the American farmer. No,
only will it be plentiful, but it IL
likely to be cheaper this year thar
for some years past.
Yucatan-the chief and cheapest
source of henequen, from which the
twine is made-produced large crop
this year, which, coupled with the
Termination of control of prices by the
Commission Regulators. was respon-
sible for drop in the price of fibre
from Is to 10 cents a pound early in
March. The price is now reported to
be cents a pound. This reduction
should be reflected in the price of
twine this season.
Thus far the recent revolution in
Mexico has not affected the henequen
industry of Yucatan and Campecne,
the two important fibre growing
States of that country. 1t is too late
now for any disruption of this in
dustry to affect seriously the supplies
of twine for this years harvest, as
practically all the fibre necessary for
the present needs has already been
imported to the United States.
Although there is no danger for
this years twine supply, officials Of
the Department of Agriculture are
somewhat apprehensive over the
effect that the low price of fibre pre-
valing now will have upon the pro-
ductiOn of heneQuen during the next
few years. Low prices. according to
reports to the department. are lead
ing the growers in Yucatan to reduce
their planting, with the result that a
real shortage of the fibre five or six
years hence is a very likely possibil-
ity.
The labor outlook is not SO cheer
full. The supply Of hired farm labor
is about 72 per cent of the normal.
Although no appropriation was
made by Congress this year for carry
ing the department of agriculture's
wartime activities in aiding the farm
ers to get laborers. the department is
doing what it can to assist farmers
with this problem. The State direc-
tors of extension and the county
agents are aiding in bringing to-
gether farmers and men who want
jobs on farms.
Results are expected from the ap-
peal of Secretary Of Agriculture
Meredith to city men, college stud
ents, and others to spend their vaca-
tions working on farms. particularly
as helpers in harvest fields. Fre-
quently inquiries are being received
by the department from university
and college students as to where their
services could best be used. The
need for the now-famous "shock
troops helpers from the
cities who shocked wheat-that gave
such a good account of themselves
in the harvest fields during the war
is believed to be as urgent this year
as in those trying days. The mobili-
cation OF these forces Is what Secre-
tary Meredith is seeking to accom-
|plish.
According to reports to the depart