Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-09
Meredith Sees
No Shortage of
d. S. Food Supply
by z. G. Dougherty.l

Washington, April s.-While short
age of labor and the assumption that
prices OF farm products will dror
materially within the next year will
reduce to some extent the acreage
OF food crops put in during the pres
ent spring. Secretary Of Agriculture
Meredith does not believe that these
| influences will seriously affect the
food supply of the United States.
Mr.. Meredith bases this belief on
information placed before him by the
bureau Of crop estimates Of the fed
eral department Of agriculture
which maintains close connection
with every agricultural community
in the states. The question facing
the agricultural world, MI Meredith
says, is not whether there will be a
labor shortage. but rather how seri-
Gus that shortage will be.
Labor" Mr.. Meredith argues, is
the first thing the farmer considers
when he faces the question OF how
much land he will cultivate during
1920. The second item is the general
assumption that prices Of farm prod
ucts will be reduced materially with
in the next six months or the next
year. These two things operate to
make him conservative, as any busi-
ness man would be in his position,
but the indications are that the de-
creased acreage this year will be a
decrease only from stimulated war
time production rather than a reduce
ton from the normal acreage.
1T should be remembered that
while the farmer is looked to as one
who will help to bring down prices.
he is compelled to pay the prevailing
high rates to get his crops started.
The machinery he buys this spring.
his farm animals, his living expenses
and his labor are costing him I'M
precedented prices II. after meeting
these expenses, his product next fall
or winter is sold at the same rate
that prevailed in normal times he
stands to loose on the years opera
tons
The farmer. however. il not TAX
ing a pessimistic view OF the future.
We do not hear that he is going to
quit farming and let the world
starve, primarily because farming Is
his business. His capital Is invested
in his farm. his source Of income Is
his farm. and he will continue TO
grow corn and wheat and raise cat
market for them.
ut may quiet some Of the fears
that have been expressed TO say
that in no instance have ths farmers
taken concerted action with a visw
OF restricting crop acreage or other
wise curtaii the food supply Of the
nation or the world. They have or
sanized and are organizing for their
mutual benefit. They are discussing
problems OF growing and marketing
their product, but these matters are
directed toward decrease OF tho
waste and friction between the grow
er and the consumer, and are to be
encouraged rather than regarded
with distrust."
Officials OF the department Of ag-
riculture declare that what the farm
er lacks in available labor he IL
making up. 50 far as possible. with
improved machinery and modern ag-
r,cultural methods. Like other bust
ness men, they declare. he Is meet
ing business emergencies with the
best remedy that comes to hand. And.
finally. department officials point out.
as the farmers and their families
represent more than 40 per cent Of
the consuming public they are as
much interested as any group In re-
ducing the cost Of the necessities Of
life.