Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-07-27
HELP THE FARMER
HARVEST HIS CROPS
>ht rtage of Labor in the Great Grain.
Growing Regions as Actue Now
as During War

with a shortage of farm labor, as
acute this year as in the critical wa,
year of 1918, threatening a curtail.
ment OF food production ON the
farms, especially at the trying season
or harvesting, the United States De.
partmentof Agriculture is endeavor-
ing to stir up the interest of city
men in spending their vacations in
the fields, particularly as harvest
helpers.
Every one now remembers the now
famous "shock troops" of the war
years. who went into the harvest
fields of Kansas and other large
wheat-prOducing States and lent a
hand at gathering in the Nations
bread supply. They included men in
many walks of life-college students
and city men, including bankers, law
yers, doctors, slerks, ind State and
city officials, together with other
volunteers to swell the ranks, are
urged to mobilize again this year
to help relieve the present short
age and so aid in combating high
costs of food products.
In making this appeal it is recog-
nized that, at the outset at least,
such labor is not as efficient as exper-
fenced farm labor. but the excellent
results secured in 1918, when city
men in large numbers came to the
aid Of the farmers, leave no doubt
as to the success Of the present can
vass. if the men respond.
The present labor shortage has
arisen in spite of the fact that farm
wages are Is to Is per cent higher
than last year. The situation, unrem.
edied, can not fail to have an un-
favorable effect on production, acc
ording to observers of the depart
ment. who arc watching the condition
closely. 1t will tend, they say, to
prevent any reduction in the prices
of farm products. While the total
acreage undoubtedly has been redu-
|ced as result Of the present situa-
ton. 1t is not in SO large proportion
as the reduction in the labor supply,
because the farmers with their fam
lilies exerted themselves to the utmost
to overcome the hadicap. CCultiva-
ton was less intensive than formerly.
More land was put into grass and such
crops as required minimum of labor,
1t is said, and the titled fields conse
Quently suffered.
From many of the harvest centers
are coming appeals for help. In some
of the big grain-producing States OF
he West. such as Idaho and Nebraska
the demand for labor for planting the
crops and tending them WAS fairly
well met. Harvesting and thrashing
however. means more help. and it is
this that the trainers in these areas
are worryisg about. Help must come
from the cities, and it is to arouse
the interest of city men and obtain
their aid that the department and
other agencies of the Government and
the States are directing their efforts
Persons who are DESTROYS of re-
spending to the appeal should get in
touch with directors of agricultural
extension at the agricultural colleges
in the various States. These directors
are prepared to supply the names OF
their respective counties who need
county agents having farmers in
their respective counties who need
farm labor. BY this means anyone
wishing to help can get in direct
communication with the farmer. In
the producing States local en-
ployment headquarters are estab-
lished at various centers.
Thirty-tWO languages, not includ-