The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-05-19
THE FARM LABOR
SITUATION

There are SO many reports as to the
farm labor situation throughout Iowa
that one is left in doubt as to the true
situation. There are those who claim
there is no shortage; many men have
recently been thrown out\ of employ
nient owing to the fact that many paw
ing contractors have had to abandon
work for lack of material; inability to
negotiate the sale Of paving bonds, and
for other reasons. This one fact causes
many laborers to seek jobs on the
farms. Other reports come that Iowa
farmers are 100000 men short of re-
quirements, and as a result many hun.
dreds of acres of Iowa land will go un-
titled this summer. In Crawford coun-
ty, the county agent has found employ
ment for about one hundred men since
January first, and yet word comes from
the Buck Grove vicinity that there is
a dearth of farm help, as unskilled labor
in other lines is being eagerly sought
at from 60 to 70 cents per hour. The
same report says as much as $3.50
month with board is being paid farm
hands. Patrick Hassett was in the city
Saturday morning and said that ne
could use man and wife, either on sal
AIRY or on shares, and he would furnish
everything. Speaking of the farm la.
Dor situation in Iowa, A. l.. Urick, the
commissioner, says:
There has been a shortage OF farm
help as indicated by the reports from
county farm agents to the state FEEDER.
al employment service. Every county
in the state is thoroughly organized.
there being one county farm agent to
each county,, and Pottawattamie coun-
ty, because of its size, has two agents,
making 100 agents for the state. Each
of these is thoroughly familiar with the
conditions of his county.
In a questionable sent out to these
agents under date of March 1st, there
was indicated an unsupplied shortage
or demand for 619 married farm hands
and 745 single hands, making a total
shortage for the early part Of March,
/ asa farm hands. Under date of April
LIST, second QUESTIONABLE was mailed
to the agents and the early part Of Ap-
ril Indicated a shortage of 297 married
making total of 1,449. This repre-
sents the shortage instead of 10000 as
indicated in press notices.
1t is reported that j. N. Howard,
president of the American Farm Bu-
reau federation, a resident of Iowa,
should have reported the shortage OF
100000 farm workers. Mr.. Howard has
been using the figures of the state fed.
cral employment service and instead of
loo,OuV mas given tue lSuToS DIS ttppioA'
imately 500 in all OF the addresses
that have come to our notice.
AS to the great cut in acreage I'M
der tillage, fifty-seven counties report
a cut in acreage of approximately 10
per cent, tWenty.eight counties report a
cut, but of so small proportion that the
agents did not give the per cent, while
fourteen counties report no cut in acre
age whatsoever. The reports from
these also indicate the wages that arc
being paid and which are likewise stat
ed in dispatches to be SO excessive that
it will be impossible for farmers to EN-
p1oy labor at the excessive rate.
The average from all reports received
from county agents for the months of
March and April was $73.25 for married
men and $6791 for single mon. In!
some counties the rate being of course
lower than this average while in other
counties because of conditions the rates
are somewhat higher
The lateness Of the season has haG
some little effect in the acreage put un-
der tillage, but Iowa is doing her full
share and will continue to do her full
share as q food producing state, and
while we can use some additional farm
as indicated by the reports of
the county agents, there is no such
shortage as shown in these press dis
patches which are doing great dam
age to the state of Iowa and to the
nation.
-tFl-
w. H. Willroth, farmer, stock raiser.
trader, real estate dealer and general
all around good fellow, with q smile
that seldom vanishes, who has made
more money in commissions the last
six months than the average real estate
doa ler makes in AS many wears, closed
another deal during the past week when
he succeeded in making Frank North
and w. III. Chapman, both of Vail, see
alike, and get together on another big
trade. North traded to Chapman the
W. II. Staller $40 acre farm near Buck
Grove and took in exchange the garage
and stock located in Vail. The land
went in at $325.0o per acre and North
takes the garage and stock at invoice,
and will get possession as soon as the-l
invoice is taken. Chapman will get pos
of the land NEXT March