The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-14
BY BOB
Staff Writer

This story might be called Pre-
paredness on the Home Front"
While Congress and the Presi-
ent exert themselves to strength
en- the army, navy, and air
forces so that the nation may be
prepared to defend itself against
enemies from without, the U. S.
Department of Agriculture and CO.
operating agencies continue their
work to strengthen the nation from
within.
Significant is the work being
done by the Farm Security ad-
ministration, an agency of tn e
Department of Agriculture, to
build up the social and economic
strength of the small farmer.
Through its county supervisors,
the FSA combines practical edu-
cation in good farming with con
venient credit. BY means of SUI
pervised loans, arranged to be re.
paid in yearly installments as the
farmers income increases, farm
ers unable to get suitable credit
elsewhere are able to equip them
selves to farm more efficiently.
Increase Income
BY following approved farming
practices they are able gradually
to build up their farms, improve
their livestock, make a better liv-
ing, and increase their income or
purchasing power.
The farmers dollar always goes
to town. In Eastern Carolina the
majority of the people, directly or
Indirectly, Ire engaged in agricul-
ture. And all the people stand to
gain to the extent this section be-
comes a section of successful in
dependent farmers.
With this thought in mind, the
Star-News recently asked Vance
E. Swift, of Raleigh, state direct
or of the FSA, for facts and fig
ures showing the progress made
by FSA borrowers in the ten south
eastern counties Of Bladen, Bruins
wick, Columbus, Cumberland, Pen
der, Onslow, Duplin, New Han
over, Sampson, and Robson.
The survey shows that 1855
small farmers in these counties
have borrowed a total of 81, 140,-
600 for work stock, farming equip
ment, pasture fencing, medical
care, and other things needed, and
that they have already paid back
$485, 900 on their installments. The
loans are made for repayment
over periods ranging up to five
years and much that has not been
repaid has not yet fallen due.
Farming equipment and p ur e
bred sires, too expensive for small
farmers to buy individually, the
have dubbed together and bought
under FSA's Cooperative or Com
munity Service" plan. Sixteen CO.
operative groups in the ten ccun-
ties have borrowed $12,026 for the
purchase of such equipment.
Practically all of the money Dor
rowed, both by individuals an d
groups, has been spent with local
merchants and dealers.
FSA borrowers r urged to get
away from one-crop farming and
to raise their own food and feed
supplies. Last year FSA farmers
in the ten counties produced more
than half a million dollars worth
of produce for home consumption,
or an increase of "a per cent over
and above what they produced be-
fore coming on the FSA program.
For instance, meat produced last
year for home consumption total
ed LOOP, 500 pounds or sos pounds
per family and milk totaled 514,-
7O5 gallons, or 81 gallons p e r
family.
Swift, state FSA director, says
there is still room for improve
ment in the porduction of milk in
this section but considering tn e
fact that many families formerly
had no cows and produced n Q
milk, the present production is en-
couraging.
This favorable increase in live
at-home" commodities is particul-
arly encouraging in connection
with the fact that his increase was
accomplished without a reduction
in cash income, FSA families in
the ten counties having produced
an average of $516 in cash income
last year as compared with SSH
before coming on the program.
FSA families produced a total
cash income last year of nearly
5000, 900. 3
The survey further shows the
families are worth about $40O, 600
more now than when they came on
fna prooropo Thev have increased