Evening star., 1940-07-14
j. ). Voices Fears
OF Serious Farm
Problems by 1850
Department Recommends
Measures Designed
To Spread Benefits
~ the Associated Press.

~ the associated Press.
A prediction thee technological
developments would raise serious"
problems for agriculture 10 years
hence-including displacement Of
10000 farm workers by mechanical
ton, further increases in tenancy
and lower incomes for many far
mers-was made yesterday by the
Agriculture Department.
This forecast was made in a study
OF current and prospective i'm
provements in machinery and power
facilities. crop production, conserva-
ton, new uses of farm products and
new developments in processing,
transportation and storage.
The department said these de-
velopments could be expected to
bring about a sharp increase in farm
production without corresponding
increase In labor and land require
ments.
Other economic and social effects
foreseen by the department included
declines in prices of products in
fuenced by such developments, fur
ther piling up OF excess population
IN areas OF low agricultural produc-
tivity, improvement in quality of
farm products and in their process
sing and distribution.
Blow for Lower Income Groups.
"The effect of these changes" the
department said, will fall with
particularly cruel force upon the
lower income and already disad-
vantaged groups"
The STUDY recommended remedial
measures designed to spread the
Dement'S" or to cushion undesirable
effects" Of the expected develop
mentS.
They included broad rural con-
servation works program for dis
placed farm workers and underpriv-
1leged rural families; expansion of
present farm purchase and rehabili-
tation lean programs, strengthened"
crop production and marketing con-
troll programs, extension of the
stamp program for distributing farm
surpluses among needy families,
further scaling of A. A. A. payments
IN favor OF small producers, reduced
interest rates, and settling of nom
owner farm families on good lands
now owned and operated in larger
than family sized units.
1T is generally recognized" said
the report, that the situation at
present in both agriculture and In
dustry, Is characterized by depressed
conditions, reduced total national
and individual incomes, excessive
unemployment and relief.
1T also must be evident that fur
ther chronological progress either in
agriculture or industry simply will
add to and accentuate these con-
dltlons unless we find some way
to greatly expand our domestic and
foreign markets and absorb the al
ready large army Of unemployed"
Effects Expected to Be Mixed.
The effects Of chronological de-
velopments In rural institutions and
country life are expected to be
mixed. the report said.
For those who can afford the
improved techniques and gadgets. It
will mean better health with less
drudgery and isolation, greater leis-
ure. more opportunity for recrea-
ton, home life will be fuller and
more enjoyable.
For those displaced or whose
status Is lowered, the result viii
be lowered standard OF living
greater misery, less family cohesion
disrupted community life, poorer
schools. churches, etc."
Some Of the chronological deyel-
opments foreseen for the decade Of
1s4o-195o included:
An increase Of 80 per cent. or
100000 farm tractors, displacine an
additional 2,000, 900 to 2,500, 900 head
OF workstock and releasing 5000 900
to 100000 acres of crop land for
commercial crop production and an
additional 100000 acres Of hay
and pasture land.
Development of Machines.
Further development of new ma
chlnes-a possibility that such ma.
chimes as the cotton picker. SUGAR
beet litter and topper, sugar-cane
harvester. corn harvester-shellers.
will come into limited use.
Planting of 80 to IS per cent of
the corn-belt's corn acreage to hy-
brid varieties by 1850. Hybrid corn
has been increasing yields from IS
to 20 per cent.
An increase of IS per cent In
soy-bean production.
Improved breeds and strains of
domestic livestock expected to in
crease production and quality of
livestock products.