Evening star., 1941-01-20

ance in its power to offset the effects
of war abroad and meet the difficulties of
the defense task which lie ahead in this
country.
The war abroad through its disruption OF
world trade added to the difficulties of large
groups of farmers. The defense program, on
the other hand is stimulating consumer in
come and purchasing power to the advantage
of farmers producing mainly for the home
market.
The national farm program, as it has de-
veloped in recent years, has become broad
flexible instrument for adjusting rapidly to
changing conditions In the present world
crisis this machinery is functiOning well. The
producers of export crops, especially cotton,
wheat and flue-cured tobacco, who have lost
a very large part of their export markets,
are protected against the effects OF the
present war The domestic price of export
crops has been held we'll above the world
levels. While Canadian wheat is piled on
the ground and Argentine corn is burned for
fuel, our crop surpluses either are safely
stored under loan or are being distributed
to low-income families unable to buy enough
of the right kind of food
The distribution of farm abundance among
needy consumers takes on added importance
in our national defense effort in which it is
essential that national health and
strength be improved by good diet for those
who have been undernourished.
1t is becoming more important than ever
both to producers and consumers, that
farmers have accurate up-to minute in
formation on the needs in this country for
the products of the farms. Consumer de-
mand is improving rapidly and farmers are
informed of the changing situation. It has
recently been pointed out. for example that
hog production for 1941 can safely be in
creased above the level now indicated and
that it is advisable for cattlemen to send
more cattle to market in the coming months
instead of continuing to hold back large
numbers for breeding stock
THE problems of some low-lncome farmers
especially those depending upon cotton
production have been made more acute by the
war which has shut off their export market
Some will be aided by the location of defense
Industries in rural areas and others may be
called to jobs IN the cities but for the most
part such men are not trained for any work
except farming. The Farm Security Admin
istration will continue to help such farmers
establish themselves self-supporting men,
berS of the farm community. Tenant pur-
chase loans which enable farm families to
buy land of their own make not only a con-
tribution to agricultural welfare but help to
strengthen democracy by increasing the
number of families who have a real stake
in democracy.
In the cities the departments food stamp
plan is gradually being extended and now
reaches 100000 members of loW-income
families who receiving public assistance
and who would otherwise be unable to OBJ
tain enough of the right kind of food To
the departments basic purpose of aiding
farmers by the surplus removal programs
there is the added important goal of better
nutrition for all Americans.
Those who remember clearly the meatless
days and the WheatleSs days of the World
War when farmers were urged to plant to
the limit and consumers were told to cut
their consumption to the minimum, realize
the Importance of the abundant supplies of
food and fiber now have in reserve in the
ever normal granary.
In a period of increasing prosperity and
generally rising price levels, the regulation
of futures trading in farm commodities, the
grading and inspection services for meats,
grains, fruits and vegetables, and market
news service, marketing agreement programs
and other services that promote orderly
flow of farm products to consumers take on
added significance.
During the coming year the departments
share in the national defense will not be
concerned only with domestic problems The
office of foreign agricultural relations works
closely with Department of State officials
in making plans for closer economic team
work in this hemisphere. Bureau of Plant
Industry scientists are at work in several
Latin American republics to help in promot-
ing the rubber industry in this hemisphere.
Other scientific bureaus are assisting to pro-