Evening star., 1941-09-06
Farmers in Southeast
Urged 10 Boost Dairy
And Poultry Output
R. E. A. Aide Stresses
Help to Countries
Resisting Aggression

oo1dA w ASACtNis o-OkSSA oOlNC Cou-
cation director of the Rural Electro
f1cation Administration, urged farm
ers in Southeastern States today to
produce a larger portion of the
regions dairy and poultry needs so
that more might be made avail
able to Great Britain
Mr.. Meier told a regional r. E. A.
nutritional conference at the Agri-
culture Department auditorium that
extended production of the so-called
protective health foods was neceS-
sary to supply the nutritional needs
of this country and requirements of
Britain and other countries resist
ing aggression.
"Only very small portion of milk
produced in Southeastern States
finds its way to market as fluid
milk or cream" he said, because
most farmers don't like to do the
extra work involved"
Mr.. Meier said electrical power
and equipment available under r.
E. A. programs would lessen the
work involved and offer Southeast
ern farmers "a great opportunity"
to provide larger quantities of milk
for commercial dairy production.
Urged to Limit Purchases.
Farmers we're cautioned, however,
by M. Clifford Townsend, director
of the Office of Agriculture Defense
Relations, to limit purchases of
power materials and equipment to
absolutely necessary needs because
of a shortage of many raw materials.
The farmer has responsibility in
connection with the conservation of
materials" he said. 1--WE have sue
ceeded in getting high preference
rating for farm equipment TO in
sure necessary repair parts and new
production. But I am asking farm
ers not to abuse the order but to
refrain from buying new equipment
wherever possible.
1T is not pleasant for me to tell
the farmers that they will not be
able to secure the supplies they have
been accustomed to buying with the
usual ease. despite the preferences
and favors shown agriculture in
both the priorities and credit buy
ing
Fertilizer Problem.
Mr.. Townsend also told the con-
ference that because of staggering
demands for chemicals for explo-
sives, farmers could expect difficult
ties in obtaining normal fertilizer
needs
Pointing out that Hitler has
pushed rural electrifcation" so that
widely scattered little manufacture
ing plants are not easy targets for
bombs, Federal Security Admins
traitor McNutt last night predicted
similar development here-both
as a social measure and for strate-
gical importance.
THE far-f1ung and invulnerable
little industries of America" will
soon be found along the lines set
up by the r. E. A. he told a banquet
of the delegates in the Washington
Hotel.
Power Producing Food.
In the meantime, electricity on
the farm is helping to provide food
to win the war, Mr.. McNutt and
other speakers told the conference.
Harry Slattery. administrator of
the R. E. A., declared that Brit
aims request" for more eggs. milk.
hnQf honn11 nyl nI,aara -,
being met by use of eiectriC.l farm
equipment.
Mr.. McNutt told the audience of
several hundred that the Govern
ment's approach to the food situa-
ton today is an exact reversal of
the World War system.
During the World War the de-
mand was for civilians to eat less
and save food for men at the front,
he said. Today we have learned
that total defense requires the best
possible nutrition mot only for the
soldier but for the man and woman
at home he declared. For every
man in the front line there are 80
behind the line directly serving
him. We have learned the conse-
quenceS of the hidden hungers
which arise from improperly bal
anced diets We know that not
only obvious physical health, but
morale and mental stability may
depend upon good food"
Cites Spread of Power.
Mr.. McNutt reported that over
80 per cent of Americas farms are
electrified today, compared with
100 per cent at the end of 1884.
But he contrasted this present sue
cess unfavorably with conditions
in some parts of Canada. where he
said greater consumption at less
cost exists.
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
Grover Hill emphasized the farm
ers' duty of meeting the challenge
of the great war machine of NaZi-
ISM" and asserted that the dem
ocratic' Federal system which has
been used to restrict crop produc-
ton can now be used Just as eff
fectively to expand production of
needed commodities.