The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-01-08
0zZZZZ.Z.ZZZZZ.ZZ
Farmer Has a Vital Role
In Helping TO Win War
Repairing of Machinery, Conservation and
Improved Farm Gardens Listed as Best
Methods of Aiding in Emergency.
BY BAUKHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Commentator
WNU Service, 1343 H Street. NV,
Washington, d. c.

WNU Service, 1s4s H Street. NV
Washington, D. c.
Americas two important weapons
against her enemies i'll the long war
we see ahead of us today are the
assembly line and the farm. In
Washington in the department OF
agriculture a war cabinet has been
created for Secretary Wickard
made up of the heads Of the action
agencies-the agencies that are ere
ated to help the farmer do things.
I'VE, in Washington, can't do
a thing by ourselves said an Of
fetal to me. We can't grow a bush
ell of wheat or raise a peck OF corn.
But we can line up behind the de-
partment's field men to help the
farmer in this emergency. We are
now organized to put our maximum
effort into that kind of help
The three most important things
for the farmer to do now, according
to Washington officials, are:
l-Rcpair Machinery
First, get agricultural machinery
repaired. SPAB has allocated ma
terial for repair parts. There is no
sign that these ALLEGATIONS will be
cut down but there is no chance of
increasing them. The farmers got
out record crops in 1910 and l94l
with their old machinery. They
can't do it a third year unless that
old machinery is repaired now. And
if it isn't repaired now it won't be
ready for spring.
2-ConserUation
The second important word for
the farmer is conservation.
Get every piece of scrap metal off
the farm and into the hands of the
junk man. Watch your bagging.
Remember we import jute and
there is likely to be decided short
ages. Cotton can't entirely fill the
gap because the machines making
heavy cotton materials are being
utilized by the army. Save waste
paper, too. (This column is being
written on the back Of a mimeo-
graphed newspaper release.)
3-TheF Farm Garden
And here is a third reminder: The
farm garden. Remember that there
is a sharp shortage on %tin-plate.
Everything in the way Of food that
you a preserve for yourself saves
the need of cans. Not only the
things that you can rut in glass
jars but also root crops which can
be stored without the use Of con-
tainers-carrots and turpips and
cabbages. too.
So much for what the farmer is
expected to do. Now what is going
to be done to the farmer?
In the first place he is going to
be asked to produce more with less
help. Secretary Wickard says that
goals in the "food-for-freedom"
program are just about right but
that they have to be reassayed in
the light of the war with the Axis.
Here are some Of the main changes:
First of all. because we are CO.
ing to be a Woodworking nation,
on the home front and elsewhere,
an increased amount Of vitamin-
contained strength-bringing vegeta-
bleS will be needed
The sugar situation will have to
be considered very carefully. We
may lose imports of a potential mil
lion tons from the Philippines. The
Hawaiian islands as a sugar source
r uncertain. Much Of the Cuban
sugar will have to be turned into
industrial alcohol. AS to production
on the continent, the labor situation
of which I shall say more later
cuts deeply into that program, for
sugar labor is always rapidly ab-
sorbed by competing interests.
The supply Of oils and fats is
another problem which may require
a reassaying of the food-for-freedom
program. Fats and oils make up a
heavy import from the East Indies.
They represent essentials as food
and also for manufacture-the oils
which 60 into the glycerin products
for explosives, the drying oils for
paints. for instance.
Farm Labor Problem
OF course. the worst problem the
farmer has to face, and the one
that must be solved before those
/ have already mentioned, is the
labor problem.
Young. strong. mechanically mind
ed young men are the backbone
OF the successful farm. Young.
strong, mechanically minded young
men are the backbone of a success
full army. Especially a modern
army. The same segment Of the
population is also needed in indus
try.