Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-30
FarmPayCei|ing
Is Removed by
Roosevelt Order
Byrnes Asks Action
As Record Food GouIs
Are Set for 1913


the pay of agricultural labor,
and designated Secretary of Ag-
riculture Wickard as admins
traitor of the pay features of the
Price Control Act where they
apply to farm workers.
The President acted on the recon-
mendation of James F. Byrnes, eco
nomic sterilization director, who
issued the new regulations.
The action follows the Agriculture
Departments announcement of rec
ord food production goals for 1943
The department told American
farmers that the United Nations
food strategy placed on them the
responsibility for producing more
than ever before in spite of shortages
of labor, machinery and equipment
Farm Labor Defined.
The order defined agricultural
labor" as persons getting not more
than $4,000 year. Persons working
on farms and getting above that
wage are in the province of the War
Labor Board. where the question of
salary raises is concerned.
The new REGULATE said that "the
general level of salaries and wages
for agriculture labor is substandard"
and stressed these two points
l. A wide disparity now exists be-
tween salaries and wages paid labor
in agriculture, and salaries and
wages paid labor in other essential
war industries.
2. The retention and recruitment
of agricultural labor is of prime
necessity in supplying the United
Nations with needed food and
flbers.
The great percentage of farm
workers in America get far below
$1,000 a year.
New Regulations.
Secretary Wickard recommended
that farm wages be made subject
to his authority. Mr.. Byrnes told
President Roosevelt in a letter sub
hitting the new regulations. Among
the regulations are these two.
NO employer shall decrease wages
or salaries paid to agricultural labor
below the highest salary rate. OF
wage rate or wage paid for such
work between January /, 1912, and
September Is, 1912, without the
approval of the Secretary of Aeri-
culture.
Nothing herein shall be inter-
preted to prevent the Secretary of
Agriculture from utilizing any other
authority now or hereafter vested
in him to insure an adequate supply
OF agricultural labor. through wage
or salary Sterilization, and other
wise to secure agricultural produc-
ton necessary for the effective
prosecution of the war through pro-
grams of procurement, transporta-
ton, distribution, housing. medical
care, price support or otherwise"
American farmers next year, in
addition to meeting domestic re-
qulrements, must supply at least
one fourth of its expected produc-
ton to United Nations pool to feed
military forces and civilians, the
Agriculture Department said. This
Is double the amount that wentjinto
this years pool.
In making known next years
needs. the department outlined
production goals for various crops
and livestock, dairy and poultry
products. They will be apportioned
among farmers on the basis of avail
able land, manpower and equip
ment.
Minimum Needs.
In general, the goals, termed
minimum requirements" called for
sharp increases in the output of
meats. dairy and poultry products,
peanuts for vegetable oil, corn for
livestock feed, long staple cotton,
dry beans and peas and potatoes
1t asked that wheat and short
staple cotton production be reduced
because present supplies are large,
and that the extra land and labor
be used for more essential products.
Secretary Wickard warned that
it should be recognized as a fact
/ that I'VE can't produce enough to
meet all the demands for American
food" As a consequence, he said,
I'VE are forced to turn to ALLEGATION
and rationing."
Commenting on the Allied food
needs, the department said:
$50 serious has been the loss of
the great food producing area of
the Ukraine that food shipments
are as important as shipments of
planes and tanks and guns to
Russia"
Millions of helpless people in
Europe have been stripped by the
Nazis not only of their food but
their food producing power. AS
they are liberated they will need
both food and supplies for food
(See FOOD, Page A-6D