Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1942-09-24
LABOR PROBLEM
RAISES COST
Farm Labor Shortage Grows
DOwnstate; Cost to Farm
Ell Becomes Greater
CROP PROSPECTS

Despite the critical farm labor
shortage in Sussex County, farm
ers are harvesting apples and get
ting corn cut in readiness for husk-
ing next month, survey of the
county indicates. The late crop of
apples in the county, which is esti-
mated higher than last year, will
be at its peak in about another
week or 10 days, which is when
farmers expect the labor situation
to become the worst. ]. Franklin
Gordy, Sussex County agriculture
agent, pointed out that while crops
are being harvested, the cost of the
work has been greatly increased to
farmers. II know of one instance
where it cost farmer 500 to get
20 acres of corn cut and shocked
while in many cases farmers are
working day and night with their
entire families in an attempt to
catch up with the work." Mr.. Gordy
said. In the Milford area, farmers
are paying as high as So a day and
furnishing meals to workers for
cutting corn. In former years the
cost was about $3.50 day. The
higher prices of corn are expected
to make up somewhat for the
greater cost of labor. Mr.. Gordy
said that a few mechanical corn
pickers are helping in some mea-
sure to alleviate the labor short
age. Farmers who own the ma
chimes are cutting the corn of their
neighbors.
Labor Sought in South
Migratory workers, brought to
this state from the South by can
merry owners, have helped consider
ably with the picking of tomatoes
and apples. These workers are en-
ployed by the farmers on their off
days at the canneries. A represen-
tative of the U. S. Employment
Service in this state is in the South
at present attempting to obtain
labor for the peak of the apple sea-
son. Mr.. Gordy said that there
might possibly be few isolated in
stances in which crops are rotting,
but in general farmers are manag-
ing to obtain labor. THE labor
condition has not been as bad as we
anticipated it would be last spring"
he said.
Crop Prospects
Delaware crop prospects, as a
whole, on Sept. l were very good
with indicated production for most
crops above both last year and the
average according to the Delaware
Crop Reporting Service. August
was unusually wet. The excessive
rainfall was good for most growing
crops, but for some truck crops
which were in the heavy maturity
stage, such as tomatoes, canta-
loupes and watermelons, some dam
age was done. Rainfall was much
less plentiful during the latter part
of August and operations which
were hampered and, in some cases,
brought to a standstill were re-
sumed after the rainy period. In
Dictated crop yields for 1912 are
generally above year ago and the
average. The condition of fruit
crops, soybeans, cowpeas and pas
lures on Sept. was considerably
better than a year earlier, with the
exception of peaches, and far ex-
ceeded the 10-year (1930-39 Sep
TENDER averages.
Corn Crop Yield
Corn crop prospects improved
during August with indicated total
production now considerably better
than year ago and the average.
The indicated yielud per acre on
Sept. l was 80 bushelsJthe highest
since 1921. The indicated 1912
production of oats, barleyl and all
tame hay is equal to or above pro-
duction last year and the average.
Wet weather in August caused
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