Evening star., 1942-03-25
War Is Divertino
Skilled Farm Labor
Writer Tells Of Increase
In Agrorion Wages
As Workers Go to Cities
By Bertram Benedict.

By Bertran Benedict.
Men whose draft numbers were drawn
on Tuesday. March II, probably will not
be inducted into the service until after
planting season is over on most farms
In the United States, but the inductions
will be heavy before the harvesting sea-
son comes around.
Opinions differ sharply, even among
agricultural experts, on whether short
age Of farm labor actually exists at the
present time. No one disputes, Of course,
that an appreciable migration Of men
away from the farms has occurred In
the past year and half. One estimate
Is that IS per cent Of those leaving have
gone into war industries. only IS per
cent into the armed forces, but the
latter percentage undoubtedly will rise.
Nevertheless, 1t is claimed that so
large surplus Of farm labor-at least
Of potential farm labor obtains in most
parts of the United States that the
supply will be adequate for some time.
From this point of view. farmers are
having trouble In getting labor simply
because they will not pay enough. To
which farmers reply that II they have
to compete with the present high in
dustrial wage rates, they will 60 bank
rupt.
Figures Of the Department Of Agri-
culture indicate that on March /. 1912,
the average daily wage rates for farm
labor were $1.72 with board and sos
without board. The lowest rates for
labor without board were 80 cents a day
in South Carolina, and less than 100
In Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
The highest average rate per day with
out board was In California-$370. 1t
was $50 or more In Rhode Island, Con-
necticut and Oregon. In most Of the
Middle West the rate was around $3.50,
also in Delaware and Colorado. The
average increase between January I,
1941, and January !, 1912, was about so
cents a day.
On March /, 1912. more non-family
workers were employed on farms than
a year previously. New England. the
Middle West and the South Central
States showed . decrease. The follow
ing sections showed an increase in non.
family farm workers during the IL
months-the Middle and South Atlantic
States and the West.
Farmers are complaining not only Of
the quantity but also Of the kind Of
farm labor being diverted into industry.
They say that the diversion has been
highest among workers experienced In
handling farm machinery. who find 1t
easy to get well-paid jobs In war in
dustry. So that even II an adequate
supply Of farm labor does remain, farm
ers insist, 1t Is apt to be Of the less
eficient kind, especially among the older
or very young workers.
As for diversion Of farm workers into
the Army: Selective service headquar-
ters has issued three memoranda to the
local draft boards. As early as May,
l94l, the local boards were asked to
give most serious consideration" to re-
quests by farm workers for occupattonal
deferment. On December 4, 194l, the
OOdIOS WSIC GOtO w SOiloiACi WAASehSA
the registrant was helping to produce
essential products-how important he
was in such Observation-Disclosures the
farm on which he worked actually mar
keted substantial amounts Of essential
products-what the actual state Of af-
fairs was as to farm labor In the par
ticular area involved. These points were
reiterated in a memorandum Of Febru-
ary is last.
In Great Britain women are playing
q leading role in agricultural produc-
ton. During World War I non-farm
women ("farmerettes'D also high school
youths, were tried out on farms In the
U. S. A. Plans so far made along those
lines in the present war seem to be still
tentative.