Evening star., 1943-08-22
Il STATE EDI7N)N
Early Moves Seen
10 Bring Feed Stocks
Into Drought Area
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.

BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.
Early movement of hay and
grains into the drought-stricken
area surrounding Washington is
expected to follow a meeting to-
morrow of agricultural leaders and
representatives of the Commodity
Credit Corp.
Farmers in the Virginia, Mary
land. Delaware area, and a part of
West Virginia, were promised Fed
eral aid in combating drought
caused feed shortages at a meeting
Wednesday of farm leaders and
Government representatives 1t is
expected tie procedure for hand
ling emergency feeds will be ironed
out at ton!crrows conference.
While farm leaders could give no
indication last night of the amount
of emergency hay and grains that
might be provided for farmers now
being forced to feed next winters
supplies. it was believed the
amounts would be sufficient to pre-
vent widespread liquidation of dairy
herds and other livestock.
Milk Supply Threatened.
Il was estimated that at least
100000 tons of hay and 100000 tons
of grain, in addition to normal pur-
chases, would be required.
Farm leaders agreed the most
serious drought threat is to the
milk supply, which already is off
20 per cent in production. In rec
ognition of this threat it was point
ed out that preference would be
given to feed for dairy herds, beef
cattle and laying hens, with prob
able curtailment of hogs and broil-
ers now being raised in the area.
j. B. Hutson, CCC head, told
farm leaders the agency would work
out plans to bring into the drought
areas part of three or four million
bushels of corn which CCC has left
from 35,000000 bushels purchased
forI distribution to corn processing
firms. The CCC already has re-
leased $4,000 bushels of corn for
Maryland drought areas.
Mr. Hutson said corn shipped
into the area could be made avail
able to stockmen and to CONNER
cial feed plants for processing into
prepared dairy mixtures.
Available in Midwest.
Although no definite arrange
mehts have been perfected for i'm
porting hay, farm leaders said
forage now can be bought in Ohio,
Nebraska and Kansas where farmers
have been reported letting their
hay stand in fields because of the
poor market.
Farm leaders said 1t is expected
the CCC will absorb some Of the
costs of hay brought into the area,
thus permitting farmers to buy for
age at a price approximating $40 a
ton.
Asserting that unless some central
agency is designated to handle the
importing, the market price will be
sure to rise as individual stockmen
bid for existing supplies, farm lead
ers said in all probability one or
more of the organized farm CO.
operatives will be given the job.
The co-operatives, it was said,
are in close contact with farmers
in the area and could be expected
to expedite the distribution of feeds.
Hay Will be Inspected.
IN order to prevent large losses
from sweating and mildew, as was
experienced when forage was
shipped into the East during the
1880 drought, farm leaders said hay
would be Government inspected, and
allowed to go through its normal
sweat before being loaded for ship
ment.
In addition to Government assist
ance in supplying feeds, farm lead
ers said concerted efforts would be
made to have meat slaughtering
quotas raised for farmers who are
forced to sacrifice livestock because
Of feed shortages.
L. M. Walker, jr, Virginia COM
missioner of agriculture, pointed out
that while populations in defense
centers in the area are swollen,
slaughtering quotas are based on
normal population figures. He said
this resulted in the temporary clos
ing of many local packing houses,
causing livestock prices to show
deSline, although there has been no
reduction in meat prices to the
consumer.
Farm leaders said of the milk sup
ply that unless immediate aid is
given dairymen, the District and
Baltimore may expect ito go milk
hungry this winter"
, ,. B. Derrick, secretary of the
Maryland and Virginia Milk Pro-
ducers' Association. said 10000 gal
Ions of milk a day are being i'm
ported to the Metropolitan Area.
He said this will Jump to $4,000 gall
Ions day by November. 1t was also
predicted that the drought will in
crease milk prices i to 2 cents per
ollhYf