Evening star., 1943-08-26
Crop Damage
Mounting in
Nearby States
Virginia Farmers
Begin Liquidoting
Their Livestock

Drought damage to crops in the
four-State area around Washington
continued to mount today, with
farmers in Virginia reporting liqui-
dating some livestock due to feed
shortages and Maryland truck grow
ers releasing labor because of cur
tailed production.
Virginia farmers were reported by
the Associated Press TO be hurrying
to market with livestock, including
soWs which will farrow within a
month, although Government sub
sides for feed were reported in the
offing.
While local markets were reported
receiving large quantities of meat,
even more was reported headed for
channels to the big packers mar
kets.
Government to Help.
Meanwhile, Government plans for
supplying hay and grain to drought
stricken farmers in the area includ-
ing Virginia, Maryland, Delaware
and a part of West Virginia we're
expected to be announced within
a few days.
Farm leaders pointed out that as
farmers are now feeding next VIM
ter's feed supplies, they must be as
sured that forage and grain will be
supplied them to prevent a whole
sale liquidation of livestock and a
resulting milk shortage in the area.
Officials of the Agriculture Ad-
justment Agency reported that
already more than 10000 bushels of
Commodity Credit Corp. .-owned corn
has been released to farmers in the
area. Additional supplies are ex-
pected to continue to move into the
section
In Maryland, Stanley E. Day.
Anne Arundel County agent, re-
ported that lack of late fall crops
will result in the closing of Camp
Mil-Bur, girls farm labor camp on
the Magothy River on Labor Day.
Drought Is Blamed.
He said he had hoped early in the
surlmer that the camp would be
open for the harvesting of late
vegetables, but that these plans
were made before the drought.
Labor placement officials in
Maryland reported that with the
peak of the canning season at hand
Or about to be reached, an antici-
pated labor shortage has not de-
veloped, largely because weather
conditions reduced crops
Lawrence B. Fenneman, State
director of the War Manpower Com
mission, said Maryland's l64 operat-
ing canneries last week employed
%, ,124 persons, but they estimated
the peak need this week would call
for only about 1000 more workers.
Early in the season, it was said,
VINO officials estimated that ap-
proximately 10000 persons would
be needed to man the States can
neries during peak production.
Weather conditions, however, made
it possible to reduce this figure to
about $4,000.
Labor Problem Eased.
VINO officials said that while the
prolonged dry weather had eased the
fhanpoWer problem, it had resulted
in a corresponding curtailment of
crop estimates. The corn and tomato
crops were particularly hard hit,
they said, with the corn processing
season in most counties ending this
week.
The Virginia Weekly Crop Report
announced drought damage mount
ing, with only seven of the 100 coun-
ties now reporting ample rain.
The principal crop damage by dry
weather, it was said, include corn
and late hay crops, such as lespedeza
and Soybeans. The tobacco crop has
suffered considerable damage, it was
reported, and the peanut crop will
be damaged unless rain Games soon.
Feed shortages were reported par
ticularly severe in the Northern Vir-
glnia counties resulting in cut in
milk production Many streams
were reported drying up.