Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-09
Need Farm MACHINERY
To Replace Men
Minnesota Pepper Discusses
Problems Created by Demand
For Wartime Food Crops

this part Of America at least, is not
higher prices for farm products, 1t is
either "a more labor, or tb) la bor saving
machinery
That is why, all over Minnesota, farm
ers are f1ocklng to auction sales, and
bidding as never before.
Livestock is bringing good prices-par-
ticUlarly dairy coWs-for several reasons:
The farmer has more money in his pocket
than in years: war production demands
prompt him to increase his herds. and
the unit requirements for draft defer
rent may force him to buy few animals
to round out unit
But the bidding is most spirited in GER
tain kinds of farm machinery. Farm
operators are taking the help shortage
pretty much for granted. To keep their
farms at top efficiency, therefore, they
need labor saving equipment. The num-
Der Of new machines is limited 80 they
are seeking what they need at auction
sales.
At q Belle PLANE, MINI, sale recently.
hay loader which cost $3.50 four years
ago sold for $500. Near Jordan, an out
moded hay loader brought sl43; In ordi-
nary times it might fetch s25. At Lake
Vile Il touryearold corn planter sold
for $40; cost, $50.
Tractors, one OF five items put under
price ceilings, are often sold by lot, at
ceiling price At one sale small sprayer.
worth only few dollars, was Jumped
with tractor. Though the tractor had
cost $1,000 and had ceiling of about
81 600, with the sprayer it brought 81 600.
Tractors, hay leaders, side delivery
rakes, binders and anything that will
attach to tractor are particularly in
demand. They enable worker to ac-
complsh more-to make up for the boy
who has gone to war or the hired man
who is in defense plant.
Yes, the farm machinery problem is
serious. County rationing committees
are trying to be Solomons in awarding
available tools. In Scott County 81
formal applications have been filed for
tractor cultivators, against a quota OF 81
and there have been informal inquiries
from another so farmers. Thirty men
applied for the eight available spike
tooth harrovs.
The committee thinks there will be
enough tractors for the most acute needs.
Most farmers already have tractor OF
sorts, though many would like better
one
OF one machine there is a surprising
surplus-cream separators Scott County
can have 20 new ones, but there is hardly
an application. Reason: Farmers are
selling whole milk instead OF cream A
big Government drier, to be opened at
Belle PLANE in May, will increase the
demand for milk.
The Hennepin County committee re-
ports more than so applications for the
IA tractor cultivators allotted to this
county. Tandem discs, hay leaders and
side delivery rakes are next in demand
Out IN Mcleod County conditions are
much the same: farmers are seeking
machines to help them meet the labor
shortage. A farmer limped into the
office at Glencoe the other day and said
he thought he could get along with the
help OF his l4-year- old son this summer
II he could buy side delivery rake. He
had broken leg last fall, and though
he ordinarily kept a hired man he
thought his chances of getting one this
year were pretty slim. His leg was pretty
we'll mended, but he was afraid he
couldn't stand much of pitching hay into
rack
Those are the problems of the county
committees all over the Northwest.
Just how much the farm machinery
shortage is going TO affect food produc-
ton Is worrying a lot of people. Prac-
tica1y every one, of course, realizes that
there Is a definite lack of almost every
thing.
Secretary Wickard got the War Pro-
duction Board to increase farm machin-
cry auotments. New machinery for l943
has been raised to 40 per cent Of 1910
output, against an earlier figure of 20
per cent. Repair parts were first set at
1875 per cent Of 1910 manufacture, and
now have been boosted to 167 per cent
Already 1886 900 tons of steel have been
allotted to farm machines for the first
half OF l943. That would make lot OF
armament WPB has to decide II the
steel Is of better use on the battle front
or the farm front
new order allows State Department
OF Agriculture War Boards to arrange
redistribution OF equipment from county
to county to make the best use of mate
rials. Some farm machinery plants hold
Ing arms contracts are shifting back to
farm tools for time.
Other farm shortages keep cropping
up to plague WPB and the department
OF agriculture. Now it is battery dry
cells. Farmers without electricitv-and
that means the majority of farmers in
the Northwest-need batteries for their
gas engines, for radios, for charged
fences.
The answer to the food problem con-
trary to the political medicine makers OF
the farm bloc, is not higher prices for
farm products. 1t is either more labor,
or in lieu Of 1t. labor saving machinery,
Washington papers please copy
Forum Speakers Criticized