Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-18
- :: FAR M N E:ws
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSlON:l
----- SERVICE Cd ~
NJ :
SERVICE
E''f,

Here is a report from the War
Food Administration on farm pro-
duction supplies for this year.
1t will continue essential for farm
ers TO take the best possible care of
farm machinery, to keep it repaired
and to share its use. The only way
they can expect to have enough
wooden containers and cloth bags
is to conserve them and make best
use of second hand ones.
To make insecticides go as far
as possible, farmers are urged to
keep an eye out for bug infeSta-
tionS and TO use control measures
promt .ly. Rotenone will be in short
supply the same as last year. More
pyrethrum than last year will be
available, but the supply will still
be tight. Supplies of nicotine will
be tight and perhaps quite short
depending on the nature and extent
of insect infestations. Most other
materials for inSecticide and fungi
eide will be large enough to get
along as well as in the past.
FERTILIZER PURCHASES
Growers who have not purchased
the fertilizer they will need this
spring are urged to co so at once,
An increased supply of potash will
probably bring the total supply of
commercial plant food to about the
same tonnage as last year. Compar-
ed with last year. we'll have small
er tonnage of the approved grades
high in nitrogen, and less super
phosphate for straight application.
Some surplus army trucks will be
available but no particular number
can be counted on. Some light
trucks will be produced. for the first
time since the war began but only
about II per cent of the estimated
requirements will be made. Farm
transportation problems will reach
a new peak, while new trucks and
heavy truck tires continue short.
Farm machinery production would
have TO keep right on schedule to
provide about as much new ma
chinery for use in 1945 as we had
for use last year, but proc uction
is running considerably behind
schedule on machinery other than
wheel tractors. These have been
coming off the production line pref
ty close to schedule. But not as
many are scheduled this year as
last year when manufacturers were
completing an old program an6
the new program at the same time.
Crawler tractors, because of large
military requirements, will be as
scarce this year as last.
NEW MACHINERY
The new machinery schedules
again emphasize labor-Saving equip
ment such as side-delivery rakes,
pickup hay balers, corn pickers,
combines, and manure spreaders.
But compared with last year, big
ger share of the authorized material
will go into planting, fertilizing, ano
tillage equipment. Repair parts are
expected to be adequate for the job
TO be done. There are no quota re-
strictions on the manufacture of
parts, and the reports on produc-
ton look satisfactory.
Also listed as adequate or about
the same as last year are the fol-
lowing: metal roofing and sicing,
fractional horsepower electric mo-
tors, hand tools, fence wire, netting,
nails, staples, bale tires and pipe.
All essential farm uses are now elig-
ible for rationed supplies of lpmber
under farmers lumber certificates.
Copper wire is getting little tight
er but the shortage Of transformers
may continue to limit the demand
for wire. Farm chain will continue
to be scarce but most types will
probably be available to meet es-
sen.ial requirements. With fewer
milk drying plants coming into
operation, demand for milk cans
is expected to Slacken. Not SO many
will be made, but there should be
enough to meet farmers needs.
The outlook for farm production
supplies gives no cause for either
jubilation or grave alarm, but it
does necessitate full-scale attention
to the conservation of all produc-
ton equipment and supplies.
PRODUCTION GOALS
Final agricultural production
goals for 1915 call for continued
full production. Final goals Just an
Eounced by the War Food Admins
tration represent the total of state
goals recommended by farmers.
farm leaders, anc state agricultural
officials. State goals for California
were recommended following a con-
ference in Berkeley last fall. Inter-