Evening star., 1945-03-21
Thomas Urges State,
|WFA Experts Sit In
On Food Investigation
by the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
Chairman Thomas of the Senate
Agriculture Committee disclosed to-
day that, State agriculture commits
sionefs throughout the Nation will
be enlisted in the Senate's inquiry
into current food shortages.
We've got to find out whether
there is an overall shortage and
determine how such shortages as
exist can be helped by Congress,
Senator Thomas told reporters.
This isn't undertaking expedi-
ton, but an inquiry looking to
solution"
| President Roosevelt told his news
conference yesterday he woul6 re-
lease statement Friday on the food
situation. He said he thinks the
country should know what has hap
pened on the food front
Senator Thomas declared that
everywhere I 60 the country is alive
with cattle" yet meat and butter
doesn't reach the dining tables of
the people"
There's plenty in the black mar
ket," he said
Map Plans Tomorrow.
Senator Thomas own belief is
that farm prices should be raised by
increasing the parity formula to
guarantee repayment of increased
labor and other production costs"
Saying he will call his subcom-
mittee together tomorrow to map
plans for the inquiry, Senator
Thomas added
I'm going to suggest that we call
in State agriculture commissioners
and have representatives of the
War Food Administration attend all
these sessions"
The Oklahoma Senator said he
takes no stock in some congression-
al demands for one-man food boss,
because War Food Administrator
Marvin Jones has all the authority
he needs to be a food czar."
/ Meanwhile, the Agriculture De-
partment reported that farmers
plan to plant nearly as much land
as last years acreage to help meet
food requirements.
Planting Acreage Down.
/ A department survey of planting
intentions as of March | indicated
a total acreage of 1863 1927 900, COM
pared with 1854, 100000 seeded in
1914. Last years figure was the
largest during the present war
period.
Despite prospects that the planted
acreage would nearly match last
years, the l945 production of all
foods is expected to be from 5 to 10
per cent below 1914 This is largely
because of a lower level of produc-
ton of livestock products.
Much OF this years acreage will be
devoted to livestock grain and feed
crops and to wheat - commodities
not now being fully utilized or of
which there are no shortages.
Final crop production will be de-
termined by weather conditions dur
ing the spring and summer and the
farm labor supply, as well as by the
acreage planted. Weather condi-
tons during the past three years
have been considerably better than
average. Thus If this years output
OF crops is to equal or exceed last
years, weather conditions would
have to be slightly better than last
year and labor conditions would
have TO be as favorable.
Draft Involved.
The department said farmers
have the will to increase produc-
ton above last year, but that the
means are lacking.
Some farmers were said to be
cutting back production because
their sons have been called or ex-
pect to be called for military service.
Compared with last year, indi-
Gated paintings of principal crops
included: Winter wheat, IL per cent
more; spring. wheat, IT. per cent
less; oats. 8.3 per cent more; barley,
l4.l per cent less; fax seed. 368 per
cent more; rice, II per cent more
sorghums for all purposes, 106 per
cent less; potatoes, SO per cent less;
sweet potatoes, per cent less; to-
bacco, 4,l per cent more; dry beans,
lis per cent less; dry peas. 43 per
cent less; soy beans, "a per cent
less; cow peas, SO per cent less:
tame hay, OIL per cent less, and
sugar beets, 202 per cent more.