The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-02-01
Back To The Farm

IL l.
It is extremely doubtful if any accurate
estimate can be made of the numbers of re-
turning servicemen who will enter any
given business or vocation after the war.
The primary concern of everyone on the
home front, however, must be to see that
as many as possible of the veterans will
have an opportunity to follow the pattern
of thei rown choosing. This is only con-
sistent with the American principle of free
enterprise.
The only available indication of the in
tentions of men in the armed forces re-
garding their future pursuits is furnished
by the survey made by the Information and
Education Division, Army Service Forces,
using 10000 men as cross section sample.
Among other things, it was found that
per cent of the sample" want farms of
thei rown Applying this percentage to
liz million service men, some $500 have
a desire to own and operate farms. The
survey showed further that AZ per cent
of the men of the number desiring to own
businesses or farms had been owners of
businesses or farms before the war. 45 per
cent had been employed in the types of
businesses which they hope to own or had
had farm experience The remaining Is
per cent had never had experience in their
chosen fields.
Half of those planning to operate as
owners expect to invest up to $4,000. 9th
ers expect to borrow money for all or a part
of their investments Most of the men in
dicated they would borrow from local
banks or from friends. Few of them SEEM
ed to have any comprehensive knowledge
of the loan provisions of the C. L. Bill of
Rights.
It appears, from the results of this sur
vey, that those service men who expect to
buy farms, are, in the majority of cases,
thinking in terms of the small, or family
size, farm This is indicated by the modest
investment contemplated.
There is a definite place for the small
farm in the postwar economy, even though
many here at home warn that the day of
the small farm, as profitable venture has
passed So vital is the importance of agri-
culture in national and world economy that
it demands the serious attention of business
and industry. In fact, Harry Ferguson and
his associates in Harry Ferguson, Inc. be-
lieve business, industry and agriculture
must be closely integrated into powerful
unit dedicated to the creation of wealth,
full employment, a high standard of living
for all men, peace and security.
Mr.. Ferguson believes that the small
farm has been ineffic ent-but' because it
has never been provided with the tools and
implements that would make it efficient.
With the same inventive genius which
has provided the American armed forces
with the finest equipment in the world,
farm machinery can be produced which
will bring real efficiency to farm operation,
no matter how small the farm This is
bound to result in lower living costs for
everybody. Greater net profits for the
farmer. combined with resultant reduced
cost of food to the city dweller, means a
wider consumption capacity for the pro-
ducts and services of agriculture and bust
ness. rs
Given the proper equipment, intelligent
facilities and an understanding of modern
farm practice and management, the re-