Evening star., 1945-06-30
Agriculture Report
Doubts Food Picture
Will Improve Soon

The Agriculture Department to-
day held out little hope for early
improvement In the food situation
as the House Food Committee, in q
new report, called for long range
planning and the placing of farm
production on the same allout basis
as war production.
These developments came as Rep
resentative Anderson, Democrat, Of
New Mexico prepared to take over
the combined jobs Of Secretary OF
Agriculture and war food admins
traitor in the nearest approach to a
food GEAR" the Nation has had in
this war. He succeeds Secretary
Wickard and VIA Administrator
Marvin Jones.
President Truman signed the ex-
ecutive order in Kansas City yester-
day, transferring to Agriculture the
functions OF VIA. A spokesman
said the effect of the order is to
abolish VIA although its outstand-
ing orders will remain in effect.
Civilian Supplies to Decrease.
The Agriculture report, final food
summary of Mr.. Wickard and Judge
Jones, stated that civilian supplies
Of meats, food fats and oils, rice,
sugar and sweet bakery products
will be much shorter this summer
than last. Egg supplies will be about
as large as last year, while fresh
vegetables and fruits, cereals, milk
and milk products should be suffi-
cient to meet demands.
The Food Committee report, the
last that will appear under sigma
ture Of Chairman Anderson, laid
down this general blueprint to get
more food:
l. Farm output on the same all
out basis as war production-with
programs outlined far enough in
advance so growers will know what
the Government expects of them.
2. Guarantees by all Government
Notwithstanding the Army to
buy all the food they ask for, thus
warding off price crushing surpluses
at the end of the war.
Praises WAC Accomplishment.
Judge Jones, meanwhile, in fare
we'll news conference, said he was
very proud" of food production ac-
accomplishments of VIA during his
tenure of office. He said I'VE not
only fed civilians we'll, but we made
our Army the best fed in the world
and helped our fighting Allies as
well. This is something no other
fighting nation accomplished.
The Anderson report spoke of q
growing black market in eggs, ag-
gravated by over-ceiling buying
from the Nations producers. The
committee urged the Government
to announce soon its egg support
program for next Springs produc-
ton so poultrymen will know what
to expect as a means to offset the
increasing shortage.
Cooking fats and vegetable oils,
the committee said. will grow stead
lily tighter through this year and
probably next. But it revealed one
hoped-for offset: An ARRANGEMENT
between the United Nations and Ar
gentina whereby that country will
send out surplus fats and oils in
exchange for United States fuel oil.
Farm Travel Priorities.
AS one means Of relieving the
farm labor shortage, the committee
suggested farm workers be given
travel priorities between now and
the peak of the harvest season so
they can get where the crops are
and help market them.
The department said total meat
production during the July-Septem-
Der quarter may be down S to 10 per
cent from the output of the third
quarter OF 1914. with a reduction in
pork production being Offset in part
by Increased output of beef and veal.
Stating that special Government
programs may improve distribution.
the report said meat supplies for
civilians probably will remain at a
very low level through the summer
and early fall"
Meat production will increase
seanonably during the last quarter
OF the year, but increased non
civilian purchases for war uses, now
indicated, probably will take most
of the increased cut" it added.