The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1946-09-26
PROGRESS ON THE FARM

lVVAGE-EARNER'S experiences have accustom
~ ed them to think of farms as places of refuge
for the unemployed during depression periods ano
lat other times as source of labor willing to work
for low wages. Workers coming to industry from
farms and accustomed to small cash incomes with
lmuch food furnished have to learn that total de-
lpendence on wages necessitates higher rates
However, progress in other industries is definitely
Ihindered or helped by progress in the agricultural
Industry The House Special Committee on Post
war Economy Policy and Planning reviews some
|of these policies in making recommendations on
postwar agricultural policies
The farm, which the committee calls the cor
|nerstone of the nation came through this war in
much better condition than World War L. 1t prod
uced bumper crops to meet the needs Of this coun-
try and of our allies. Over 100000 persons left
farms in the past five years. With sharply de-
creased manpower but aided by power machinery
and low-cost fertilizers, farm output doubled. Ma
tiona income for agriculture rose more sharply
than did the total national income.
Two factors which have been most dangerous
Ito farm prosperity are weather and industrial de-
PRESTON which lead to declines in national in
come. Technical progress has helped the farmer
to deal with some weather hazards and crop in
surance takes care of others, while high level of
national income have provided markets for crops
in this country with increased exports. The gov
ernment has insured farm incomes on basic crops
and has also made loans on crops. Subsidies have
been paid directly to farmers to take care OF some
increased prOQucClOn cOSCS In OrQer 10 Insure III
dustria workers against increases in costs of v-
ing.
However, progress for farmers is unequal
One-half of the farmers receive 80 per cent of
the cash income from agriculture and the other
half Is per cent In the lower half are the small
farms the uneconomical farms, the tenant farms
the sharecroppers and the farm residences for
persons whose incomes are from industry.
The Department of Agriculture helps tenant
farmers to acquire ownership. 1t provides all with
technical information on fertilizers, seeds, how to
improve soils, how to breed better animals, what
crops to raise and how to market When necessary,
it buys the surplus. The Department aids in or
ganizng marketing cooperatives to supply them
with the things needed on the farm.
Public policies which help farmers should be
supplemented by aid for farm laborers. The re-
Gently enacted law providing federal aid for more
adequate medical facilities is first step in raising
standards of medical in the rural regions. But
the largest number of fatal accidents and perman-
ent total physical disability cases for the country
as a whole occurred on farm work in 1943. Yet
these persons are not covered by workmen's COM
Neither are they permitted to share IN
the benefits of social insurance. They become bur-
dens on their families or the community.
Agriculture has been aided by national policy
and should now assume it's social responsibility
for those who carry on it's essential work.