The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-02-24
farmers Home Administration Figures Show
Ex-Grs Return 10 Farms In Large Numbers
Supervised Credit OF FILA Proven
WelI-Suited To Needs Of Veterans
With Limited Gosh, Report Tells

hDOut II per CelI u Tie Dol HILL
lion loaned by the Farmers Home
Administration, U. S. Department
of Agriculture, during the year
went to returned servicemen to
buy or equip farms, it is pointed
out by Walter E. Strider, local
FILA supervisor, who compiled
figures from the agency's annual
report for l948, just released. Vet
rams who are becoming establish
ed in agriculture made up about
one quarter of the 100000 farm
ers participating in the program.
Supervised credit has proved
well-suited TO the needs Of many
young veterans and their wives
whose financial assets and farm
management experience are limit
ed but who desire to become sue
cessful operators of family-type
farms, the report stated. Veterans
receive preference for all loans.
Special loans were made to 14l
disabled veterans who bought
farms suited to their abilities.
Many Low Income Farmers
The annual report pointed out
that many farmers are still earn
ing low incomes. Despite the re-
latively high prices and good
4 elds Of recent years the average
gross income from half the ma
tons farms is less than $1,000 a
year.
IA large part of our farm pop
ulation has not shared to very
great extent in the nations pros
perity," wrote billiard B. Lasse-
ter, administrator, in letter pre-
facing the report. This fact is
often overlooked. It can be COM
pletely realized only by examin-
ing the limited farming facilities
Of many rural families"
Need Working Capital
Additional working capital and
better farming methods are two
of the main needs of low-income
farmers whose output is limited.
Only those farmers who are not
able to borrow from banks or
other private or cooperative credit
sources, are eligible for assistance
from the Farmers Home Admins
tration
Applications for credit increas-
ed over the 1947 totals, but fewer
loans were made because Of small
Ter appropriations. There were
117,885 farm-operating loans, 1904
direct farm-ownership loans, and
1874 water-facilities loans made
during the IL months ending June
80, 1913. The number of families
paying off loans in the same peri
cd totaled 100000.
New Mortgage Program
A new mortgage insurance pro-
gram put into effect in October.
1947, aided $50 farmers in 80
states to buy. enlarge or develop
farms. Banks and other private
lenders advanced $2,490,910 for
these loans, and the Farmers
Home Administration guaranteed
the repayments. The agency said
its field workers reported gains
in crop diversification, new sour
ces of income, widespread adop-
ton of modern practices on bor-
rowers' farms.
Built Up Herds
1.-THE great majority of the fami-
lies have built up their herds and
hocks, worked out soil-conserva-
ton programs, improved their
homes" the report stated.
farmers and their wives who
once could not afford to enter in
to community affairs are becom-
ing active in church groups, join
ing farm organizations, and taking
leading part in neighborhood
activities. Children are finishing
school with chances for college or
special training"
Holmes Report Made
In Holmes county, as reported
by w. E. Strider, local Farmers
Home Administration supervisor,
the total maturities for the fiscal
year l948, production loans $l28,-
800. Collections to date are $l46,-
100, which shows that some bor-
rowers are paying notes in adj
vance.
Total maturities on land pay
ments through farms by loans by
the United States Government,
500, ST., collected was $l05, 425 or
112.5 per cent.
The total number of families re-
ceiving financial help through the
Farmers Home Administration is
GIT farm families. The total acres
of Holmes county consists of AGO.
GAO. OF this total, approximately
10000 acres in cultivation are be-
ing used in row crops.
COMM CYRY. IN RECITAL.