War and Farm Work

Excerpts from the report: A fighting war calls for the best effort of all men, women, and young people. World War II is no exception. The next year will see 5 to 10 millions of our men in the armed forces. More millions of men and women will be engaged in backing up the fighting men with munitions and supplies, right down to the little girl who holds yarn while her mother winds it, or the boy who fills the wood box that fuels the stove that feeds the men who grow the crops that feed the United Nations. War has always taken men from farms. Today, the tank and plane assembly lines are adding to this draft of farm manpower. The constantly increasing needs for men in the armed forces and the war industries make it difficult, in some cases impossible, for farmers to get as much hired help as they want. And these difficulties are arising at a time when record production of farm products is needed. This publication is concerned with the labor problems of the farm itself and of the farm family. The Nation has a big job which must be done with the least possible waste effort. Idle time on the farms and elsewhere must be reduced. How can it best be done? Here are a few suggestions gathered from every section of the country. They may make you think of other ways to save time on the farm, to save our heels by better use of our heads, or to use the family to back up the fighting line.