A History of the Emergency Farm Labor Supply Program, 1943-47

Excerpts from the Introductory Statement: The purpose of the wartime emergency farm-labor supply program was to assist farmers in producing vital food by making labor available at the time and place it -was most needed. Certain aspects of the program, particularly the provision of housing and medical care, were adapted from a farm labor program that had developed during the depression. As this development influenced considerably the evolution of the 1943-47 program, the first two chapters of this monograph are concerned with Departmental activities undertaken before Congress made the first direct appropriation for the 1943-47 program, and with the change from depression-born social welfare programs based on an oversupply of labor to the war program based on a demand for labor far exceeding the supply. The responsibilities assigned to the Department of Agriculture by Congress were carried out by the Extension Service and the Office of Labor. The Extension Service was charged with placement of all farm workers and with recruitment of domestic workers. In carrying out these functions, it developed a number of special programs. The Office of Labor was responsible for the importation of farm workers from neighboring countries and colonies where such labor was available. Both agencies had certain responsibilities for providing services to workers.