How Purchasing Cooperatives Are Conserving Farm Equipment

Excerpts from the report: Serious shortages have developed in vital defense materials since the United States entered the war in December 1941. Steel is one of these basic materials. Agriculture uses large quantities of steel products such as tractors, implements, and other machinery in its ordinary production activities. Therefore, as a part of our war effort, a Nation-wide campaign has been undertaken to conserve all types of farm equipment. This program, largely initiated by official action of the United States Department of Agriculture, has been adopted and pushed vigorously by many agencies that work closely with or for farmers. These include the Federal and State agricultural extension services, farm machinery manufacturers and their distributors, and the farmers' cooperative purchasing associations. This report has been prepared to make available a brief summary of the methods by which a number of associations are helping farmers to meet the wartime crisis in machinery and equipment. In making the survey, managers and other employees were interviewed. Descriptions of the methods and facilities used to maintain successful repair and maintenance services are herein described.