Cooperatives in Farm Labor: A Report on the Use of Cooperative Processes in Distribution and Utilization of Emergency Farm Workers, 1943-1945

Excerpts from the report: The Congress of the United States, early in 1943, delegated to the Extension Service and to the Office of Labor, War Food Administration, responsibility for assistance “in providing an adequate supply of workers for the production and harvesting of agricultural commodities..." essential to the prosecution of the war. Under Public Law 229, as amended and supplemented, these responsibilities have been continued through 1946, though the Labor Branch, Production and Marketing Administration, has replaced the Office of Labor, WFA, in responsibility for recruitment, transportation, housing, and medical care of foreign contract labor. Extension Service's responsibility has been continued for various phases of the Farm Labor Program relating to domestic agricultural workers and the placement of both domestic and foreign workers. Effective working relationships have been maintained with such agencies as the United States Employment Service, public health departments, and public school systems. Relationships with farmer employers have been excellent. The highly important contribution of farmers’ cooperative associations to the successful operation of the Farm Labor Program is discussed in this report. Cooperative control and management methods in utilization of farm labor is a development of the wartime production program in agriculture. Most farm labor associations, organized specifically to deal with labor problems, were established early in 1944, following the successful experiences of a few such organizations in 1943. Many more were organized in 1945. Generally these associations are located in areas of specialized farming. Federations of comparable labor associations are being instituted where extensive and long-time farm labor problems exist.