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was the lowest In September of any month In 19^3 or 19^ to date. The current esti- 

 mate for total cash receipts for October is $2,255 million conrpared with about $1,955 

 million in September and $2,253 million in September 19**-5. 



The U. S. Department of Agricultiire forecasts some reduction in prices re- 

 ceived by farmers. The government suggests that^ because of declining demEuid together 

 with an unprecedentedly large production of agricultural production in 19W4- and the 

 large carry-over of certain products into 19^5/ some reduction in the prices received 

 by farmers in 19^4-5 is likely. The price support measures will, of course, limit price 

 declines for at least two years aJter the end of the war. Prices which will be sup- 

 ported under current laws and regulations have accounted for about two-thirds of the 

 cash farm income in recent years. 



The costs of commodities farmers buy, particularly food for family living 

 and feed for stock, are also expected to decline. However, there will be a tendency 

 for farmers' costs to rise in relation to the prices received for farm products. Both 

 may decline, but the prices- of farm products^are likely to decline more theai costs. 

 This does not mean that a serious depression is likely in the near future. In fact, 

 the Bureau of Agricultural Economics expects toted demands for farm products to be 

 almost as high in 19^5 as in 19^. Some decline in national income is expected as a 

 result of reduced employment, particularly overtime, in a number of ingjortant indus- 

 tries. However, consumer expenditures are not expected to drop as much as national 

 income, and the demand for many farm products at ceiling prices may continue to exceed 

 supplies. The weaknesses are likely to appear only in prices of commodities which are 

 relatively plentiful. 



Turkey set-aside order sus-pended . Farmers may now sell their turkeys to 

 whomever they wish."^ Although the War Food Administration has not obtained quite aOJ. 

 the turkeys they need, they expect to be able to fulfill their requirements from tur- 

 keys processed prior to November 6 plus the fulfillment of conti^cts made for the 

 future delivery of turkeys . ■ ^ 



Farm population declines ^.7 million since 19^0 . The phenomenal production 

 record of farmers appears more spectacular in the light of statistics recently re- 

 leased by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics which show that the nation »s farm 

 population declined If, 7^^000 in the past four years. Onljr 25i million persons were 

 living on farms January 1, 19**^> against joj- million in 19^. The net loss to the 

 armed forces during this period was 1,650, OCX). Four million 660 thousand persons of 

 both sexes and all ages either moved away from farms or now live on places no longer 

 regarded as farms. On the other hand, there was a net gain of 1,562,000 through the 

 excess of births over deaths. 



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