-3- 



,'A shared equally ty the armed forces and civilians. This is a geographical extension 

 ^ of the poultry set-aside order that now applies to designated areas in eight major 

 broiler -producing states. Secretary Anderson says it must "be clearly understood that 

 farmers and poultrymen are not "being urged to sell their laying hens. The nation's 

 egg supply next year must not be Jeopardized, "but when the farmer or poultryman, in 

 carrying on normal culling operations, has hens to sell, ho must sell them only to 

 authorized suppliers providing army poultry under this program. The order prohi"bite 

 shipment or delivery of live poultry to a point more than 100 miles from the farm on 

 which it was produced, except with special permission. 



The demand situation . In its regular monthly report the Bureau of Agri- 

 cultural Economics anticipated no significant decline in the general level of demand 

 for farm products before 19*^6, and prices of most farm products were expected to re- 

 main near current levels for the remainder of this year. This estimate was based 

 on the prevailing situation whore it is obvious that substantially larger quantities 

 of many farm products would be purchased at present prices if they were available. 

 The Bureau reported that declines in consumer incomes as a result of cut-backs in war 

 production following the end of the war in Europe are not likely to be largo enough 

 to cause any appreciable doclino in prices or quantity purchased. However, thoy did 

 not attempt to forecast what would happen if the Pacific War wore to end in the very 

 near future. Thoy point out that construction activity continues to bo maintained 

 at a level above last year and is likely to increase during the remainder of 19^5, 

 although it will bo hampered by a shortage of lumber and other supplies until after 

 the end of the war with Japan. 



Looking to the postwar period, national legislation has boon proposed which 

 includes a complete housing program and embraces recommendations of a report frcm a 

 Postwar Housing Subcommittee headed by Senator Taft. Congress would bo asked to set 

 a goal of 1,250,000 new American homes in each of the next 10 years by helping cities 

 clear slums, aiding farmers to build houses and extending existing federal housing 

 programs. The goal of 1,250,000 homes would be between four and five times the pro- 

 war construction rate and, according to Senator Taft, would mean oxpondituros of fivo 

 to six billion dollars annually and provide directly or indirectly three to four mil- 

 lion Jobs. 



800 million chickens raised on farms in 19^5 . According to a preliminary 

 government estimate, 808 million young chickens were raised on U. S. farms in 19^3-- 

 3 percent more than in 19UU but 13 percent less than the record production in 19^3 • 

 The largest increases over last year were in the north central and western states. 

 The preliminary figures for Illinois are Uo, 891,000 in I9U5, up 5 percent from I9UU 

 and up 9 percent from the 10-year average, 195^-^3. 



Butter set -a side reduced . The set-aside of creamery butter for government 

 purchase for the month of August originally scheduled at 30 percent has been reduced 

 bo 20 percent. July production ran somewhat higher than expected, and the outlook 

 for August production is also favorable. Army requirements are also less than orig- 

 inally anticipated, partly because the army has arranged to purchase some butter in 

 Denmark for use in feeding U. S. troops in Europe. This will leave about 100 million 

 pounds of creamery butter available for civilians during August. The Office of Price 

 Administration announced that no further reduction in the point value of butter is 

 anticipated in view of tho recent point reduction from 2k to 16 points per pound. 



Tho food situation . No significant relief from shortages of civilian food 

 supplies is in prospect for the next 12 months, according to the United States 



