P.D. 123 



to a great extent by de-centralization of industry that would give rise to working- 

 units in rural sections where farm boys and girls could divide their time with agri- 

 cultural and industrial defense programs and make a substantial contribution to both. 



We have in Massachusetts excellent opportunities for agricultural education at 

 schools and colleges, and these educational institutions attracted a greater number 

 of students during the past year. We are proud of the high character of agricultural 

 education that is available to the boys and girls who want to be successful farmers 

 and leaders in rural life. 



It has always been extremely interesting to observe the accomplishments of the 

 4-H Clubs and Junior Achievement Leagues. These boys and girls were especially 

 active during this past year, and worked faithfully and demonstrated a capacity for 

 planning their work carefully and carrying out plans to a successful conclusion. Their 

 exhibits were of excellent quality and were presented to the public in a very attractive 

 way. Anyone enjoying the privilege of attending the Eastern States Exposition cer- 

 tainly was impressed with the practical and intelligent understanding which these 

 boys and girls indicated on farm problems, and must have been quite satisfied that 

 the continuing success of our agriculture appears safe in their hands. 



The Massachusetts Development and Industrial Commission has given considerable 

 assistance to agriculture in advertising our products during the past few years, and 

 in 1940 the work of the Commission, through its advertising programs on agricultural 

 products, was quite effective in stabilizing market and preventing heavy losses at 

 critical periods. This type of assistance to our farming population is to be continued, 

 and it is expected to act as an incentive and a stimulus to greater advertising effort 

 c-n the part of commodity groups themselves to cooperate in developing a greater 

 consumer demand for quality farm products. 



Massachusetts is a small state, and primarily industrial, but in all sections of the 

 state from the Berkshires to the sandy beaches of Cape Cod and the North Shore, 

 in our small area of 8,266 square miles we have 35,000 farms that are producing 

 as many as thirty-one separate farm products for the family table during the months 

 of August and September and lesser amounts during other months, but in no case 

 are these farms turning out less than fifteen separate farm products during any 

 one month, and these are in addition to milk, eggs, poultry, and meat products. Our 

 markets are so located that practically every farmer is within 25 miles of a large 

 consuming center where the demand for fresh farm products is much greater than 

 our Massachusetts supply. 



The following data shows the value and importance of our agriculture : 



Number of farms — 1940 US Agricultural Census 



Value of Farms (Land and Buildings) . 



Total Acres in Farm Land ..... 



31.897 



$212,014,287 



1,937,963 



Detailed Information on Farm Income : 

 Value of Production (1939) 

 Milk (804,000,000 lbs.) 

 Eggs (405,000.000) 

 Chickens (8,914,000) . 



Cranberries 



Apples 



Strawberries 



Pears 



Peaches 



Grapes 



Vegetables . . . , , 



$25 

 9 

 5 

 4 

 3 



,916,000 



,585,000 



935,000 



,200,000 



.000,000 



400,000 



60,000 



40,000 



40,000 



000,000 



A; 



of January 1. 1940 

 Cattle (193,000 head) 

 ( 8.000 " ) 

 (100.000 " ) 

 ( 23.000 " ) 

 (594.000 tons) 



Sheep 

 Swine 

 Horses 

 Hay 



Tobacco (6,100 acres— 9,281,000 lbs.) 



10 



13,621.000 



50,000 



958,000 



3.312,000 



9,223.000 



2,438,000 



