1940 to 1943 farm population fell almost twice as much as 

 during World War I, but total food production increased 

 three times as fast (table 3). Superficial observation would 

 lead to the conclusion that increasing the farm population 

 does not increase the food supply and that the way to get 

 more food is to have a war and draft the farm labor supply. 

 However, providence and changes in the economic incentives 

 play important roles in our food supplies. 



TABLE 3. RELATION OF UNUSUALLY LARGE CHANGES IN 



FARM POPULATION TO THE AMOUNT OF FOOD 



AND FEED CROPS PRODUCED 



* Farm population was based on January 1 enumeration; crop production, on reports for 

 the preceding year. 



During the years from 1929 to 1932 the farmer had plenty 

 of help, no price incentive, and the weatherman was indif- 

 ferent. There was no change in the production per worker 

 (table 4). During World War I prices rose 82 per cent and 

 farm workers were scarce. The weatherman was helpful and 

 production per worker rose 15 per cent. During World War II, 



