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Machinery Restrictions Relaxed 



Our national farm-machinery policy was to divert steel 

 from food production to arms production. This drastic policy 

 has been somewhat relaxed and some steel has been released 

 for farm machinery. Early in 1943 WPB permitted an in- 

 crease in farm-machinery production from the previous allot- 

 ment of 23 per cent of the 1940 level to 40 per cent, and in- 

 creased repair parts to 160 per cent of the 1940 and 1941 

 production. A long time elapses between the releasing of steel 

 and delivery of the machinery to the farmer. Therefore WPB 

 action will have little effect in 1943. The increase is large 

 enough to evidence admission of the difficulty, but not large 

 enough to correct it. The change in policy occurred after farm 

 organizations had expressed alarm regarding the effect of the 

 curtailment on food production and after the food shortage 

 became generally evident. 



The machinery situation is more important than is gen- 

 erally realized. Because of the agricultural depression, farm 

 machinery was worn down for more than a decade. In many 

 parts of the United States the resulting shortage was only 

 partially replaced prior to the war. The number of machines 

 on farms in 1943 was the highest in history, but their age was 

 greater than in previous years. In addition, the draft of farm 

 labor by the military forces and by industry has made labor- 

 saving machinery even more important than formerly. 



Shifts in crop production call for large amounts of new 

 equipment. Southern farmers have been encouraged to sub- 

 stitute peanuts for cotton. Cotton-producers do not have the 

 machinery necessary to harvest peanuts. 



Inexperienced farm help will result in more than the nor- 

 mal wear and tear and breakage. 



Restrictions on machinery production will have an adverse 

 and cumulative effect on food production. Since the farm- 



