46 ) 



imum of 200,000 new tractors will be necessary for a program 

 based on 360 million acres. Since the food problem is so seri- 

 ous, experienced young male labor is so scarce, and deprecia- 

 tion may be high, it would be much safer to produce about 

 250,000 tractors. 



TABLE 5. CHANGES IN TRACTOR AND HORSE DRAWBAR 

 POWER, 1910 TO 1943* 



* Brodell, A. P., and Birkhead, J. W.: Age and Size of Principal Farm Machines. United 

 States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, mimeographed report, 

 April 1943. 



t Based on horses and mules on farms two years and older; five animals equal one tractor. 



t The tractor farms no more acres now than five horses formerly did, but the tractor plows 

 deeper and fits the land better. 



The condition of power equipment is quite similar to that 

 of the tractor. Many of the machines are about the same age 

 as the tractor and should be replaced. There is a shortage 

 of combines, corn pickers, and cultivators. Provision should 

 be made for expanding their numbers. 



The farm-machinery program should be based on the like- 

 lihood that (a) the crop acreage will be increased, (b) the 

 horse population will continue to decline, (c) experienced 

 man-labor will be scarce, and (d) breakage will be high. 



