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lively abundant. The War Production Board has restricted 

 the use of nitrogen for fertilizer in favor of explosives. If the 

 war is of extended duration, nitrogen shortages may handi- 

 cap food production. The nation must reconsider from time 

 to time the allocation of nitrogen between food and gun- 

 powder. 



Although grain, the backbone of the nation's food supply, 

 is produced in areas that require relatively little nitrogenous 

 fertilizers, such crops as fresh vegetables, potatoes, and cot- 

 tonseed oil, an important part of our food supply, are grown 

 on soils that require nitrogen. 



The coastal area from Maine to Texas is characterized by 

 light soils that require constant applications of commercial 

 fertilizers, including nitrogen. There is practically no reserve 

 of nitrogen remaining from previous applications of fer- 

 tilizer; and on these light soils there is little natural reserve. 



The next most important region requiring large amounts 

 of fertilizer is the fruit and vegetable area bordering on the 

 Great Lakes. There are many other smaller areas with light 

 soils. Irrigated regions on the west coast and the Mountain 

 States also require intensive applications. These areas pro- 

 duce a goodly proportion of our potatoes, fresh and canned 

 fruits and vegetables, and peanut and cottonseed oil. A lack 

 of nitrogen would handicap food production in these sections. 



Fertilizer production is hampered by factors other than a 

 lack of supplies. Ceilings have been set on wages of workers 

 in fertilizer plants as well as on prices of fertilizers. These 

 ceilings are low relative to urban competitive wage scales 

 and prices of some farm products. Frozen wages below the 

 level paid in competing industries will prevent fertilizer com- 

 panies from obtaining adequate help. If this condition per- 

 sists, the production and distribution of fertilizer will be re- 

 tarded. 



Low ceiling prices for fertilizer and rising farm prices 



