POSTWAR READJUSTMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS 

 AGRICULTURE 



By David Rozman,' Research Professor in Economics 



INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURE 



In the postwar period the agriculture of Massachusetts, like that of other sec- 

 tions of the country, will be confronted with many problems of readjustment. 

 This is not alone because of many dislocations in the normal channels of produc- 

 tion and distribution, but also because a war of such magnitude and scope will 

 make its imprint on practically ever>- sector of our life. For one thing the tech- 

 nological changes in many fields of endeavor, which under normal circumstances 

 proceed at a measured pace, have been accelerated and have brought about re- 

 sults which otherwise would have eventuated only after a long period of time. 



Some of the new developments are of such a nature as to be of immense help 

 to Massachusetts agriculture. These include all kinds of machinery better 

 adapted for both clearing and cultivation of land; expanded facilities for the pro- 

 duction of fertilizers at lower costs; new spraying materials to combat effectively 

 injurious insects and plant diseases; and further improvement in the strains and 

 \-arieties of plant seeds and livestock. Likewise an intensive campaign for better 

 nutrition under wartime conditions has resulted in greater appreciation by con- 

 sumers and higher demand for dairy, poultry, vegetable, and fruit products. 

 All these are supplied by major farming enterprises of Massachusetts agriculture. 



On the other hand, in the field of processing and transportation of agricultural 

 products, new improvements and facilities have been developed which point to 

 the possibility of greater competition for Massachusetts markets from other 

 areas. It is not yet certain what will be the effect of speedier delivery of perish- 

 able products from longer distances or what will be the response of consumers to 

 improved varieties of processed foods; but these are factors to be taken into con- 

 sideration in appraising the future possibilities in local markets. 



Whatever may be the significance of various new factors projected into the 

 agricultural scene, one thing appears certain: to maintain their position and to 

 keep farming in this State on a sound and solvent basis, it will be imperative for 

 local producers to take full advantage of better methods and facilities, whether 

 they pertain to the use of land, the introduction of improved varieties of plants 

 and animal breeding processes, more efficient application of labor, or better 

 marketing methods. 



Sources of Information and Methods of Study 



In obtaining the material for the present study both field work and analysis 

 of the basic sources of information were extensively used. On the land utilization 

 and production side some of the field work was carried out in a number of rural 

 areas largely in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. 

 For a period of three years during wartime the AAA obtained records on prac- 

 tically all commercial farms in the State, indicating the trend in the dififerent 

 lines of production and also some changes in the methods of cultivation. These 

 records were tabulated and analyzed for the present study to gain a view of the 

 readjustments carried out during the war period. The assessors' figures and 



'The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Ruth E. Sherburne in all phases of this study. 



