Show farmers 7 armors prepare for their bi biggest agest year yea p T byi LG ELLIOTT president lasalle extension university As their contribution to the war effort to achieve victory the farmers of the united states arti are planning to produce during this year the largest amounts of farm products that have ever been raised the new production goals call tor for more intensive efforts to in every line and farmers are using the slack winter months to get ready for turning out this greater output of food that Is needed increases reaching more than 10 per cent are planned for most of the major farm products including corn pork beef eggs and abick chickens farmers specializing to in these lines have already boosted their production and raised their income they will do even more during this year to in order to meet the larger demand from consumers with higher incomes from the government to supply the armed forces and from nations abroad that are fighting with us dairy farmers are expected to lead all types of farmers to in income gains consumer use of milk is increasing and augmented exports of condensed milk and cheese to great britain will further improve their income the national production schedule calls for a 7 per cent increase in milk production to in 1942 whether this will be reached Is problematical lema dairy herds number only about 3 per cent more cows and the other 4 per cent desired will have to result from increased output per cow soybeans aasne assume even more importance as the oil derived from them becomes more vital in our na dional production program acreage is expected to be larger in 1942 and higher prices are in prospect less wheat and cotton win will be raised because supplies of these crops are already large and the export markets lor for them have either been entirely cut off or greatly reduced surpluses now amount to almost two years normal requirements instead of raising more to add to the surplus farmers will devote most of their energies to turning out the food and feed crops tor for which the new need is much more urgent farms in every pirt part of the country are in good condition to meet the increased demands that will be be put upon them this year except tor for the drouth areas areas in the east and parts of 0 the southeast and the excessive rainfall in the central area moisture has been normal and will give the crops a good start this spring farm labor shortage the shortage of farm labor and increased wage wages sor for hired hands will add somewhat to costs and is already handicapping farmers in many parts paris of the country this shortage will be one of the major problems during this year but it is now being tackled by fe federal deril state and local operation cooperation co it will be a hardship for many farmers but it can be overcome to a large extent by careful planning of work and improved methods of farm management |