Show farm supplies will continue to be S short hort but improvement Is expected in some lines farmers are in for another tough year on the mechanical side of their production job according to fredi fred ric eric B northrup director of the office of materials and facilities of the war food administration instead of hoped for improvement in the materials and equipment situation and fewer transportation problems farmers in 1945 may expect to see a continuation of obstacles against which they have battled throughout the war years that brings into sharp relief the necessity for using every bit of machinery and other equipment to the best possible advantage keeping tools and buildings in good repair sharing available equipment where it is practical and keeping close check on unnecessary waste of materials te rials transportation problems northrup said will be affected by the fact that the approved truck brodu production program will provide less than a fourth of the new trucks estimated 0 essential production of light trucks of particular interest inheres t to farmers Ear mers is authorized at about 12 per cent of estimated requirements the number of surplus army trucks that will be available is unpredictable heavy truck tires continue in short supply although production of some of the most important laborsaving labor saving machines has been greatly increased during the war government surveys show that the outlook for 1945 could still be improved upon farm machinery in general with the exception of tractors at last report was running 20 to 25 per cent behind schedule spring tools and some other r items requiring heavy use of castings were behind schedule a although tractor production was approximately on the line parts are available plenty of parts are expected to be available to keep current equipment A 4 aa n n Z po j VA 0 do 1 I 1 f V M rp 4 I 1 IS czap up to date and farmers are being urged to check over and repair every old machine that can be kept in operation emphasis in the farm machinery program will continue to be on laborsaving machines for harvesting and ad haying northrup pointed out but planting fertilizing and tillage equipment will receive a bigger share of authorized material than in past pr programs 0 reuse of bags and wooden containers is being urged again in 1945 as the fabric and wood shortage is expected to make for further scarcity of these items lumber continues in critical shortage but ut the farmers situation on repairs repair s calling for this material is S somewhat improved they can now go to their county AAA committees and get certificates for lumber to be used in urgently needed repair and maintenance maintenance of ol farm dwellings lust lust just as they have been getting certificates for lumber to be used on an other farm buildings about as much metal roofing and siding as last year yea r appears certain no shortage is anticipated for nails staples bale ties and pipe and manufacturers of fence wire and netting are authorized to produce at a greater rate than their prewar level the number of hand tools in in prospect is about the same as in 1944 with some tools and other miscellaneous supplies continuing to move to farms from stocks of surplus war property supplies of binder twine P are r e expected to be adequate w wih h an improvement pro in quality during 1945 the rope situation is not yet clarified although the quality will continue C n to be below prewar days there will probably be enough milk cans to to meet farmers requirements as well as adequate types s supplies u PP ies of most 0 of f farm chain needs for essential ammunition shorter but supplies will be steps are planned to insure sufficient ammunition for the control of birds predator predatory f animals and |