Food will play an exceedingly important part in the gigantic struggle in which America is now engaged. We were literally forced into the war against our will by the brutal attack at Pearl Harbor and there is now nothing for us to do but to prosecute the war with al the means at our command until victory is ours. Secretary of Agriculture Claude Wickard has said, "Food will win the war and write the peace."

Munitions of war are necessary and we must have them in ever increasing quantities, but without proper food in adequate amounts for both our armed forces and our civilian population our effort would be in vain. Our allies, too, must be supplied with great quantities of foodstuffs in order for them to carry on.

The farmers of America, through the "Food for Defense" program have been asked to produce more food in the year 1942 than they have ever produced before and they have already signified their intentions of complying with that request. Not only will more food be produced, despite the shortage of farm labor, but adjustments will be made to the type of food production most needed for our own use and for that of our allies. Barring a natural calamity of some sort, such as an extensive drought throughout the country, farmers will not only meet the production goals set up but in many cases exceed them.

Agriculture Was Ready
Agriculture was prepared for the emergency. Eight years of experience through the Triple A program of agricultural adjustment and conservation with our ever-normal granary of basic commodities full to overflowing has placed agriculture in first place in preparedness.

We challenge industry and abor to emulate our example in building up ever-normal granary supplies of goods. Had this been done in the past it would not have been necessary, for a time at least, to set up rationing boards to ration out small supplies. It would not have been necessary for our people to go without some of the things we have come to think necessary and we would also have been able more speedily to convert our factories for the production of necessary war materials.

Agriculture has thrown its all into the fight, all our enormous investment in dollars, and all labor we can possibly put into the job without thought of a forty-hour work-week, time and a half for overtime and double time on Sundays and holidays. No work stoppage or strikes will be indulged in by the farmer. He will produce abundantly and take whatever profit or loss is meted out to him. The farmer knows we are at war, farmers of the north, the south, the east, and the west.

Production Needs Stressed
The USDA War Boards in every county of the nation have, since last fall, carried on a continuous campaign of education among farmers concerning the economic situation, present supplies and prospective demands for all agricultural products as well as for specific commodities. After Pearl Harbor these county War Boards redoubled their efforts in the campaign.

Through the Triple A, almost every farmer in the United States was personally contacted in a signup campaign for increased production of vital foods, such as beef, pork, dairy products, poultry, eggs, etc. As a result of this campaign in Brown County the farmers of the county have signified their intention of increasing their production for 1942 over that of 1941 to the following extent: milk cows 16.3 per cent increase; milk 18.3 per cent; eggs, 43.9 per cent; hogs 57.9 per cent; and beef 28.7 per cent. This is in excess of the goals set up for the territory and may not quite be reached but it is an indication of what is happening in agriculture all over the country and is an indcation that the farmer is fully aware that there is a war on and is determined to do his part come what may.

Willingly Furnish Men
He knows, too, that besides increasing his production he will have to furnish his share of the men for our armed forces. Older men, younger boys, and many farm women will take their places in the fields and in the care of livestock. The work must be done and we shall not fail.

Farmers don't spread the news when they buy defense bonds and stamps but they are doing it just the same and in sizable amounts. Yes, the farmer knows there is a war on and has already "buckled up his belt" and "spit on his hands" and is tackling the job with the will to win.

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Transcribed by Robert W. Test 4/15/2000