Excerpt from Report of the Secretary of Agriculture, 1941

But the war and the defense program do not, even for the present, entirely solve the problem of low consumption in the cities and the related need for wider markets for farm products. They do not cure the problem of low incomes for many families on the farms. It is consequently highly important to maintain our programs for commodity distribution and rural rehabilitation. The need for as sisting low-income families in both town and country, helping dis tressed farm people through loans and farm and home guidance, and assisting in developing the skills required in modern farm produc tion continues during the defense emergency. We must not slacken our effort to see that all our people are kept healthy and properly nourished.

Unemployment and underemployment still exist in both town and country. Shifts required under the defense program are causing difficulty among groups Of urban workers. Many of these shifts also have a bad effect on agriculture. It is true that with the current improvement in farm incomes and in wage opportunities many more farm families on a low income level can now be reached and helped. They are in a better position to qualify for rehabilita tion loans. Nevertheless more than a million farm families are still in need of special help. Many farm families have not shared in the defense prosperity or have actually been displaced by it. The prob lems of these families and the problems of urban families that are still in difficulty call for continued attention.

Our programs for food distribution and for rural rehabilitation should of course be flexible. Current use of these programs should match the current need. They continue to be essential, however, for many who are not yet sharing in the new defense income and to relieve the shock of emergency economic readjustments. There will perhaps be increased need for these programs when the time comes to shift from defense to peace production.

Plans for doing this job are in hand. The tools, however, must be ready. Peace may come suddenly and find us unprepared; or it may find us prepared and yet unable to carry our plans into effect with sufficient speed. Measures for commodity distribution and rural-security measures will be important instruments in the transi tion. The machinery needs to be used at present and to be kept intact, well-oiled, and operative for needs to come.

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