Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1920 — ASKS VACATIONISTS TO PUT IN TIME AIDING FARM WORK [ARTICLE]

ASKS VACATIONISTS TO PUT IN TIME AIDING FARM WORK

Washington, April 23.—A shortage of farm labor which will be as acute as that of 1918 threatens to curtail food production on American farms, Secretary of Agriculture Meredith said today in an appeal to business men and college students to spend their vacations working on farms, particularly as helpers in harvest fields. The supply of farm labor is only 72 per cent normal, carefully com-piled-reports to the department indicate, compared with 84 per cent last year. The fact that the present situation exists despite an increase of 15 to 25 per cent in wages, paid farm hands is regarded as highly important by Secretary Meredith. As a/ result more acreage will be ; put into grasses and other crops requiring a minimum of labor.