![Food we Must Have But Farmers Need Help! - AN19920196-160 [PCDN=3309-2011-0592-064]](/web/20061029142436im_/http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/newspapers/canadawar/images/agriculture_e_min.gif)
Food we Must Have But Farmers Need Help!
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The War Economy and Controls: Agriculture
By 1939 Canadian agriculture was recovering from the worst of the
Great Depression. There was some additional production on hand,
particularly wheat, to meet the requirements of war. The federal
government in Ottawa immediately set up an Agricultural Supplies
Board to meet the food needs of Canada as well as overseas orders.
In March 1943, the government created the more powerful Agricultural
Food Board to bring together all production in a single programme.
Canada received a seat on the Allied Combined Food Board in 1943, in
recognition of its gigantic contribution to this vital part of the
war.
As the Germans overran continental Europe, Britain looked across the
Atlantic for food. Despite heavy losses inflicted among food-carrying ships
by German
,
nearly 1.5 billion kilograms of
bacon, more than 325 million kilograms of cheddar cheese and
similarly large quantities of other meats and butter were sent to Britain
during the war. Whole eggs were converted to egg powder and milk was condensed,
making it easier to ship. Processing plants in Canada dehydrated
cabbages, carrots, onions and potatoes. It was hardly gourmet food,
but it helped Britons to keep going in a hard war in which they were
on the front line.
Canadian farmers made these prodigious wartime efforts in spite of a
steady shortage of labour. Young people left farms for the armed
forces or better-paying jobs in industry. However, temporary help
from students, home defence soldiers and prisoners of war, along
with a group of harvesters who moved from one region to another,
eased the shortages. So too did the putting off of compulsory
military service for farmers' sons and farm labourers
( see Conscription ).
Related Newspaper Articles
- Finance at Large
The Globe and Mail, 01/11/1939
- Farmers Urged to Prepare For Big Demands of Future
The Hamilton Spectator, 16/11/1939
- Defense Work Draining Labor From Farmers
The Globe And Mail, 16/08/1940
- Harvest Leave For Soldiers
The Globe And Mail, 16/07/1941
- Foresees Cut in Manpower For Farm Work
The Globe And Mail, 27/07/1942
- Farm Labour Drops Steadily, Further Depletion Expected
The Hamilton Spectator, 25/08/1942
- Canadian Farmers: You Have Done Well! Wartime Production is Still Growing
The Hamilton Spectator, 14/10/1942
- Airmen Helping to Gather Crops, More Aid Needed
The Hamilton Spectator, 09/08/1944
- 6 000 Men Will Travel West to Help Harvest Grain Crops
The Globe And Mail, 10/08/1945
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