Farming in WWII
Agriculture is a main source of revenue for South Dakota so the agricultural effect on the war made a big impact for our state. Farming was a major influence on the economy and it was what most men did for a living.At first, some farmers were afraid of an agricultural collapse happening at the end of the war, like what happened in World War I. Once Pearl Harbor was hit, most farmers were in the full swing for producing as much resources as they possibly could. Increase in everything was asked of them. The army became a major buyer of flour from the wheat and beef produced in the United States. After Pearl Harbor, farm prices shot up 42% and farm costs only increased 16%. The farmers who were afraid of economic failure weren't as afraid anymore. In South Dakota, about 75% of the state's farm income came from Allied sales overseas and civilians through the Lend-Lease program.
The war did tremendous things for agriculture in the US, but it required a lot of work. Farmers were noticing the disappearance of their sons and farm hands due to the war. All the young men were fighting overseas and there weren't enough of them back home. This affected South Dakota highly. Dozens of young men who wanted to fight for their country would go to Minneapolis, MN, because it was the nearest recruiting station. My grandfather, Amos Wicks, had three older brothers in the war (he was the youngest at 17 years old), but he wanted to go fight anyway. Grandpa ran away from home, hopped on a train, and headed to Minneapolis. His father, Mike Wicks, figured out where he was going so he called the recruiting office. Great-grandpa Mike told them that Grandpa was needed at home to help on the farm because his brothers were already in the service and there was nobody to help out at home. Whoever was in charge of the recruitment office went through the physical examination line and found found Grandpa. They told him he couldn't join the military. He was called a Hardship Case being the fourth boy from the family who would be overseas, and his father needed help at home on the farm so they sent him back home.
Because of the lack of men farming, non-farm men, women and children had to step up and do more work around the farm. The government actually suggested businesses close down during big farming seasons such as planting and harvest. They needed the farmers to produce more but the farmers needed more help so that was the government's consolation. School kids were let out to go help during those seasons as well. It was discovered that not many business men wanted to help out on farms because of the low wages. Farm wages were between $5-$10 a day when most of them earned way more than that where they worked. They also had a tough time convincing school kids to come help out on farms. This was where the "Bracero program" came into effect. Mexico and the US worked out a program where certain Mexican people could come help out on farms. Most of them were rural folk and knew a little about farming, but what they didn't know they learned quickly. They were hard-workers who worked for little pay. The farmers praised their work because it provided them extra hands on the farm. Braceros were particularly welcomed in South Dakota during the war years because they learned quickly and worked hard. The braceros did create some conflict in the Great Plains area of the country. Segregation in cities and towns were frequent but the braceros were desperately needed to maintain food production.
Another thing that was tried was the Women's Land Army (WLA). Women joined the WLA to help out on farms for the harvest. The problem was: many farmers weren't as apt to hire non-farm women for seasonal work. They welcomed their wives and daughters in the fields, but they didn't hire other women. The other issue was that not many non-farm women even desired to become part of the WLA. Defense factory jobs paid better and many of them didn't think that helping on the farm was a major wartime effort.
Women did play an important role in the wartime farming efforts, but it was mainly farming women. Women and girls who were a part of the family were seen in the fields during harvest. In South Dakota, many women detassled corn and pitched hay. In other states women shocked wheat, harvested potatoes, harvested grain and picked corn. Women drove tractors to cultivate corn and hauled grain. Many young, educated college girls were also seen out in the fields during their summer break, usually the older children in the family.
Another issue for farmers during the war was a lack of equipment. There was a huge urge to build tanks, airplanes, trucks and other machines needed for the war that was the priority at the time. Farmers didn't have enough equipment to harvest their fields. The machines would break down (which happens quite frequently even now) or just wear out. Because of this shortage a farming community was created. During harvest, all the farmers would share equipment and help each other out. Repair shops were shortchanged and didn't have any spare iron or steel because they were reserved for military purposes. Almost no new equipment was built so whatever a farmer had before the war was what he had to use throughout.
World War II veteran, Don Seedorf said that there was food rationing and not enough farm labor so women helped out, "It was different then than it is now though. Now it's everyone for themselves; back then everyone helped each other out." When the war started he wasn't old enough, and later he got deferred because farmers needed help. He did end up going overseas, but it wasn't until January of 1945. He had 5 months of infantry training before he went over. I got in contact with him through a letter he wrote to the school. He read about the Normandy Institute, my trip, and Reed Smith in the local newspaper. He says he remembers Reed a little bit from sports, but he mainly knows Reed's in-laws, Erma's parents.
My dad and my uncle told me another story about my Grandpa Amos and his father Mike. "Each farmer in county had to throw their name in a hat. If their name was chosen they could buy a piece of farm equipment with the stipulation that they would help out neighboring farmers with the new machine. The neighbors were supposed to pay a little bit for the help, but nobody had any money. Your great-grandpa Mike's name was drawn so he bought a single-row, International corn picker. Grandpa Amos spent all winter picking their own corn and the neighbors. He was still picking corn in January."
In Rutland, SD, the children were let out of school to go pick cattails and milkweed which had many uses for the war effort. They were made into the wadding for ammunition, and the milkweed floss was also used to make lifejackets. The white, sticky resin inside of milkweed pods was also used to make much needed rubber.
Women's silk stockings were used to make ammunition bags. I talked to Glenda Blom, a Madison resident, and she remembers her mother talking about how the ladies always painted their legs like their stockings since they didn't have any. They would take great care in painting the stitching up the back of their legs because they wanted it to look just like the stockings.
There were many ways in which people at home tried to help out with the war effort. Whether they were school children or farm wives, everyone pitched in to help each other out. The country was unified in their efforts.