The Plight of Agriculture Much nonsense has been talked about
the Prime Minister's _ speech at Kettering, when he pointed out—what is obviously true—that it is out of the question for this country to attain self-sufficiency in food supplies. But the Council of the National Farmers' Union, which met last week, is distressed not so much by what he said as by what he did not say. They contend that the present condition of agriculture is one which urgently demands attention ; that the home farmer today could not give any undertaking that the greatest possible supplies of food from our own soil could be made available if an emergency arose. They maintain that agriculture is in a weaker condition now than it was in 1914. The value of agricultural land and the value of tenants' capital have fallen. So has the number of workers engaged in the industry. The recent fall in prices has brought the index figure to the lowest point for 20 months; the prices of fat sheep are down to pre-War level. At the same time the farmers' production costs steadily tend to rise. The case for a considered policy in regard to the major problems of agriculture is strong and urgent. * * * *
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