How Much Was Agriculture Changed By the War in The Years 1939-1950

Authors Avatar
HOW MUCH WAS AGRICULTURE

CHANGED BY THE WAR IN THE YEARS

939-1950

HOW MUCH WAS AGRICULTURE CHANGED BY THE WAR IN THE YEARS 1939-1950

In 1939, when the war began, Britain was importing 70% of its food. Soon German submarines and U-boats were sinking large numbers of merchant ships.

Agriculture became as important to Britains survival as the manufacture of armaments. The greatest need was for more home-produced grain. In 1939 the British Government set up a War Agriculture Committee in each county. The committee laid down targets for individual farmers, while the Government paid welfare of £2 per acre to farmers who ploughed up grassland and sowed corn crops. Arable land was thus increased by half. Wastelands and playing fields could be cleared with bulldozers and planted with rows of potatoes. Roadside borders were used in emergency. Farmers were encouraged to reduce stocks of poultry, sheep and pigs. Cattle was to remain the same, as they were necessary to maintain the milk supplies. If farmers objected to the demands of the Government and the committee they often found that their petrol ration was cut or they had their land confiscated. From 1950-1957 more state marketing boards were created, to control the sale of wool, cheese, fatstock, eggs and tomatoes.
Join now!


The number of Tractors and Combine Harvesters, which were given to us by America in a lend-lease, quadrupled. A lend-lease, was the idea that you could borrow at one time and pay what you owed later, nowadays in the year 2000, we're still paying the score.

Government controlled chemical factories turned out fertilisers and weed killers. Scientists helped farmers with advice, if required.

Britain by 1945 produced 80% of its own food, -and it had not done that since the 18th Century. In 1939 Britains own food production was a mere 30%. British farming became ...

This is a preview of the whole essay