“The interest of the Jew in farming is unabated” says Gabriel Davidson, General Manager of the Jewish Agricultural Society in its twenty-eighth annual report just issued.
The Jewish farm population in the United States has grown from barely a thousand in 1900 to an estimated population of eighty thousand in 1928. One million acres are today being farmed by Jews and the real estate and personal property value of their holdings is over $150,000,000.
The report gives the year 1927 as the most active in the Society’s history. “Large numbers of city Jews have their minds on the farm.” More Jews are giving up their city occupations and are turning to the farm for a livelihood. The Sciety, came in contact during the year with 30,000 people, the largest number in its history.
The report gives many details showing the progress of the various departments and branch offices through which the Society operates.
The Society’s Farm Loan Department has since 1900 granted a total of 8,933 loans aggregating $5,710,689,00. Loans have been made to Jewish farmers in 40 states. Last year loans were made to 534 individual farmers located in 18 states, and 2431 persons were directly benefited. The financial service extended by the Society is based on business principles, though loans are made on marginal securities and their repayment is spread over a long period of years. There is no exaction of bonus or commission or payment of renewal charges. This department had aided many farmers to obtain a firmer foothold and has also helped numerous persons to take up agricultural pursuits.
The Society’s Farm Employment Department has secured farm employment for 15,981 Jewish young men since 1908. Last year it placed 471 men as farm workers. This department affords young Jews the opportunity of acquiring practical agricultural training. Records show that many bought farms of their own after a period of service.
During the past ten years 10,137 Jewish men and women desiring to buy farms applied to the Society’s Farm Settlement Department for advice and guidance.Farms were found for 947 families of whom 453 received loans to help finance their purchase. This Department is responsible for the establishment of the Toms River– Lakewood ( New Jersey) Settlement. It helped place there more than one hundred Jewish families, all of whom developed into successful farmers. Recently new Jewish farming centers were established in Farmingdale, New Jersey, and in Bound Brook, New Jersey. Through this Department the Society is also carrying on frand prevention work and is waging wardare against dishonest farm agents.
The agricultural experts of the Society’s Extension Department visited 1679 Jewish farmers during 1927. Through this system of itinerant instruction, the farmers received up-to-date and scientific information in the various branches of farming. During the period 1920 ?7. these extension experts visited 12,?98 farmers in 45 countles of 12 states. They held 1040 meetings, demonstrations, field days and extension schools. In addition. advice and aid were given to 12,502 farmers who sought individual consultation at the Society’s central office. This Department also gave scholarships to the sons and daughters of Jewish farmers 309 such scholarships were granted for Winter Courses held at the State Agricultural Colleges in 12 states. The Department also maintains a Purchasing Service Bureau, which saves the farmers considerable sums in the purchase of supplies and material.
The Agricultural Night School conducted by this Department is the only one of its kind. The School’s attendance has more than doubled since it was opened three years ago, and its enrollment for the 1927 session numbered 178.
The extension Department also publishes “The Jewish Farmer,” the pioneer Yiddish agricultural magazine in the world.
In 1927 the Society’s Sanitation Department inspected 942 farmers in Jewish farming districts in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. It has promoted higher standards of rural sanitation–safeguarding farm water sources, teaching sanitary disposal methods and protecting food supplies.
The Society also made loans for the erection of synagogues and community houses, and has promoted and supported rural religious education. The Society cooperates with the National Council of Jewish Women and with the United Synagogue of America in advancing the social and religious phases of rural life.
The officers of the Society are, Percy S. Straus, President; Lewis L. Strauss, Vice-President; Reuben Arkush, Secretary: Francis F. Rosenbaum, Treasurer.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
