Agricultural Society Granted $263,000 in Loans to Jewish Farmers Last Year

The Jewish Agricultural Society granted over ##,000 in loans to Jewish farmers in 16 states during 1946, Dr. Gabriel Davidson, ##aging director, announced in his annual report released here today. He also ##nted out that the Society was placing a greater emphasis on placement of veterans ## refugees on farms in this country.

Nearly 500 veterans applied to the agency during the year, including a number ##non-Jews referred by Christian organizations, the report stated. Forty veteran ##ilies have already been placed during the first year of the veterans program, but ## Davidson said that it was expected that the rate would be speeded up this year. ## all, 105 families were sottled on farms mostly in the East, and California, Michi##n, Illinois and Florida in 1946.In his summary of work among the refugees, Dr. Davidson revealed that “by ##e end of 1946 approximately 5,000 refugees had come to the Society’s offices, ##,259 individual consultations had been held and 505 families settled on farms in ##lifornia, Connecticut, Florida, Illincis, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Massa##usetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. ## these families 429 are, according to report, still on their farms, a showing which speaks for itself. Loans in the amount of $616,898 were made directly by the ##ciety, $69,153 was lent by other agencies, mainly by the Central Loan Trust. Of the $686,042 aggregate $485,800 has already been paid back–much of it before ##turity.”The report disclosed that The Jewish Agricultural Society has granted more ##han $10,000,000 in loans to Jewish farmers in 40 states since the Society’s founding in 1900. It also summed up the Society’s general activities, pointing out that ##ts Department of Agricultural Education and Extension maintains a staff of agri##ultural experts who bring to farmers in the more populous Jewish farming districts ##gricultural information on all phases of farming. During 1946 these extension ##pecialists made 3,039 farm visits, held 75 farm gatherings, meetings and demonstrations attended by over 4,000 farmers. In addition, advice and aid were given to ##,631 who sought individual consultations at the Society’s offices. Under its aus##pices interstate conferences of farmers were held. The Society conducts agricultural ##night classes for farm aspirants in New York City and Chicago and maintains a pur##chasing service for individual farmers and farm cooperatives.