Jewish Agricultural Society Aids Jewish Farmers Produce for War

The role of the Jewish farmer in the gigantic task of feeding war-time America, is discussed in the 41st annual report of the Jewish Agricultural Society issued today by Dr. Gabriel Davidson, managing director. Dr. Davidson reports in detail on the Society’s efforts to strengthen and enlarge the Jewish farming class in the United States, which now numbers about 100,000 persons, and on the organization’s activities in settling Jewish refugees on farms.

Last year the Society settled 168 families, comprising 850 individuals, on farms in eight states. Of these 98 were refugee families. Since many of those wishing to settle on farms have insufficient funds, the Society, which has loan facilities, made direct and indirect grants of $360,000 in 1941. Since its founding in 1901 the group has made loans totalling $8,442,000. Because many of the refugees possess no agricultural training whatsoever, the Society conducts a training farm at Bound Brook, New Jersey where persons from all previous walks of life, from cobblers to physicians, receive rudimentary training in the knowledge essential to conducting a successful farm.

Among the other varied activities of the Society, all aimed at settling more Jews on the land and aiding those already settled, are: an agricultural education department that issues informative publications, gives technical advice and demonstrations both at the individual farms and at special meetings, and conducts evening classes in New York and Chicago for farm aspirants; a farm employment department; a rural sanitation department and other allied services.