"In wartime, manpower is an item of scarcity and must be used as effectively as possible on farms as well as in factories and offices. Since the productivity of farm operators and workers varies widely from area to area within the United States and even within a particular state, it has become necessary to promote the shifting of workers and even farm operators from one area to another to make most efficient use of the manpower available for farm production. To assist those charged with the handling of Missouri farm labor problems in their determination of policies, information relative to differences in productivity of workers among the areas of the state is needed. Unfortunately, the latest data which may be used for these comparisons are those collected during the 1939 census. Although productivity has increased greatly since 1939, which makes the data presented appear out-of-date, it is expected that the relative position of counties and areas has not changed greatly. Thus, the material presented may be used to indicate the relative productivity of farm manpower within a county or area."--Pages 1-2
