How the Great War changed shape of farming for good
NFU county chairman ANGELA SARGENT looks back at farming during the First World War
WE recently commemorated the end of the Great War and remembered the lives lost from all walks of life and ethnicities, the sacrifices made and the destruction endured. Very few families were left un- touched by the momentous events.
Farming was affected in many ways. Before 1914 the country was 60% reliant on food imports, brought on boats from many countries and even during the beginning of hostilities the commanding officers weren’t worried about food supply – but as the supply routes were targeted and following several years of poor harvests, it dawned on them that the population would be compromised.
At one stage, Britain only had six weeks worth of wheat left. Why? Well, in 1846 the ‘corn laws’ were repealed and we moved to free trade – this meant it became easier and cheaper to import and consequently we eased off our own production (ring any bells?).
When it was realised we needed more food, we had few men and horses to do it – over 250,000 farmers had signed up to fight and useful horses had been taken.
In 1915, recruitment officers were told not to allow skilled farm workers to enlist and, by 1916, the Ministry of Food was created, implementing a minimum price for wheat and oats in 1917.
By the end of the war arable production had increased massively. But it still led to compulsory rationing in 1918.
Of course, the lack of work-
force drove investment into mechanical and chemical technology and, by the end of 1918, there were 6,000 tractors to help grow our food – now there are 310,000.
In 1914 it took approximately one hour to milk 10 cows, now a farmer can milk between 60 and 100 cows in that time. New opportunities for women were created, not just in farming, but doing jobs it had been thought only men could do.
The Women’s Land Army was created to fill the landbased vacancies and women showed they could do the work just as well. Ultimately all this experience led to them being given the vote.
After the war, those in authority began to plan for any similar events and, unfortunately as we know now, once again our food security would be jeopardised.