WW II black market re livestock

Posted By: Sharon Mills
Date: 31 December 2002

From:USDA Deprt of Agriculture, USDA Defense Board, Darke Co USDA War Board, 529 1/2 S Broadway, Greenville, OH March 24, 1943, the following letter from Rush Blakely, Chair, Darke Co USDA War Board:

"Dear Sir: You are requested to lend assistance in stopping "black-market" operations in livestock and meats so the armed forces will be assured of adequate supplies.

In addition to the order requiring permits for the lsaughter of livestock for sale, Food Distribution Order 26, effectibe March 31, 1943, provides that every livestock dealer or agent must have a permit in order to operate and must keep records of his livestock purchases and sales.

Under the order, farmers, growers, and feeders are not required to have permits to buy and sell livestock, but are expected to keep records of their sales and purchases of livestock. A suggested form which you may wish to use for keeping this information is indicated below.

It is vital that every head of livestock and every pound of meat not intended for home use on the farm find their way into legitimate channels of trade so that a full supply will be available for the armed forces. Your cooperation will be greated appreciated."

(Printed below are the suggested records for Sales and Purchases, indicating solumns for Date, name and address of buyer, number of head, kind of livestock, weight, price per head and per cwt, and total amount.)

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