The role of the war agricultural and executive committees in the food production campaign of 1915–1918 in England and Wales

Abstract

During the war of 1914-18 the British Government launched a food production campaign (in 1915) and committees were set up in each county to encourage farmers to increase the output of grain and potatoes. The situation became so critical by 1917 that compulsory powers were taken to improve land husbandry and extend cultivated land. In order to invoke these powers and provide assistance to agriculture, the Board of Agriculture established an executive Department and an agency in every county, called the county war agricultural executive committees. These bodies played a crucial role in publicising and implementing government objectives and in identifying local shortages of labour, horses, machinery and supplies. These innovations in the organisation of the farm industry are examined in this paper, using information derived from the minute books and correspondence of the county committees during the period 1915-19.