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1943 Press Photo Jackrabbits chew stalks of wheat on Les Parker's ranch in Texas

This is an original press photo. Wheat Harvest -- Stratford, Texas: A great many people wondered how they could enjoy the 4th of July weekend with travel restricted and gasoline rationed. But the farmers in the Wheat Belt neither celebrated the holiday nor observed Sunday in their haste to get the important crop harvested. Never before has a crop been so anxiously awaited, for wheat is now serving a three-fold purpose -- flour for the hungry people of the world, feed for livestock, and alcohol for war use. A seven-month drought preceding the harvest, augmented by a green bug infestation, grasshoppers, jackrabbits and other grain-eating animals and pests; has reduced the production in the panhandle country of Texas -- the Dust Bowl of a few years back -- by an estimated 1,000,000 bushels of wheat under last year's harvest. This series of pictures was taken on Les Parker's wheat ranch in Sherman County. Parker, who works six combines to a field with eight men, can plow a section (320 acres) in a day. Photo shows a pair of jackrabbits chewing off stalks of grain. These animals have done ... amount of damage in the wheat ... are that in Sherman County ... destroyed 20,000 bushels. Photo measures 8 x 6inches. Photo is dated 07-07-1943.

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Historic Images Part Number: nea46713