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"This story was submitted to the People's War site by the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Department on behalf of Phyllis M Crossland and has been added to the site with his/her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."

To combat food shortages farmers were encouraged to plough up more and in order to grow more corn and potatoes. Even the smaller holdings in our rural area near Penistone were approached by someone from the War Agricultural Executive asking for more land to be ploughed. As an added incentive to encourage this, substantial payments were offered. For growing potatoes, ten pounds per acre could be had. While this did seem a generous sum, to the small grassland farmers it did not bring much financial gain. Most of them had not even their own plough nor other necessary equipment for growing potatoes, so had to pay others for the use of theirs. Despite this, everyone was ready to play their part in the war effort by growing more food.

When the extra ploughing-up drive was in full swing, farmers had to notify the authorities as to the size of their potato acreage so that the grants to which they were entitled, could be assesses and duly paid. In case any farmer was tempted to add on a half-acre or so, a man appointed for the purpose went round checking up on the areas. The method of measuring was simple. In striding out the length and breadth of the potato piece a stride was recognised as equivalent measure to a yard.

At least one local grower erred to some degree when declaring the area of his potato piece; whether he did so intentionally is not known. The official who came to check his statement was a big, well-made man. After striding easily around the field and making quick calculations, he insisted that the acreage was actually smaller than the farmer reckoned. The payment would therefore be less than he had at first expected. Naturally the farmer felt a little aggrieved. Telling his neighbour about it afterwards he said defensively, “It were yon chap made it out to be less than wor it is ’cos he took such long strides.’

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