Warns U.S. of crop shortage, Washington, D.C. Aug. 12. The country will be faced with the worst crop shortage in years during 1936, according to Joseph A. Becker, chairman of the crop reporting board of the Department of Agriculture. Shortage of corn will be the worst since 1881 and potatoes will also be scarce. Becker's potato chart shows a decrease of the million bushels planted in 1936 compared to the production in 1925, which was also a lean year. This means you eaters who number spuds among your favorite dishes, will have to be content with 2.7 bushels per person this year