21 



have to produce in order to break even or make a living or what, 

 because of the 50,000 exemption. I guess a lot would depend on 

 how good a businessman you are, as well as how many eggs you 

 produce, correct? 



Mr. Adams. There are lots of variables there. If you have a niche 

 market or some unusual circumstances, you might make a living 

 out of a smaller number of hens than you would otherwise. But we 

 think that the 50,000-hen exemption cutoff is somewhere in the 

 ballpark of what is a full-time sized operation that you could make 

 a living out of. So we are exempting all those. 



Mr. VOLKMER. All those underneath that, even though some of 

 those may be partially commercial? 



Mr. Adams. Surely. 



Mr. VOLKMER. In other words, they may be doing something else 

 besides raising eggs, and that would be a partial income. But they 

 wouldn't have to pay the assessment. 



Mr. Adams. Correct, sir. 



Mr. VOLKMER. When are we going to have two-egg-a-day hens? 

 [Laughter.] 



Mr. Adams. Well, we have a few that lay two now, but there's 

 just not enough of them. [Laughter.] 



Out in west Texas we had one that laid three. Congressman. 

 [Laughter.] 



Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Hoffer. 



Mr. Hoffer. Mr. Chairman, for the record, if I could, there was 

 a comment that came up today during the hearing with regard to 

 State program funding concerns. Any change of this nature to the 

 legislation at this time would or could be very controversial. We be- 

 lieve that any State concerns can and should be addressed through 

 other avenues. 



Thank you. 



Mr. VOLKMER. With that, we are going to adjourn the hearing. 

 I appreciate your testimony here today. It has been very helpful. 

 As sure as we can work everjrthing else out, I'm sure that we will 

 communicate with the chairman of the full committee and see if we 

 can't move this bill right along. 



The gentleman from Texas has done you a good job. 



[Whereupon, at 2:25 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned, to 

 reconvene, subject to the call of the Chair.] 



[Material submitted for inclusion in the record follows:] 



