GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 197 



Mr. Andresen. I want to get this thing clear in my mind, Mr. 

 Chairman. 



As I understand it you have ruled, Mr. Secretary, that when 

 marketing quotas and acreage allotments are in operation for any 

 crop that does not come under the 1,800 unit provision unless the 

 producer produces less than 1,800 units. 



Secretary Brannan. Now, Mr. Andresen, let me correct your first 

 statement. I have not ruled anything. I am trying to develop ideas 

 and suggestions for the committee. 



Mr. Andresen. Excuse me. I regard you as a judge, you see. 



If they have marketing quotas and acreage allotments, they come 

 under the support loan program exclusively unless the producer 

 produces less than 1,800 units and in such event the producer who 

 produced less than 1,800 units gets the benefit of this compensatory 

 payment. Is that right, or am I in error on that? 



Secretary Brannan. I think that is correct, sir, if I understood you 

 correctly. 



Mr. Andresen. Does it apply to potatoes when potatoes are under 

 marketing quotas and acreage control? 



Secretary Brannan. First of all, to my knowledge potatoes have 

 never been under marketing quotas nor acreage allotments. That 

 was one of the things that we sought power to do over the least 2 or 3 

 years. Secretary Anderson also sought that power. 



Mr. Hope. Is it not true that all potatoes that have been grown 

 under the program in recent years have been grown under a system of 

 acreage goals where each farmer was given a goal, and he did not 

 receive the benefits of price support if he exceeded his goal. Am I 

 wrong about that? 



Secretary Brannan. That is true, but that, of course, was almost 

 an idle gesture. We had very few cooperators, and the noncooper- 

 ators actually got along better than the cooperators under the appli- 

 cation of any of the laws or authorities we could have applied. 



There were no penalties and there was no enforcement device 

 whatsoever and there is really no enforcement device whatsoever 

 today on potatoes. A man can come in or oat just as he sees fit. 



Mr. Hope. It is true, though, that the national goals were complied 

 with in the sense that nev^er since 1943 have they exceeded the goal 

 in planting. I am sure I am correct about that. 



Secretary Branna SI. I do not think you are quite correct, Mr. 

 Hope, but the point is that there was not any kind of marketing 

 quotas and there were no penalties in relation to it or any other device 

 for securing compliance. What happened was that the noncom- 

 plying producer enjoyed the benefit of the umbrella created by the 

 support level and the loan and purchase agreement arrangement. 



Mr. Hope. Under the figures of the Department, it is shown that 

 the goal in 1944 was 3,480,000 acres and there was planted 2,884,000 

 acres, or more than 500,000 acres less. 



In 1945 the goal was 3,137,000, and planted acres were 2,765,000, or 

 between 300,000 and 400,000 less. 



In 1946 the goal was 2,771,000 and the acreage planted was 

 2,644,000. 



In 1947 the goal was 2,517,000 and the acreage planted was 

 2,146,000, or between 300,000 and 400,000 less. 



91215 — 49 — pt. 2 5 



