GEXERAL FARM PROGRAM 289 



is going to be. Very often he can start to market with his grain, or 

 with his cotton, and he still does not know until he actually gets to 

 the elevator or the gin what the price will be and would not know if 

 it were not for the price-support system. 



In short, there is a particular economic factor in relation to farm 

 production and farm sales which is not present in some other produc- 

 tion and marketing problem. A fai'mer just cannot quit producing 

 and get another kind of a job. A manufacturer can switch from one 

 kind of automobile to some other commodity with some cost,'but the 

 farmer cannot make that kind of conversion. Therefore, he is, in 

 effect, a trustee for the people of a food-producing resource. To that 

 extent and to the extent that he does not have complete control over 

 his own market and market prices, I think it is justified for the Ameri- 

 can people to step in and provide him m.echanisms by which, with his 

 own efforts, he can retain some degree of stability at reasonable levels. 



Air. Graxger. Do you think the American farmer wants this 

 program? 



Secretary Brannan. I am reluctant to speak for the American 

 farmer. Air. Granger. 



Air. Granger. I do not mean your program particularly, but I 

 mean any kind of farm program. 



Secretary Brannan. I am certain that they do and I am certain 

 they want the kind of program that will be efficient and in the public 

 interest as well as serving them adequatel}^. I do not think the farm 

 people of this country want any special privileges, any class legisla- 

 tion, or any other kind of exceptional treatment. I think they just 

 want a set of rides under \vhich, if they are diligent and efficient on 

 their own behalf, they can get reasonable returns for their invest- 

 ments, their time, their land and their work. 



Air. Granger. Do you find anj^ feeling among the farmers that 

 expresses the opinion we hear expressed in the committee that the 

 farmers are verj^ reluctant to receive any of these benefits? Have 

 you ever heard of any farmers returning the checks they have received 

 from the Government? 



Secretary Brannan. No, I have not. Air. Granger. 



Afr. Granger. Is the feeling among the farmers widespread 

 throughout the countrv that thev do not like to receive Government 

 aid? '^ 



Secretary Brannan. I am not aware of it. Air. Granger. 



Air. Granger. Coming to your proposal here, which I personally 

 think is one of the best thought-out programs that was ever proposed 

 to the American fai'mers, there has been much opposition toward it 

 because a lot of people do not like to change their ways. 



As I understand your proposal, about the only dift'erence between 

 your proposal and the Aiken bill and the act of 1938 is on two points. 

 That modernizes the so-called parity formula and your proposal for 

 an 1,800 unit program for supporting the price of agriculture is the 

 other. Is that right? 



Secretary Brannan. Air. Granger, we do modernize the formula. 

 I would not correct you but I would add to your statement by saying 

 that there is in my opinion a change in approach. 



The formula itself starts with a national farm income objective for 

 the first time that any formula has genuinely started with that 

 approach and from that basis. The old formula, which has served 



