302 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



Mr. Granger. I will yield. 



Mr. WoRLEY. Mr. Secretary, what new commodities are brought in 

 under your program that are not covered by existing law? 



Secretary Brannan. Mr. Worley, I think the proper answer is 

 that no commodities are brought within the scope of the program that 

 are not now within the scope of existing law. You can support any 

 commodity at the discretion of the Boarcl of Directors or the Secretary 

 at somewhere between zero and 90 percent. 

 Mr. Worley. Is beef not a new commodity? 



Secretary Brannan. Beef has been moved into the list of com- 

 modities to receive preferred attention for price support because it is 

 one of the principal factors which go into making up farm income. 

 You see, if we start back from the objective which was a national 

 farm income and just use a ridiculous example — and I do not do it 

 facetiously — it would not make sense if ycu were shooting at a national 

 farm income to go out and support the price of artichokes or water- 

 melons or canteloupes because very few people are ever going to eat 

 them, in the first place, and very few people are going to buy them. 

 So you go to the items which are in largest volume and which make up 

 the biggest bulk of farm income. 



The list started off with meat animals, dairy products, and came on 

 down to exactly the list we have included here, corn, cotton, wheat, 

 tobacco, whole milk, eggs, chickens, hogs, beef, lambs. 



Mr. Worley. Could you state for the record how much beef cattle 

 contribute to the farm income of the country? 



Secretary Brannan. I think it is about IQji percent. We have 

 the figure right here. 



Mr. Worley. Did you have any requests from cattle raisers to be 

 included in the program? 

 Secretary Brannan. No, sir. 



Mr. Worley. Did you consult with any of the associations or 

 organizations representing the cattle people? 



Secretary Brannan. No, sir. We made our recommendations, Mr. 

 Worley, realizing that they would then be laid before anybody who 

 wanted to pay any attention to them and who could then comment 

 on them. I understand there are a few people who do want to make 

 comments. 



Mr. Worley. Do you think it is essential that beef cattle be 

 included in the program? 



Secretary Brannan. Yes, sir. It would be inconsistent Math the 

 theory and philosophy that we have proposed. 



Mr. Worley. They have never been included in any other program, 

 have they? 



Secretary Brannan. No, they have not. You are correct, sir. 

 Mr. Pace. Will the gentleman yield? I would like to say that the 

 livestock producers are scheduled to be heard next Monday. 

 Mr. Worley. I appreciate that. 



Mr. Simpson. Mr. Secretary, if beef cattle are included in your 

 program, who would you pay the subsidy to, the producer, the feeder 

 or the packer? 



Secretary Brannan. You would pay it to the marketer of the live 

 animal for slaughter. 



Mr. Simpson. That would be the feeder? 



Secretary Brannan. That would be the feeder in many cases but 

 in m^y part of the country a good many of the animals come in off the 



