GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 397 



World War I. It must not happen again. Already farm prices have 

 dropped drastically. 



From the high point of a few months ago, feed grains are down 

 50 percent, wheat down 35 percent ; cattle, 30 percent ; hogs, 40 percent ; 

 butterfat, 30 percent. 



Everything the farmer has to sell is down 13 percent last year. 



But what we buy for farming is up 10 percent in the same period. 

 Our purchasing power is already cut more than 20 percent. Under 

 the present law if you do not repeal or amend it, it might cut our pur- 

 chasing power 50 percent. That applies to a corn-hog farm as well 

 as wheat. 



For example, a monthly report from the Department of Agricul- 

 ture shows in the January issue what a 70 percent farm program can 

 mean to the family-farm corn-hog-dairy operator. 



This farm is 144 acres : 



In 1947, total cash receipts $9,175 



Cash expenses were 2, 998 



Net cash income 6, 177 



Interest and amortization on loans 1, 100 



Left for family living 5, 077 



Under a TO percent program : 

 Cash receipts 6, 423 



Allowing for cut in feed, seed, etc. 

 Cash expenses 2,891 



Net cash income 3, 532 



Same interest and amortization 1, 100 



Left for family living 2, 432 



or less than one-half of present income. 



What will that do to our Nation's economy ? 



Farmers are coming more and more to realize how interdependent 

 we all are — agriculture, labor, industry — one on the other. 



Farmers know there must be real purchasing power among all non- 

 farm people if there is to be a good market for our farm products. 



That is wh}' we stress full employment at good wages for all people 

 able to work. But we also know it is just as essential that the mass 

 purchasing power of family -type farmers be maintained. 



In our Northwest six States farm income in 1932 was $794,000,000, 

 in 1947 was $6,558,000,000 — increase in dollars eight times — in terms of 

 buying power, four times ; twice prewar. 



United States as a whole : 1932, $4,747,000,000; 1947, $30,186,000,000. 

 Increase in dollars, 6 times; buying power 3 times; ly^ times prewar. 



Can we manage our national debt economy of $250,000,000,000 by 

 cutting the farm purchasing power 50 percent ? 



Wliat about farmers' income? Is it too high? Are they out of 

 line? As we know them, the actual facts are tliat even their so-called 

 high present 90 percent parit}- income is only 58 percent of the farm 

 fair share of national income. 



We are still 42 percent short. Last year farmers received $909 each 

 — men, women, and children. Nonfarm got $1,569 — men, women, and 



