GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 457 



STATEMENT OF WILSON HEAPS, PRESIDENT, MARYLAND PARM 



BUREAU 



Mr. Heaps. My name is Wilson Heaps. I am president of the 

 Maryland Farm Bureau and a director from the northeast region of 

 the American Farm Bureau Federation. I am also a dairy farmer in 

 my own right and I am shipping milk wholesale. It so happens that a 

 recent conference of the State presidents and secretaries and members 

 of our region in Wilmington prepared a well-considered opinion on the 

 Brannan proposal. While it was not prepared for this occasion, I think 

 it serves very well that I might read it at least in part. 



The Agricultural Act of 194S has been thoroughly discussed and favorably con- 

 sidered by a vast majority of farmers in both major political parties. We urge 

 that it be given a fair trial for at least the 3 years starting January 1. V.^:>0. 



Second. From information available, we believe that the Brannan program 

 would cost the taxpayers more money than the present law. 



I want to add to that that we are vitally interested, as taxpayers as 

 well as farmers, in this program. 



Third. We feel that the production-payment phase of the program, involving 

 subsidies paid to farmers — but, in effect, consumer subsidies, if you please — 

 would actually increase the true cost of food to consumers. Factors in this true 

 cost would include the market price plus the subsidy plus the cost of the adminis- 

 tration among 6,000,000 farmers. 



The Xortheast region, I might remind you, is composed very largely 

 of small farmers, dairying and poultry being the main industries, so 

 we can well say that the American Farm Bureau Federation speaks 

 for the small farmers of America. 



Within its membership it boasts a total of small-farm members which is 

 greater than the total of all members of any other farm organization. With 

 this background, we oppose the l,SOO-unit-Iimit provisions as unnecessary and 

 unfair. 



Again, we differ with the philosophy of high support prices for the purpose 

 of guaranteeing the farmer a profit. We hold, rather, that the farmer be guar- 

 -anteed the right to the pursuit of profit. 



Then, as a dairy farmer, I should add that we much prefer volun- 

 tarily production controls. I have produced milk under voluntary 

 production controls for a number of years, volimtarily provided by 

 our own cooperative. We believe that voluntary controls can be very 

 effective in times of surplus production. 



Thank; 5^ou. 



Mr. Pace. Thank you very much, Mr. Heaps. 



Are there any questions of any of the latest witnesses ? 



Mr. Andeesex. I have questions, Mr. Chairman, but I do not begin 

 asking questions in 8, minutes' time. 



Mr. White. I have a very brief question. 



Mr. Pace. Mr. White. 



Mr. White. I do not want to impugn the motives of anyone, but I 

 think it would be hel])ful to the committee if these gentlemen would 

 also state the other businesses they are in outside of being farmers 

 and representatives of the American Farm Bureau Federation, if they 

 would not object. 



Mr. Klixe. We Avould be very happy, Mr. Chairman, to do so. 

 Since the question has been asked, I think it should be answered. 



Mr. Hill. Mr. Chairman, a question here. Are you going to adopt 

 that as a policy ? 



