516 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



He is very highly regarded and is held in high esteem in North 

 Carolina. He is one of the great farm leaders of the Nation. I think 

 he is familiar with the program as it has been in operation and with the 

 Aiken bill and the Secretary's proposal. 



STATEMENT OF FLAKE SHAW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, 

 NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU, GREENSBORO, N. C. 



Mr. Shaw\ Mr. Chairman. I am executive vice president of the 

 Farm Bureau in North Carolina and a farmer of Guilford County. 



I have always lived on a farm. 



Ml'. CooLEY. He is a master farmer, Mr. Chairman, and is so 

 recognized. 



Mr. Shaw. By way of presenting my remarks : 



In the last 17 years I have been interested in farm problems, meet- 

 ing first at the White House at the call of the distinguished Presi- 

 dent, now deceased, and down through the years and until this hour. 



I consider this perhaps the most important appearance I have ever 

 made in the interest of agriculture. 



I think this committee is dealing with the lifeblood of this Nation, 

 not only from the standpoint of agriculture but from the standpoint 

 of the Nation as a whole. 



This is a big country and we have a lot of problems to work on. 

 I -would like to say that I can see in my experience in dealing with 

 the agricultural problems plenty of latitude for a lot of different 

 ideas that might be needed and could be developed in support of 

 many of the arguments that have been presented from time to time. 



I think the people in our State want the people in other States 

 and sections and conmiunities to have as nearly as possible what they 

 want in a farm program. 



I think that is the way we feel about it. It is unfortunate that 

 we in North Carolina fall right in the middle of many of the prob- 

 lems that affect the Nation as a whole. We of course have had to 

 defend and carry the critical tobacco program as far as responsibility 

 is concerned. 



We make no apologies for that program. We think it has been 

 successful and tlie farmers have stayed with it to the extent that 

 they support acreage quotas and along with that a penalty for 

 overplanting. 



Mr. PoAGE. May I interrupt right there ^ Do you know any rea- 

 son why the farmers who produce cotton or peanuts or other crops 

 should not be privileged to have the same kind of program that has 

 been so successful in tobacco? 



Mr. Shaw. I see no reason why she should not have. 



Mr. PoAGE. Yet the Aiken bill singles out tobacco and denies its 

 consideration to other commodities. 



Mr. Shaw. We are very grateful for that consideration in tobacco 

 and we thank everybody for the Cooper amendment. 



Mr. PoAGE. But you are willing to see that others get the same 

 treatment ? 



Mr. Shaw. That is right. 



Mr. Pace. Are you prepared to fight to see that other.s get it? 



Mr. Shaw. If they want it we certainly are. It is unfortunate that 

 we do not get together in the American Farm Bureau all these prob- 



