GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 943 



« 



any historical data going back further than 4 years, inasmuch as the 

 use of an excessively long period as has been proposed, would penalize 

 the producers in those areas where production and consumer prefer- 

 ence have expanded." 



This completes the presentation adopted by our group. 



It is my own personal opinion and I believe the opinion of most 

 California potato growers that we cannot continue to ask our Gov- 

 ernment for guaranties, subsidies, and so forth, without losing our 

 freedom. I have experienced some years of real tough going in farm- 

 ing and I would much rather go through those experiences again than 

 to be regimented regardless of the price offered for my freedom. I 

 ask you gentlemen to help us direct our Government toward a goal 

 of freedom so that our sons will have a free opportiniity to become 

 farmers and produce the crops they desire. 



I wish to express my appreciation and that of the growers I repre- 

 sent for this opportunity to appear before your committee and to 

 offer you our views. 



Mr. Pace. Thank you very much, Air. Jacobsen. 



Our final witness will be Mr. Dell T. Skinner, of La Jara, Colo. 



We will be delighted to hear from you, Mr. Skinner, 



STATEMENT OF DELL T. SKINNER, LA JARA, COLO. 



Air. Skinner. Mr. Chahman and members" of the committee: Aly 

 name is Dell T. Skinner. I am from a little district in southern Colo- 

 rado, comprising five counties, known as the San Luis Valley. We 

 produce about 13,000 cars of potatoes in that little district. I have a 

 few recommendations here that I will make very brief. 



It is heartening to know that you are having a committee study the 

 price-support legislation enacted huiTiedly last June in view of pro- 

 posing such. changes as may be deemed wise. The farmers themselves 

 have had an opportunity to become acquainted with the law and 

 weigh its provisions in the light of their experience. 



This very thing the undersigned have done. We are all actual 

 potato growers and depend on that crop for a major portion of our 

 income. We beg leave to submit to you and your committee the rea- 

 sons for our belief that the proposed support price of 60 percent of 

 parity applied to potatoes will \\Teck the industry and, as a conse- 

 quence, other crops will suffer beyond measm'e. 



At the same time, we believe a high support on an unlimited produc- 

 tion would have ruinous consequences. Therefore, we are recommend- 

 ing a support price of 90 percent of parity, but that it be contingent 

 on the following: 



Fu'st. A limitation of acreage to a level that is calculated safely to 

 produce the needed supply. 



Second — and this has to do with keeping the feUow who is not com- 

 ing into the program in line and also giving the consumer the benefit 

 of anything that might be paid out on this program — potatoes mar- 

 keted shall be sold at market price and a cartificate issued to the 

 grower each thh^ty (30) days by the handler stating the amount of 

 potatoes shipped. The certificate shall then be presented to the proper 

 authorities for subsidy payments. 



Thu'd. This is really trying to keep the grower kind of taking care 

 of himself — the growers enter into the accepted Federal market agree- 



91215 — 49 — ser. u, pt. 5 13 



