954 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



Mr. Case. It would be a material reduction for many of our larger 

 commercial farms; yes, sir. 



Mr. Andresen. As I understand it, the potato growers in Minnesota 

 would be opposed to the Secretary's proposal. Is that true generally 

 over the country? 



Mr. Case. I can speak only for my own area of Minnesota and 

 South Dakota. Last week, I held four meetings throughout the 

 Red River Valley, and there was only one man in the total four 

 meetings who voted in favor of that proposal. I cannot speak for 

 the rest. 



Mr. Andresen. No action was taken on that at your council 

 meeting here? 



Mr. Case. I believe not, sir. I am correct on the members of the 

 council; they said they did vote against it. I was on a special com- 

 mittee and so was out of the council a good part of the time. 



Mr. Andresen. Was that a unanimous action? 



A Voice. It was. 



Mr. Pace. We are on the question now of using assessments and 

 methods of controlling support. 



Mr. CooLEY. Would the potato growers be willing for a penalty to 

 be imposed upon noncompliers, as we have in other programs? 



Mr. Wescott. I would say in certain sections, yes; in others, I 

 am not prepared to answer. 



Air. CooLEY. Do you think withholding the support price would 

 be authority enough for the Secretary to have to bring about the 

 necessary compliance? 



Mr. Wescott. I think it would go a long way; yes, sir. 



Mr. Pace. Let me ask right there: what do you figure would have 

 ])een the market price of potatoes on the last crop but for the support 

 program? 



Mr. Wescott. You mean with the supply we had last year? 



Mr. Pace. That is right. 



Mr. Wescott. I have no idea, sir. 



Mr. Pace. Give us your best guess. 



Mr. Wescott. I would estimate it would have been at least one- 

 half of what was received or lower. 



Mr. Pace. Then, using that as the market price and using that as 

 the production, how much would your payment plan have cost the 

 Government? 



Mr. Wescott. Using that as the market price? 



Mr. Pace. That is right. 



Mr. Wescott. And as the support price? 



Mr. Pace. Using 60 percent as the support level. 



Mr. Wescott. It is my opinion there that more potatoes would 

 have been consumed. I know that under the conditions at that time 

 that consumption was distinctly based on price, and we would have 

 consumed more, and I think the Government would have bought 

 considerably less. 



Mr. Pace. You said the price would have been one-half of the 

 support level if the market had moved freely, which would make the 

 price what? 



Mr. Wescott. Well, each section had a different support price. 



Mr. Pace. "What would the average be? 



Mr. Wescott. Probably $1.70 or $1.75. 



