958 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



Mr. Case. Air, Andresen, that refers back to something that I 

 want to point out in connection with the statement made by Mr. 

 Botkin, of the National Potato Council. They recognized that in 

 recommending the program to the Department some years ago. We 

 asked that the support price be reduced ; we asked that the differential 

 of 50 percent between the price for No. 1 and price for No. 2 be 

 changed. We did ask for whatever acreage control the Secretary 

 wanted. We asked for marketing agreements to be made a part of 

 the price support, irrespective of the support, but make provision for 

 the low-grade commodity. 



Now, the program for 1949 in my opinion is the best potato pro- 

 gram 



Mr. Andresen. For 1949? 



Mr. Case. Yes; the program that will be in effect this year. 



Mr. Andresen. That was the program of the committee? 



Mr. Case, One support price offered for potatoes, No. 2, or better 

 the price when they get higher to encourage cooperation on the part 

 of the farmers to reduce the lower grade. That will then stimulate 

 the production of No. 1, and certainly any potatoes the farmer turns 

 in to the Government will be the poorer, because it is expected and 

 hoped that the best will go on the market. 



Mr. Andresen. I would like to have the comment of this gentleman 

 over here who represents the wholesale trade. 



Mr. Bryant. 1 would like to comment on one point Mr. Case 

 brought out, that is, that the trade looks to the supply and demand 

 to take eft'ect. 



Now I think that in addition to having so many of the Canadian 

 potatoes come in, in addition to the fact that the potatoes are being 

 sold below support on the commercial market, is in recognition of the 

 fact that the potato grower is in that position, and is doing that in 

 order to get his potatoes to the market and is willing to take less than 

 the support, because I think we ought to recognize that in most cases 

 these potatoes are on the market under an emergency condition, and 

 a lot of the potatoes that could get price support and they are on the 

 market because the farmers are trying to market their potatoes and 

 I think you have got to recognize that the trade will be governed by 

 the law of supply and demand, and you could not expect anything else. 



Mr. CooLEY. Mr. Chairman, the House is in session, and I would 

 like to make this suggestion, that we have here gentlemen from all 

 over the United States, and I think you all know very well that this 

 committee is not going to write a potato program ju^t for any one 

 part of the country. It is going to have a program that is adapted 

 and will apply to all. 



As you know, we have a very important matter in the House, which 

 is in session now, and you have this very important item before you. 

 I was going to suggest that you get your committee together right in 

 this room, and continue your deliberations and your discussions in an 

 effort to reach some agreement with regard to the proposals that are 

 being presented. 



If you can continue your discussions between now and 2:30, which 

 as I understand is the time the chairman is going to recall the com- 

 mittee, it seems to me that probably would be the best thing you could 

 dj, just to sit right here and continue your discussions. 



