1008 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



developing these tung orchards. However, since the war the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture has evidently lost interest, since they have done little, if 

 anything, to aid one of the most distressed agricultural industries in America from 

 financial ruin. 



On the other hand, they have maintained several agricultural stations through- 

 out the tung growing area and are, at this time, encouraging tung oil production. 



From a common-sense standpoint it is impossible for any group of farmers 

 in any part of America to produce tung-oil nuts at the present market price unless 

 this bill is passed and thereby becomes a law. The catastrophe of the tung-oil- 

 nut producers throughout the Nation will become more critical and in a few 

 years, instead of having 400 tank-car loads of vital and necessary tung oil, we 

 may find ourselves with none, and if present conditions in China continue we might 

 not be able to import a single gallon of tung oil. 



It is inconceivable that this great Nation of ours should let this vital agri- 

 cultural industry disintegrate, and I feel sure that you gentlemen of this com- 

 mittee, when all the facts are properly presented to you, will take the necessary 

 steps to report this bill favorably to the full committee, who, in turn, will be urged 

 to also favorably report this bill. 



It was my sincere desire to appear before you gentlemen of this committee 

 personally but due to a previous engagement which I find myself unable to 

 change, 1 am submitting this statement in connection with the rest of the testi- 

 mony on this vital subject. 



I feel sure that you gentlemen of the committee will receive from the witnesses, 

 who are experts and learned on this subject, full information, and after careful 

 consideration ot the testimony I again urge this committee to favorably report 

 this bill back to the full committee with the recommendation that same be reported 

 favorably by the full committee. 



Mr. Pace. I should also like to say that Senator Russell of Georgia 

 called this morning to express his deep interest and he would be here 

 now but for the fact that he is chairman of a subcommittee, which 

 subcommittee in the Senate is similar to this committee, and the 

 Senator also filed a statement with the committee. 



I would also like to insert in the record a letter which I have received 

 from the commissioner of agriculture of the State of Louisiana, Mr. 

 W. E. Anderson, in connection with this problem. Without objection 

 it will be inserted in the record. 



(The letter referred to follows:) 



Louisiana Department of Agricitltitre ano Immigration, 



Baton Rouge, May 7, 1949. 

 Hon. Stephen Pace, 



Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. 

 Dear Mr. Pace: I sincerely regret not being able to attend the very important 

 hearing to be held by your committee on next Tuesday relative to support price 

 on tung oil. 



Because of competitive imports and synthetic production, the growers of tung 

 nuts are in a desperate situation because the price at which the nuts are bought 

 by the oil mills will not pay the cost of production and harvesting. 



The sum total of this situation, if not corrected, will be to curtail cultural 

 practices and fertilization. This practice will seriously affect orchard production, 

 soil conservation and, eventually, such orchards will be abandoned. The young 

 plantings now coming into bearing would not reach the age of profitable produc- 

 tion. 



Our department realizes the seriousness of the tung nut producers' situation, 

 and we certainly hope that relief may be extended to them in the way of price 

 support that will enable them to maintain their cultural practices, soil-conserva- 

 tion efforts and still make a reasonaljle profit as their "take home pay." 



Mr. Cliff Lylc will represent our department at the hearing; however, I will 

 appreciate this letter being incorporated in the records as our endorsement of a 

 price-suoport program for the producers of tung nuts. 

 Respectfully yours, 



W. E. Anderson, Commissioner. 



