GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 1203 



that there have been such advances in production methods that even 

 60 percent would prove to be an attractive price. 



Mr. Rice. I suppose it is possible that it might so today occur, 

 but it really does not seem feasible that it would. 



Mr. Pace. You are satisfied that for the time being, if the support 

 price was dropped from 90 down to 60, it would have the efi^ect of 

 substantially reducing the production? 



Mr. Rice. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Pace. Would it, at the same time, produce the needs of the 

 Nation? 



Mr. Rice. Yes; I think it would. 



Mr. Pace. Are there any c^uestions of Mr. Rice? 



Thank you, Mr. Rice. 



We will now be glad to hear from Mr. Warren Johnson, vice presi- 

 dent. National Turkey Federation, Mount Morris, 111. 



STATEMENT OF WARREN JOHNSON, VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL 

 TURKEY FEDERATION, MOUNT MORRIS, ILL. 



Mr. Johnson. Thank you, ]Mr. Chairman, and other members of 

 the committee. 



My name is Warren D. Johnson. I live on a farm near Nottingham, 

 Pa., where I operate a turkey farm, growing about 9,000 turkeys 

 annually, and I am. appearing before this committee as a representa- 

 tive of the National Turkey Federation, with executive offices at 

 Mount Morris, Ilk 



The National Turkey Federation has previously stated before this 

 committee its policy with regard to Government support of farm 

 prices. Our pohcy is identical to the pohcy of the National Poultry 

 Producers Federation. 



You have requested an opinion concerning the matter of price 

 support hj production payments to producers of poultry and eggs as 

 compared to the methods of price support used in the past. If the 

 proposed production payments to turkey producers would be at a 

 level of more than 90 percent of the parity, we would be definitely 

 opposed to the program.. We very definitely do not want production 

 control, which would be inevitable if price-support payments 

 reflected a profit to turkey producers. 



Therefore, we are insistent that support levels be held at not more 

 than 90 percent of parity, as this, we believe, is a stop-loss or a 

 break-even level of prices. 



Mr. Pace. Will you read that again? 



Mr. Johnson. Therefore, we are insistent that support levels be 

 held to not more than 90 percent of parity, as this would be a break- 

 even point in profit. 



The National Poultry Producers Federation, of which the National 

 Turkey Federation is a member, has taken the position of opposing 

 production payments to producers. We stand by this policy for the 

 primary reason that we believe it would be impossible to set up any 

 program of payments that would be practicable and workable. We 

 know from, close contact with marketing experience that, if any 

 commodity in abundant supply is allowed to seek its own low level, 

 wholesale buyers particularly will stand by and wait until they are 

 very sure that the bottom has been reached. This would be especially 



