GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 1225 



Mr. HoEVEN. I have a question. 



Mr. Pace. Mr. Hoeven. 



Mr. Hoeven. How long has this research program been in force 

 and effect? 



Mr. McIntire. I beHeve the first tax in Maine was in 1937, sir. 



Mr. Hoeven. What have you accomplished to date? 



Mr. McIntire. We have accomplished a good deal in research. 

 We have also accomplished, we feel, much progress in the way of 

 improving grades, promoting improved pacts, and basically bringing 

 to the attention of the consuming public the fact that Maine is in 

 the market producing potatoes for consumption. 



Mr. Hoeven. Are you trying to find any new uses for potatoes? 



Mr. McIntire. Last year approximately $53,000 of our fund was 

 set aside for research work. That research work is spread over a 

 rather broad program, sir, but it includes tests which are associated 

 with improved qualities for processing, warehousing, shipping studies 

 and we have a pilot plant in the county financed to a large degree by 

 tax funds, exploring the use of byproducts. 



Mr. Hill. •! have a question. 



Mr. Pace. Mr. Hdl. 



Mr. Hill. On page 2 of your recommendations of the National 

 Potato Council, table 2, you make this statement: 



First, before I read the statement, let me ask you if you were here 

 in the committee hearings yesterday? 



Mr. McIntire. Not all the time, sir. 



Mr. Hill. Were you here when I asked the Secretary of Agriculture 

 about the potato acreage quotas that were recommended by the 

 Department? 



Mr. McIntire. I do not recall your question, sir. 



Mr. Hill. On this table you make this statement, that in 1948 

 the potato growers of these United States planted 10 percent less 

 acreage than was recommended by the Department of Agriculture. 

 Is that correct? 



Mr. McIntire. That is correct, sir. 



Mr. Hill. If that table is correct, in 1947 the potato growers of the 

 United States planted 15 percent less acreage than the Department of 

 Agriculture recommended you plant to potatoes. Is that correct? 



Mr. McIntire. I believe it is. 



Mr. Hill. There is no belief about it. It is either yes or no. Am 

 I correct? 



Mr. McIntire. That is according to those tables and I believe that 

 table is an accurate table. 



Mr. Hill. I do, too. Let us see what you did in 1946. In 1946 

 you planted 4.5 percent less acreage than the Department of Agricul- 

 ture asked the potato growers to put into potatoes. Is that correct? 



Mr. McIntire. That is correct, sir. 



Mr. Hill. The reason I read that is, then I drop down and read a 

 very interesting paragraph you have, which is the second paragraph 

 below the table. It states — 



This means that potato growers as a whole have taken a double cut in their 

 potato acreage in each of the 5 years 1944 to 1948. They have taken one reduction 

 in compliance with the Department's acreage goal program and a second voluntary 

 reduction by underplanting, as a group, the total acreage that was actually 

 allotted them. 



