THE FARM LAND 91 



less than 750 bushels, the government gives you the difference 

 between what you have and 750 bushels. 



Thus you as a farmer, if you wish, can become a part of 

 a complex system of land-use control. You can decide whether 

 or not you want to accept that control. The fact remains, 

 however, if you reject this regulation you may be taxed under 

 the quota system. Furthermore, competing farmers will be 

 given government funds to help them pay their bills. In other 

 words, the government is putting pressure on you to induce 

 you to accept control of land use. 



THE FARMER LOOKS AHEAD 



At present the foreign market for American agricultural 

 products consumes the output of 40 to 45 million acres of 

 farm land. The domestic market uses the products of another 

 305 million acres. Since there are 365 million acres under 

 cultivation today, this means that there is a surplus of between 

 15 and 20 million acres. 69 



The people of the United States live on a relatively low grade 

 diet. This means that the average American does not get the 

 kind of nourishment that promotes the best health. Also it is 

 estimated that 85 per cent of the world's population does not 

 have enough food and that the food they do have is of a poor 

 quality. 



A change in diet could mean a change in crops. For example, 

 a former sharecropper in the South could raise vegetables and 

 a few milk and beef cows for himself, as well as cotton, on a 

 government'financed farm. This would raise his standard of 

 living, since today he rarely gets beef or milk or fresh vege 

 tables. But he must have enough land left to grow cash crops 

 which he would have to sell to pay his taxes, the interest and 

 principal on his loan. 



69 The Farmer Loo\s Ahead, op. cit., p. 7. 



