Position of AFBF 



(Continued from page 6) 



fair-exchange value with industrial 

 prices and the wages of labor. An eflFec- 

 tive system of price supports, includ- 

 ing mandatory commodity loans, is 

 essential to justify the maintenance of 

 such reserve supplies and to assure 

 stability of price levels. 



2. Improvement and extension of 

 the Marketing Agreements program to 

 assure producers of non-basic farm 

 commodities prices at comparable " lev- 

 els. 



3. International trade policies de- 

 signed to restore and maintain a fair 

 share of the world market for export- 

 able farm surpluses. 



4. An effective and efficient soil con- 

 servation program, to be guided and 

 administered by the Land Grant Col- 

 leges within the respective states. 



We recommend that full administra- 

 tive responsibility for all types of ag- 

 ricultural commodity programs be 

 vested in a national bi-partisan board, 

 members of which will be appointed 

 by the President, with the advice and 

 consent of the Senate, and to hold of- 

 fice for substantial terms and on stag- 

 gered basis. Experience has proven 

 that it is extremely difficult to formu- 

 late one rigid pattern for a farm pro- 

 gram, and apply it effectively every- 

 where in this country. For this reason, 

 we are convinced that an effective 

 farm program must be flexible, with 

 the authority for making decisions as 

 to details centered largely at state and 

 local levels. 



We recommend further that every 

 proper aid and encouragement be 

 given by Government to legitimate 

 farmer-owned and farmer-controlled 

 cooperative organizations. 



IV 

 Farm Credit 



The American Farm Bureau Federa- 

 tion believes that a cooperative sys- 

 tem of farm credit is essential to the 

 well being of agriculture. It is believed, 

 however, that Federal funds now avail- 

 able to The Farm Credit System should 

 gradually be supplanted by cooperative 

 capital and correspondingly coopera- 

 tive control should supplant Govern- 

 ment control. 



The cooperative features of the pres- 

 ent Farm Credit system should be 

 strengthened by giving more responsi- 

 bility and authority to the local co- 

 operative credit associations. The gov- 

 ernment capital now in the system 

 should be retired in an orderly way 

 through mandatory annual payments 

 in amounts that would not disturb the 

 necessary functions of the institutiotis. 



We reconjmend the adoption of new 

 farm credit legislation which among 

 other things would provide for the 

 consolidation of all governmental ag- 

 ricultural credit under the administra- 

 tion of an independent bi-partisan 

 board. The so-called "soft credit" for 

 relief agencies should be consolidated 

 into one unit and function under the 

 direction of this board, and funds for 

 this purpose should be constantly 

 under the control of Congress. -, 



V 

 Transportation 



We insist upon the maintenance of 

 highly efficient, economical systems of 

 transportation under private owner- 

 ship, with only such reasonable reg- 

 ulations where it is in the public in- 

 terest, to assure fair and reasonable 

 rates and services; provide adequately 

 for safety; encourage rather than re- 

 strict sound and orderly development 

 in operation; provide reasonable free- 

 dom and flexibility in management in 

 fixing rates, and in adopting econo- 

 mies in operations, including consoli- 

 dations, eliminations, and improve- 

 ments in services and in methods; 

 eliminate discriminatory rates or regu- 

 lations against any commodity or re- 

 gion ; and provide relative treatment 

 of different types of transportation so 

 as to preserve the inherent advantages 

 of each. 



Adequate funds should be included 

 in Federal aid legislation for the de- 

 velopment of secondary and feeder 

 farm-to-market roads. Any program 

 for Federal highways should not be 

 developed at the sacrifice of rural 

 roads, and should be so routed as to 

 serve existing market centers and not 

 disrupt established farm markets. 



VI 

 Price Control 



The American Farm Bureau Federa- 

 tion has consistently favored a strong 

 and aggressive price control program. 

 We believe that any effective plan to 

 control prices must be eauitably ap- 

 plied to industrial commodities, wages, 

 and farm prices. The American farmer 

 realizes the danger of inflation and is 

 fully aware of the fact that he was the 

 chief sufferer during the deflationary 

 period which followed World War I. 



We believe that the administration 

 of all price control laws pertaining to 

 food and fiber should be in the hands 

 of a single administrator. This type of 

 administration is necessary in order 

 to have a coordinated production, mar- 

 keting, and price program that can be 

 administered to meet the ever-chang- 

 ing conditions within the farming in- 

 dustry. 



We favor the establishment of price 

 ceilings on agricultural products only 



where necessary and workable. We 

 believe, however, that the prices 

 should be established at levels that 

 will encourage the maximum produc- 

 tion which is so vitally needed for the 

 war effort. Abundant production is one 

 of the best means of preventing an 

 advance in prices. Established prices 

 should be announced far enough in 

 advance to permit the farmer to make 

 his production plans. After having 

 once been announced, ceiling prices or 

 floor prices should not be lowered dur- 

 ing the production and marketing peri- 

 od. Reduction of prices below the an- 

 nounced levels has caused great loss 

 and much confusion in various parts 

 of the nation. If the nation is to be 

 adequately supplied with food and 

 fiber, it is imperative that the govern- 

 mental price commitments be fulfilled. 

 We insist that the mandates of Con- 

 gress be adhered to in administering 

 price control laws. 



The American Farm Bureau Federa- 

 tion is opposed to consumer subsidies 

 and roll-backs. The records show that 

 consumer income is at an all time high 

 and that the proportion of the con- 

 sumer's income required to buy food 

 is lower today than at any time on 

 record. Lower food prices through con- 

 sumer subsidies increase the excessive 

 buying power in the hands of the peo- 

 ple. Payment of subsidies from the 

 federal treasury increases the national 

 debt, which necessitates additional bor- 

 rowings, and thus increases the possibil- 

 ities of credit and monetary inflation. 

 We believe that in the long run con- 

 sumer subsidies increase rather than de- 

 crease the likelihood of severe inflation. 



VII 

 Reconversion 



We favor the establishment of an 

 over-all War Demobilization Commit- 

 tee under the supervision of Congress, 

 this agency to have the general super- 

 vision of the demobilization program, 

 including the termination of war con- 

 tracts, the disposal of war plants, 

 equipment and supplies, and all other 

 problems dealing with this vital ques- 

 tion. 



We favor the speedy reconversion of 

 war plants to the production of peace- 

 time goods, as rapidly as war condi- 

 tions will permit. Every reasonable ef- 

 fort should be made to prevent un- 

 necessary delays and unemployment 

 during the reconversion period. Gov- 

 ernmentally owned war plants should 

 be sold to and operated by private 

 capital. 



We feel that the vast amount of 

 material and supplies now owned by 

 the military forces should be disposed 

 of in such a manner that a reasonable 

 proportion will be available to the 



L A. A. RECORD 



