mitraent to farmers to maintain the present 

 mandatory conmodity loan program for the 

 basic crops during the two-year period fol- 

 lowing the official termination of the war 

 emergency be fully carried out. 



We further insist that the integrity of 

 the Steagall Amendment, committing the 

 government to support the prices of non- 

 basic commodities, for which increased produc- 

 tion was requested during the war, at not less 

 than 90 per cent of parity or a comparable 

 price for this same two-year period be 

 maintained. We insist that the intent of 

 Congress requires that the support price 

 for such commodities shall be a minimum 

 of not less than 90 per cent of parity or 

 comparable price, adjusted for seasonal, geo- 

 graphic, and grade differentials, in the mar- 

 ket place at all times during the marketing 

 season. 



We recognize, however, that in some 

 cases the support price program will neces- 

 sarily need to be contingent upon compli- 

 ance with production quotas, or other 

 mechanism to prevent excessive production 

 to the end that unnecessary governmental 

 costs be avoided. 



We advocate the immediate removal of 

 price ceilings from the agricultural com- 

 modities on which price ceilings are still 

 in effect. 



Parity 



We believe the parity principle has made 

 a valuable contribution to American agri- 

 culture. The American Farm Bureau Fed- 

 eration will resist any attempt to destroy 

 the parity concept. In previous resolutions 

 we have recognized the need for adjust- 

 ments in certain commodities and have 

 recommended that steps be taken to de- 

 velop a plan that will give equitable treat- 

 ment to livestock, livestock products, dairy 

 products, and any other agricultural com- 

 modity that is not treated fairly under the 

 present parity formula. 



It is the position of the American Farm 

 Bureau Federation that for the Steagall sup- 

 port price period the present parity formula 

 should be used and administered the sup- 

 port price program for most agricultural 

 products. Since we believe it is the solemn 

 obligation of government to fulfill its post- 

 war support price commitments, which are 

 based upon the present parity formula, we 

 will resist any widespread attempts either to 

 raise or lower the basis of these commit- 

 ments. For certain non-basic commodities 

 such as livestock and dairy products, how- 

 ever, some revision is needed in the parity 

 formula for administering the support price 

 program. 



We earnestly request that the proper re- 

 search agencies of the Land Grant colleges 

 and the Department of Agriculture give se- 

 rious study of strengthening the parity for- 

 mula so that it will be sound, practicable, 

 and workable meeting the needs of agri- 

 culture during the postwar period. After 

 such plans have been developed, we request 

 that conferences be held among the leading 

 farm organizations and steps be taken to 

 have a definite revised parity plan ready for 

 operation at the close of the Steagall sup- 

 port price period. 



Coordinatioa of Govenunent Agencies 



The American Farm Bureau Federation is 

 vitally interested in all farm programs pro- 

 mulgated by any Federal agency. It is thus 

 imperative that farmers should have a voice 

 in the development and administration of 

 such programs, and that each program be 

 efficiently and economically operated. We 

 believe this objective may best be accom- 

 plished by farmers in each state and county 

 developing and carrying out programs to 



meet their particular needs and conditions. 

 A minimum of centralized control over agri- 

 cultural programs from Washington is ab- 

 solutely essential. 



The size .of our national debt and the re- 

 sulting tax burden demands the cooperation of 

 all groups in eliminating duplication, over- 

 lapping and unnecessary expense in govern- 

 mental operations. The Department of Agri- 

 culture is one of the largest of the govern- 

 mental agencies and farmers stand ready to 

 support action designed to reduce to a min- 

 imum any unjustifiable expenditures of Fed- 

 eral funds in programs administered by this 

 executive department. 



We believe it incumbent upon the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture, in the welfare of farm- 

 ers and the operation of departmental pro- 

 grams, to consult with the representatives 

 of bona fide farm organizations in estab- 

 lishing agencies and agency responsibilities 

 to carry out agricultural laws and programs. 

 For a score of years the American Farm 

 Bureau Federation has fought for basic 

 legislation and appropriations in order to 

 establish programs designed to assure farm- 

 ers an opportunity for efficiency in produc- 

 tion, equality in distribution, and higher 

 standards of living. The foundation of our 

 position has been farmer participation in 

 program planning and operation. We be- 

 lieve any separation of these functions to 

 be unsound and that government adminis- 

 trators must not lose sight of this basic 

 principle. 



One of our major problems is to rebuild 

 and conserve our soil. Today there are 

 several different agencies engaged in soil 

 conservation work. An appraisal of the 

 progress being made reveals duplication and 

 overlapprng by these various agencies. We 

 therefore strongly urge a program of con- 

 servation of soil, water, grazing, and forest 

 resources designed to secure a maximum of 

 conservation with a minimum of expense. 

 That this may be accomplished, we urge 

 decentralization of program planning and 

 operation of conservation programs with 

 authority and responsibilities placed in bona 

 fide local, district, and state farmer com- 

 mittees. 



We recognize that there is need for 

 reorganization of the Department of Agri- 

 culture and for departmental reorganizations 

 of the bureaus and agencies dealing with 

 agricultural programs. We urge, however, 

 that nothing be done by way of reorganiza- 

 tion which materially changes the opera- 

 tions of the agencies handling the farm pro- 

 grams without first consultation by the Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture with farmer repre- 

 sentatives and organizaions. 



Labor Relations 

 The American Farm Bureau Federation 



has always supported the legitimate aCtiTi- 

 ties of organized labor aimed at advancing 

 the welfare of employees. We will continue 

 to support the legitimate rights of organized 

 labor. However, the American Farm 

 Bureau Federation in clear and unequivocal 

 language, insists that the rights of the 

 general public are paramount to the rights 

 of any one segment of our economy, whether 

 it be agriculture, labor, or industry. 



For a long period there has been wide- 

 spread industrial strife, with ever increasing 

 tendencies on the part of certain labor 

 leaders and their labor unions totally to 

 disregard the rights and welfare of all the 

 people in these tJnited States. Conduct that 

 promotes the economic power and control of 

 one group at the expense of the general pub- 

 lic challenges the principles of our democ- 

 racy. ," 



The American Farm Bureau Federation 

 urges that constructive legislation be en- 

 acted immediately to correct the present 

 unbalanced and disorderly situation in the 

 field of labor relations, and that there be 

 developed a mature and stable national labor 

 policy which both labor and management 

 can respect and trust and which will effec- 

 tively carry out the objective of harmonious 

 relations between employers and employes, 

 with resultant benefits to all segments of 

 our economy. 



Price Level Stability 



A more stable price level is essential to 

 the prosperity of agriculture and all other 

 segments of the economy. When a material 

 change in the general price level occurs, the 

 prices of some products change more rapidly 

 than others. This results in serious disloca- 

 tions in the economy, particularly when the 

 price level declines. Farmers, probably more 

 than any other large group, are vitally 

 affected by a change in the general level of 

 prices. 



We realize that greater stability of the 

 general price level will not solve all our 

 economic ills, but it is a prerequisite to 

 developing workable agricultural programs. 

 We likewise realize that many of the war- 

 created inequities in the price structure will 

 have to be corrected, and price relationships 

 brought into a more normal balance before 

 a program of greater stability can be made 

 effective. 



Although the use of new governmental 

 techniques is involved in the proposals for 

 adding greater stability to the price level, 

 it should be recognized that control of the 

 monetary, credit, and fiscal policies should 

 rest in the hands of the Federal Govern- 

 ment, as is prescribed by the Constitution. 

 Tlierefore, the problem is not one of dele- 



{Cotitinued on page 24) 



A Callfemia ceupl* ttcpt into th* llllnoit sactien to giva a hearty wakom* to th* vUiters 

 wtie come to viaw the rodeo at the Cow Palace near San Franciace. 



JANUARY. 1947 



