FARM Bureau's position on a long- 

 range program for agriculture 

 is relatively simple: refine and 

 improve the program now in 

 operation to meet changing 

 conditions. Federation directors voted 

 at their September meeting to stand pat 

 on gains already made rather than junk 

 the present program for an unknown, 

 untried scheme. 



As Senate and House agriculture 

 committee complete their cross-country 

 tours to hear frrst-hand from farmers 

 and others, they are assembling a pile 

 of valuable information to guide them 

 in drafting and getting laws through 

 Congress to aid American farming after 

 the present Steagall price-support peri- 

 od ends Dec. 31, 1948. 



AFBF VIEWS 



Based on President Edward A. 

 O'Neal's statement last April to the 

 House Agriculture committee as hear- 

 ings began on a new farm blueprint, 

 here are AFBF's views on 20 important 

 issues involved : 



1. Maximum Production. The only 

 way people can have more is to pro- 

 duce more. The only way to reach 

 and maintain full production is through 

 maintaining a fair relationship among 

 farm prices, industrial prices and wages 

 generally. 



Industry and labor must join with 

 agriculture in striving for an economy 

 of abundance. Agriculture cannot con- 

 tinue a policy of full production unless 

 similar policies are followed by indus- 

 try and labor. 



2. Strengthen Basic Laws. AFBF 

 favors the principles and objectives 



J he Jigjim MuASOi^ 



of soil conservation ; acreage adjust- 

 ments and marketing quotas when 

 needed; commodity loans, and surplus 

 disposal as provided by basic agricul- 

 tural legislation. 



Gains which have accrued to farmers 

 under basic laws such as AAA Acts, 

 Soil Conservation and Domestic Allot- 

 ment Act, Bankhead Commodity Loan 

 Act, Steagall Price Support Act, and 

 others dating from the early 1930's, 

 must be preserved. It is equally im- 

 portant that these laws be improved 

 and strengthened. 



MODERNIZE PARITY 



3. Commodity Credit Corporation. 



Keep CCC as a permanent agency to 

 carry out price support and commodity 

 loan program. 



4. Parity Formula. Retain the parity 

 principle. Maintain the present for- 

 mula for the rest of the Steagall period, 

 eicept for needed adjustments in live- 

 stock and dairy products. Modernize 

 the formula at the end of the Steagall 

 price-support period. 



yOUA VOICE IS AMPLIFIED A MILLION TIMES ! 







5. Price Supports. The Govern- 

 ment must carry out its committments 

 under the Steagall price support plan. 

 American Farm Bureau Federation is 

 studying adjustments that may be 

 needed at the end of the Steagall pe- 

 riod. 



6. Surplus Control. Acreage al- 

 lotments and marketing quotas should 

 be used when necessary to control and 

 adjust supplies to total market demands. 



7. Act of 1937. The Marketing 

 Agreements Act of 1937 should be 

 strengthened and extended to agricul- 

 tural commodities not now included. 



8. Section 32 Funds. These funds 

 should remain available until expended 

 for disposal and surpluses and de- 

 velopment of new uses for surplus 

 farm products. 



(A'o/f: Under Section 32 o/ the 1935 

 AAA Act, 30 per cent oj the govern- 

 ment's custom receipts are earmarked by 

 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 

 encourage exportation and domestic con- 

 sumption of surplus agricultural products 

 and to re-establish farmers' purchasing 

 power. — Ed. ) . 



9. Expanding Consumption. We 

 also favor sound programs for de- 

 veloping new uses and new markets 

 for agricultural commodities; and in- 

 tensified educational program toward 

 improved nutrition, and a wisely- 

 planned school lunch program. 



WORLD TRADE 



10. World Trade. Both agricul- 

 ture and industry need an expanded 

 volume of world trade. Study should 

 be given to the problem of stabilizing 

 prices of the major farm commodities 

 in world trade and to the use of sur- 

 pluses to relieve malnutrition and hu- 

 man suffering. 



11. International Commodity Agree- 

 ments. Such agreements can be used 

 to stabilize world prices and increase 

 export outlets. 



12. Recriprocal Trade Agreements. 

 These should be used to reduce trade 

 barriers. However, equitable treatment 

 must be given agricultural products. 



(Continued on page 21) 



NOVEMBER. 1947 



II 



