

Agriculture at the Crossroads 



The year 7949 appears to be a year of great decision on issues of vital concern to 

 farmers as the nation moves toward a long-range farm program. I 



FOR American agriculture the year 

 1949 could well be one of great 

 decisions. It is certain to be a year 

 ■when agricultural policies and pro- 

 grams will be discussed and debated. 

 It is equally certain that the Farm Bureau 

 will have to use its ever-increasing influ- 

 ence in establishing and protecting a 

 sound, workable farm program. 



The battle lines are already forming. 

 On one side are the advocates of a rigid 

 fixed price support system with detailed 

 controls on the producer. On the other 

 side are those favoring the flexible price 

 support system with a minimum of pro- 

 duction control. 



The flexible support system is part of 

 the Agricultural Act of 1948 which the 

 American Farm Bureau Federation helped 

 to have passed by G)ngress in the sum- 

 mer of 1948. The Illinois Agricultural 

 Association is on the side of the flexible 

 support system because it is believed to be 

 sound and in the best interests of the 

 farmer. 



At the 30th annual meeting of the 



(Lett) lAA PrasMant Chorlaa B. Shuman 

 greafs So€r»tarY of Agriculture Charlet !• 

 Brannan at American Farm Bureau convene 

 Hon. (Right; AfBf Pretldent Allan B. Kline 

 If Interviewed by idward Hughai of tfia 

 Wall Street Journal. 



American Farm Bureau Federation in 

 Atlantic City in December of 1948, the 

 major provisions of the Agricultural Act 

 were endorsed by the voting delegates. 



The delegates in resolution said in 

 part: 



"We commend Congress for its recog- 

 nition of the need of a long-range farm 

 program in the enactment of the Agricul- 

 tural Act of 1948. We believe that the 

 major provisions of this Act, which pro- 

 vide a modernized parity formula and 

 variable price supports, are sound and in 

 the best interests of American agriculture. 



In view of the clearly stated expressions 

 of support for these principles embodied 



FEBRUARY, 1! 



