ife ' 



M ' 



Agriculture at the Crossroads 



The year 1949 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. 



FOR American agriculture the year 

 19iy 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 Congress in the sum- 

 mer of 19*48. 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 



(left) lAA President Charles B. Shuman 

 greets Setretary ot AgrltuHure Charles f. 

 Brannan at American farm Bureau conven- 

 tion. (Klght) AfBf President Allan B. Kline 

 is interviewed by tdvrard Hughes of the 

 Wall Street Journal. 



V 



^ 



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 



♦v 



<i 



<■ ^^■^-i 



CRES1 

 Edifo 



in the Democr 

 lorms, we urge 

 gressional suppi 

 sions of this Ic 

 ing years." 



While voicin 

 provisions of t 

 resolution authc 

 tors to seek sue 

 as may be deem 

 farm people an( 



The delegates 

 out that: 



'The flexible 

 one that recogi 

 sumers as well ; 

 producers. Thi 

 we can maintair 

 program, circur 

 which brought c 

 ers after Work 

 vail." 



The long-terr 

 Act is due to 

 1950. It stipu 

 farm commodit 

 rice, tobacco an 

 ported at from ( 

 depending on w 

 or smaller than 

 ing average basi 

 also included in 



Price support: 

 are provided o 

 and a few select 

 through the crc 

 resolutions at tl 

 Bureau insisted 

 by the governme 



FEBRUARY. 11 



