Early in February, Farm Bureau rep- 

 resentatives testified before the House 

 Committee on Education and Labor on 

 the raising of the 40-cent minimum wage 

 for the nation to 75 cents. 



The Farm Bureau asked that all exemp- 

 tions for agriculture in the present wage- 

 hour act be maintained. It also asked 

 that the minimum wage for non-agricul- 

 tural workers be tied to a cost-of-living 

 index if the law is revised . 



The AFBF board also voiced its oppo- 

 sition to compulsory health insurance 

 Programs such as proposed in the Murray 

 ill. 

 The board said, "We favor adequate 

 health services, accessible at all times to 

 citizens through voluntary programs pro- 

 viding hospital and medical care, facili- 

 ties to train more doctors and nurses, 

 establishment of local public health units 

 and broad programs of health education." 



REGARDS FROM ED O'NEAL 



It gave me a great thrill to see you folks, 

 '«s it always has, during your visit to the 

 TVA. 1 just wish the farmers of the U.S.A. 

 would get our soil fertility bill that we pro- 

 posed year before last passed. We certainly 

 need it. 



Warm personal regards to the farmers ot 

 Illinois. 



Edward A. O'Neal 

 Florence, Ala. 



DISAGREES 



I CAN'T quite agree with the thinking of 

 ■ President Shuman; re-Gold Bricks and 90 

 per cent of parity per the February issue. 1 

 firmly believe we should have 90 per cent 

 of parity for all we produce, regardless of 

 what we produce. However, I don't believe 

 we should produce so much and here is how 

 I would recommend correcting the situation 

 as listed under a 10 point program. 



1. Estimate the Country and World needs 

 with respect to grain or other products, on 

 the basis of the last 20 years plus an ample 

 reserve (after the first year the stocks on 

 hand would supply the reserve.) 



2. By statistics covering state averages and 

 etc., divide the amount needed over the num- 

 ber of tillable acres under cultivation so that 

 each farm has a base. 



3. The balance of the acreage after a base 

 had been established must by law be put 

 into some soil conserving legume or grass 

 other than grain or other products. 



4. This type program should be voted in 

 or out 100 per cent by the farmers them- 

 selves with 75 per cent of the farmers being 

 (for or against) the determining factor. 

 Either everyone in or everyone out of the 

 program. The vote should be taken two 

 months before the start of the next fiscal 

 year. 



5. Re-establishment of the steel type grain 

 bins used under the "Ever Normal Granary 

 Program". 



6. Change our reserve of stored grain for 

 current season grain each time production 



Roy Yang, new direc- 

 tor of mgrlculturo for 

 IIHnolM, shoTAi farm 

 and Homo Wook plat- 

 form with Pretldont 

 Char/es B. Shuman ot 

 tha llllnolt AsrUul' 

 tural Association and 

 Doan H. P. Rusk of 

 tha University of fill- 

 nols College of Agrl- 

 culture. 



TO THE iBIf OR J 



warrants it or grain authorities deem it feas- 

 ible from the standpoint of grain deteriora- 

 tion. 



7. Complete administration by repre- 

 sentatives of farm organizations duly elected 

 by the farmers in each individual state. Ab- 

 solutely no government interference other than 

 of a financial nature with backing on the 

 JMsis of 90 per cent of parity. CThe finan- 

 cial outlay should be small since production 

 would not supply a ruinous suiplus.) 



8. A complete re-estimate and inventory 

 as soon as the present crop is harvested so 

 as in the case of wheat, for instance, the 

 base could be established in time for fall 

 plantings. Other products would give more 

 time for estimates which could be deter- 

 mined before the start of the fiscal year. 



9. Extremely stiff penalties for violators 

 so as to make non-cooperation unprofitable. 



10. Reasonable dues according to need to 

 cover administration, research and etc. neces- 

 sary to make such a program function. Too be 

 divided on an acreage pro-rata basis. 



This plan may still seem quite loosely 

 thrown together, but it comes from a quite 

 a bit of thought on the subject. If some 

 program isn't followed the surplus will be 

 tremendous regardless of the fact that the 

 government may get down to 30 per cent of 

 parity or below. Evidenced by the fact that 

 in 1929-32 farmers still produced at full 

 capacity even though prices were ruinously 

 low. Furthermore we would be keeping 

 our fertility on the farms where it belongs 

 and still be adequately providing income for 

 the farmers, food for the people and a re- 

 serve in the event of a crop below normal. 

 How about sponsoring a contest of some 

 sort to get some ideas along this line from 

 men who are much older and smarter than 

 I am.' 



Oliver J. Hem 

 Kane County 



la answer. President Shuman says in part: 

 "I appreciate your thoughtful suggestions on 

 the jarm program. I believe your ideas would 

 be very valuable if we do go to a constantly 

 administered program. I can assure you that 

 we will give your suggestions careful con- 

 sideration." 



BOUQUETS 



I HAVE just finished digesting the January 

 issue of the Record and I want to con- 

 gratulate you for doing such a fine job. 



I have been going to write to you fox 

 sometime to tell you that I think the REC- 

 ORD is getting better and better, but this last 

 annual meeting issue is the best yet. 

 L. M. Knox 

 Whiteside County 



COMPLIMENT 



1 RECEIVED the February issue of "The 

 Record" and want to compliment you for 

 the excellent articles on the AFBF Conven- 

 tion as well as the up-to-the-minute report 

 on the Illinois Grain Crop and the Livestock 

 Marketing Program. If it is possible I 

 would appreciate receiving two extra copies 

 of this edition. 



Lee R. Hayes, Agricultural Agent 



Pennsylvania R. R. 



Richmond, Ind. 



CORRECTION 



I NOTICE in the February 1949 issue of 

 the Illinois Agricultural Association Rec- 

 ord, page 29, you have one of my snapshots 

 labeled; "Restored Woolen Mill at New 

 Salem Park was powered by oxen when 

 Lincoln made village his home." 



I wish to correct the latter error as I am 

 from Sangamon county. 



Winn J. Ross 

 Sangamon County 







CORRECTION 



N "Farm Bureau Folks in Pictures" page 

 for February the caption under picture 

 of baby in tub refers to her as "Judy Barth 

 of Henry county." Her name is Judy Bogner, 

 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Bogner of 

 Henry, 111. 



A W. Barth 

 Marsfaall-Putnam County 



? 



22 



L A. A. RECORD 



