we, 
(ete 
Except for poultry, eggs and milk, the 
Department of Agriculture is calling 
for another year of full production in 
1946. Sharp reductions are asked in 
the number of chickens and turkeys 
raised on farms, and eggs. The sug- 
gested milk goal of 120,500,000,000 
pounds compares with the all-time 
record of 123,000,000,000 estimated 
to have been produced in 1945. The 
1946 egg production goal of 3,910,- 
000,000 dozen is 85 percent of 1945's 
4,577,000,000 dozen. The recom- 
mended goal for chickens in 1946 1s 
680,000,000 head, or 83 percent of the 
821,300,000 raised in 1945. A turkey 
goal of 39,700,000 for 1946 is 90 per- 
cent of the estimated 44,150,000 
raised in 1945. Goals for other crops, 
including feed grains, are all at or 
slightly above the estimated 1945 
production. 
The New Year is expected to usher 
in a period when long-range farm 
legislation will again come to the 
forefront in Congress. The current 
move to modify the parity formula 
is a step in this direction. Agricul- 
tural economists are already at work 
on possible future programs for agri- 
culture. Some take a “‘high’’ road — 
controlled production and high prices 
— while some take a ‘‘low”’ road — 
no forced production controls with 
farm commodities seeking their mar- 
ket level. Should prices drop too low 
the government would step in and 
make direct payments to boost farm 
income. Still others are taking an 
in-betweeen road, such as the two- 
price system — one price for that 

FARMERS’ SIGNPOST 
by Whitney Tharin 

part of a crop consumed domestically, 
and the world price for that part sold 
in export markets or for non-competi- 
tive domestic use. 
National Farmers Union has be- 
come a bed-fellow of the American 
Farm Bureau Federation in support- 
ing legislation proposed by AFBF 
for a government-subsidized fertilizer 
program. President James G. Patton 
of the Union, in a letter to AFBF 
President Edward A. O'Neal, says the 
AFBF bills introduced by Senators 
Hill and Bankhead, Alabama Demo- 
crats, and Representative John W. 
Flannagan (D., Va.), are very similar 
to legislation previously proposed by 
NFU, and therefore would be sup- 
ported by FU. The bills (S-882 and 
KR 2922), are being bitterly opposed 
by most farmer cooperatives, by the 
National Fertilizer Association, and 
by the American Plant Food Council 
on the grounds that they are designed 
to put the government even further 
into the fertilizer business 1n compe- 
tition with private interests. The 
Farmers Union endorsement came as a 
surprise as the two organizations 
have long been at loggerheads on 
virtually all agricultural policies. 
Sponsors of legislation to con- 
solidate USDA’s Farm Credit Ad- 
ministration and Farm Security Ad- 
ministration into an independent 
governmental agency are going ahead 
with their plans to win Congressional 
approval despite opposition from 
Secretary of Agriculture Clinton P. 
Anderson. The credit bill has been 
amended to create an additional as- 

sistant secretary of agriculture, who 
would be ex-officio member of the 
independent credit board which the 
measure would set up, but this did 
not appease Anderson. Anderson, 
in opposing an independent credit 
agency, had proposed that he be given 
an additional secretary to help him 
administer agricultural credit facil1- 
ties, but with these facilities remain- 
ing with USDA. The proposal for a 
separate credit agency has the ap- 
proval of the National Council of 
Farmer Cooperatives. 
The Food and Agriculture Organ- 
ization of the United Nations has 
been quietly going ahead with its 
job since the international confer- 
ence in Quebec in October. Much of 
the initial work is being done by 
committees made up of experts from 
the countries represented in the or- 
ganization. Committees have already 
been appointed to advise on forestry 
and fisheries. A third will be named 
shortly to draw up a world balance 
sheet of food supplies and food needs. 
This would show, by countries, the 
production and supplies of major 
agricultural commodities, the trade 
in these commodities, the per capita 
consumption and the amounts needed 
in deficit areas. Gove Hambidge, 
who gained distinction as editor of 
USDA's widely known “Yearbook of 
Agriculture’ has been appointed 
FAO's direction of information. 
The 1946 potato support program 
differs in two major details from the 
one in effect the past few years. No 
advance announcement will be made 
of support prices for grades below 
U.S. No. 1. Instead, USDA says sup- 
ports for lower grades will be at 
“such prices as will be necessary to 
carry Out price support obligations.”’ 
The Department may prescribe con- 
ditions governing disposition of the 
lower grades which would have to 
be met before No. 1 grade potatoes 
would be eligible for support. The sec- 
ond difference is that the announced 
support prices will be “base prices, 
effective at a stage of distribution 
described as in bulk, loaded on truck 
at farmer’s gate.’’ Previously, sup- 
ports were at the f.o.b. level. Late 
crop potatoes will be supported by 
loans, supplemented where necessary 
and practicable by diversion to ex- 
port, industrial and feed outlets. 
