Evening star., 1935-10-25
ROOsevelt's A. A. A. Statement
President Reveals Desire to Convert Emergency
Program Into Permanent Plan.

caused by drought, Is contemplated
under the proposed new corn-hog
program, which is put up to q de.
cision of producers in a Nation>
wide referendum tomorrow.
Present and future production Of
supplies Of food and fiber ample
for this country's needs and for
available export markets Is sound
objective. However, there was
nothing sound in the situation in
the past when, spurred by ruin
ously low prices, farmers have
been compelled to mine their soil
Of It's fertility by overintenSive
cultivation in a race to make up
in volume what they had lost in
unit price. This has resulted in
waste on a colossal scale. Dust
storms and mud-laden streams
have been symbols Of this exploi-
tation.
Tens Of millions Of acres have
been abandoned because Of erosion.
This jeopardizes both consumer
and producer. Real damage to the
consumer does not result from
moderate increases in food prices,
but from the collapse Of farm in
come SO drastic as to compel ruth
less depletion of soil. That Is the
real menace to the Nations future
food supply. That has caused
farmers to lose their homes. 1t
has hastened the spread of tenacy.
1t lies at the root Of many serious
economic and social problems be-
setting agriculture.
Important Gains Cited.
Already the adjustment programs
have made important gains in con-
servation and restoration of soil
fertility. Many millions of acres
which farmers have signed con-
tracts to divert from surplus pro-
duction are being devoted to
legumes, pastures, hay and other
crops which fertilize the soil and
protect it from blowing and wash
ing.
The long time and more perma-
nent adjustment program will pro-
vide positive incentives for soil
conservation. The benefit pay
ments can be made on basis that
will encourage individual farmers
to adopt sound farm management,
crop rotation and soil conservation
methods. The crop insurance fea-
ture afforded by benefit payments
will help farmers to maintain these
beneficial systems of farming with
out interruption in poor crop years.
longtime adjustments can be
adapted to natural soil advantages
of regions and localities. Already
the adjustment administration has
under way local studies to help in
working out farm programs on a
county basis, SO as to fit the best
permanent use Of the varying soil
resources of the country up to that
county's share of available domes-
tic and foreign markets. Thus,
plans are being worked out that
should encourage widespread CO.
operation of farmers in a perma-
nent national soil-maintenance
program.
The simplified and more fex-
ible adjustment program of the
future can be made to serve the
permanent advantage Of producer
and consumer. It can iron out the
succession Of extreme shortages
which in the past have alternately
wrecked farm income and penal
lied city people with too high
prices. 1t can protect the Nations
heritage Of soil. help farmers to
produce up to the full possibilities
of profitable export and give this
country the safest possible assur-
ance Of abundant food in the
years to come. I can think of
nothing more important to the
permanent welfare of the Nation
than longtime agricultural ad-
justment carried out along these
lines.