Evening star., 1941-12-07
Ever Normal GranaN
Is Saving Consumers
Millions ,Wickard Says
Sees Program Fastening
Democratic Victory and
Avertine U. S. Shortage
By OVID MARTIN.

DN oNlD MAN IN.
Wide World News
Secretary Wickard believes the
Agriculture Departments ever-nor-
NAL granary farm progrsm-based
upon the biblical idea of saving sur
plus production of fat years for use
in years of lean output or abnormal
demand-will pay big dividends to
city folk during the coming year.
More than that. he believes the
program will contribute materially
to a quicker victory of the democ-
racies over the totalitarian powers
and that. while designed primarily
to protect farmers against excess
avely low prices. it will prove to
consumers that it is worth more than
II may have cost them in taxes for
farm benefit payments.
Secretary Wickard bases his beliefs
upon past experiences that have
proved both painful and costly to
farmers and consumers.
Right now American agriculture is
being called upon 10 meet an un-
precedented demand for vital food
products. particularly pork, lard,
beef. mutton, butter, milk. cheese,
eggs and poultry products. This new
demand comes from millions OF
Americans returning to good jobs
under the defense program, as well
ax from Great Britain.
Export Demands Great.
Requirements of the British for
many of these products are much
larger than the United States has
ever exported.
As large as the demand may be,
farmers will continue to meet 1t.
says Mr.. Wickard. They are able TO
do 1t. he adds, only because huge
reserves Of corn and other feeds
have been accumulated during the
past four years under the granary
program.
without the ever normal gran
Ary reserves of corn and other feeds
There could be no food-for- defense
program such as has been inaugu-
rated by the Agriculture Depart
mental least not until after farm
ers had produced big corn crop in
1912" the Secretary said.
That would have meant a loss
Of valuable time, with possible dis
astrous results to the British and to
the cause OF democracy, to say
nothing of the possibility of short
supplies and higher prices of meats.
dairy and poultry products for
American consumers"
The ever-normal granary pro-
gram was authorized by Congress in
1888 when Vice President Wallace
was Secretary of Agriculture. The
idea was given support by consumer
experiences with short supplies and
high prices after the severe droughts
Of 1884 and 1886
Effects of Drought.
The droughts cut corn crops short.
Several million head of cattle were
killed under emergency relief pro-
grams because of shortage of feed
supplies. Corn jumped to as high
as sl21 bushel in 1887 That COM
pares with Chicago price of about
75 cents now Hogs and cattle like
wise advanced to levels considerably
above those prevailing now.
The situation was marked by
many consumer strikes against high
meat prices and attacks against
Federal farm officials as promoters
Of artificial scarcity"
Recogni7ing tEr. corn is the basic
erain used to produce the nations
supply Of meat. poultry and dairy
products. Mr.. Wallace and his aides
set to work to form plan whereby
ample supplies might be kept on
hand at all times to offset the eff
fects Of droughts and short crops or
to meet an abnormal demand.
They knew that wide fluctuations
occur from year to year in corn pro-
duction. When production is exces-
sive as. for example. during the
years 1920 and 1921. when the crop
amounted to 3.0O0.OO00O0 bushels,
farmers greatly overexpand live
stock, dairy and poultry production
IN an effort to dispose of the grain
profitablv.
Forced Into Markets
Since livestock cannot be held on
farms for long after it is ready for
market, the excessive supplies re-
sulting from the surplus of corn are
forced into trade channels at sacri-
fee prices. with resulting heavy
losses to producers and a strain