Evening star., 1950-07-21
Anti-Hoarding
Report on Food
Due Tomorrow
Government Dutu
Expected to Show
Supply Is Ample
By the Associated Press


Disturbed by increases in prices
and evidence of consumer hoard
ing, the Government is working
on report to convince the public
that it need not fear food short
ages.
The report, being drafted by
the Agriculture Department, will
be made public tomorrow night.
Repeated assurances by Presi-
dent Truman and Secretary of
Agriculture Brannan that food
supplies are plentiful were credited
by officials with having slowed
down, but not stopped, the heavy
consumer buying of sugar, canned
goods and other non-perishable
foods that started with the Korean
war.
Oft1cials hoped that a detailed
report, giving statistical informa-
ton on supplies and production
prospects of various major food
items, would serve as a clincher
to their argument that there is
no justification for boarding or
for price increases.
The report is being prepared by
the departments Bureau of Agri-
cultural Economics and will take
into account the possible effects
OF the war and increased military
spending on the market for food
and farm products.
No Valid Reason for Rise.
1t is expected to say that, on
the basis Of present conditions.
there is no valid reason for a
higher general level of food prices
during the next six months.
Prices of some foods, it will say.
should go down in the fall-par-
t1cularly meats. Slaughter sup
plies of meat animals will increase
from the normal low levels of the
summer to put much larger sup.
ply of meats in butcher shops.
The report is expected to state
that large farm production, plus
big cold-Storage stocks, should
maintain supplies of eggs and
poultry at high levels, with prices
advancing only slightly from sum-
mer quotations. .ea
/ 1t will point out that supplies Of
wheat for Hour and bakery prod
ucts are 80 to 40 per cent above
anticipated market demands for
the grain. It also will state that
feed grain supplies are ample to
maintain production of meats.
milk and poultry products at a
higher level than at present.
1t is expected to report that
milk production is at near record
levels, with a part of the supply
being diverted into Government
surplus stocks in the form of
butter, cheese and dried milk.
Supplies of fresh, canned and
frozen fruits are expected to be
about IL per cent less than last
year and about 4 per cent below
average, rejecting spring freeze
damage. The peach supply is
likely to be down about a fourth
from last year AS consequence.
somewhat higher prices are an
ticipated for fruits.
Prospects point toward abun-
dant supplies of fresh and pro-
cessed vegetables, including po-
tatoes, sweet potatoes. dry beans
and peas. Record stocks have
been depressing farm prices OF
dry beans.
The report undoubtedly will
paint a favorable picture of sup
plies of food fats and oils. Fall
and winter production of lard is
expected to be larger than year
ago. Vegetable oil supplies, on
the other hand, may be little
1C41CNOAAAS oAAAoAAOA eNSAS-
ages of cotton, peanuts and flax
seed.
But butter production is rum
ming far ahead of consumer de-
mand. AS consequence, surplus
stocks of more than 1875 million
pounds have been accumulated by
the Government under farm price
support programs.
The report may place particular
emphasis upon the sugar situation.
World production is setting re-
cord this year and much of the
extra supply is in areas close to
this country, particularly in Cuba.
1t has been necessary to impose
restrictions on imports to prevent
foreign supplies from depressing
prices below levels essential to
keep domestic producers in busi-
ness.