Milford chronicle., 1952-12-26
Agriculture Has Done
Big Job This Year
~ OVID a. MARTIN
AZ NeHslsalurss

49, - NFttA AlN
Ar Nswsisatures
WASHINGTON - American ag-
riculture turned in its biggest pro-
duction job in 1852.
The combined output of food and
fiber crops and livestock and live
stock products was the largest in
history. It topped the previous
years production by 8 per cent
Biggest gains were in meat animals
and food grains.
Rejecting q heavy consume. de-
mand for more beef and favorable
prices, farmers expanded cattle
numbers to a record level. Those
numbers now stand at more than
80 million head. This is an increase
of more than 13 million head in
four years.
A further expansion in cattle is
expected in 195S-a year that may
see consumer supplies of meat be-
come the largest in any peacetime
year
Farmers harvested the second
largest wheat crop and the second
largest corn crop in history. These
crops served to assure ample sun
plies and reserves for possible
emergencies for at least another
Is months.
/ Produced also were larger than
average crops of oats, fiaxseed.
rice, hay, soybeans, tobacco, fruits
and vegetables.
#@es
But FARM returns did not
match farm production. The agri-
culture department reported farm
ers received a total net income-in-
come left after paying production
costs-of 1920 million. This is
about IS per cent less than the rec
ord received in 1947, and virtually
the same as the amount received
IL 1851.
Farmers actually received about
per cent more dollars for their
products in 1852 than in 1851. But
their production costs were higher.
Had farm prices kept pace with in
creases in prices farmers paid for
production materials, their income
would, of course, have topped 1851
Farm receipts from livestock
products were down about 8 per
cent as lower average prices more
than Offset a per cent increase in
volume. Returns from crops in
creased about y per cent, mostly
because Of a 8 per cent increase in
the volume Of sales.
This years decline in livestock
receipts was largely in meat ami
mails, eggs and wool. Dairy re-
fceipts were up nearly 5 per cent,
mainly because of higher average
prices.
Farm economists say farmers
are not likely to receive more from
marketings in 1853 than they re-
ceiVed in 1852. The domestic de-
mand for farm products will prob
ably be well maintained during the
coming year, but some reduction in
demand for export seems likely. AS
a result, prices received by farmers
in 1858 may average a little lower.
*&s*
THE LEVEL Gf economic we'll
being was not Uniform for the var
iOus farming regions. Many pro-
ducers in Eastern, Southeastern.
South Central and Southwestern
areas suffered heavy crop losses
from a severe early summer
drought. Those losses were reflect
ed in the production of cotton. live
stock feed grains, hay and pas
lures.
AS a consequence, many farmers
were forced to sell of some of their
! livestock because of Inadequate
feed supplies. Others were enabled
to keep stock through government
help in obtaining feed supplies
from more plentiful areas
The spectre Of a severe drought
in 1858 hung over many of the
same areas adversely affected in
1852. Prospects were darkest in
the winter wheat producing area
of the southern great plains little
hope was held for a bumper food
grain crop in the new year. But
ample reserves will prevent a short
age.
"A major development on the ma
tional farm front in 1852 wa con-
gressional investigation o. -uurt-
ages Of government-owned grain
and other products stored under
price support programs. In a num-
Der OF cases, private storage con-
Germs converted these commodi-
ties to their own use and were un-
able to make good to the govern
ment.
Critics of the Truman adminis-
tration blamed these losses-esti-
mated all the way from about one
million to 10 million dOllars-on
lax administration. Several stor-
age concerns were prosecuted. The
government tightened up its stor-
age regulations in move to pre-
vent future losses.
&&&&
THIS YEAR brought few changes
in farm legislation and in federal
farm programs. The only measure
of any Importance passed by Con-
gress was one extending high-level
farm price supports for basic crops
for another two-year period-that
lis, for the 1868 and 1854 crops.
Under this measure, the govern
ment is required to support pro-
ducer prices of wheat, corn, cotton.
tobacco, rice and peanuts at not
less than 80 per cent of parity Cor
the two years. This is the level at
which these crops have been sup
ported in recent years. Parity is a
standard for measuring Farm prices,
declared by law to be equally fair
70 farmers and those who buy their
products.
T. NHra,,,---1,s1. A.. - -,