Evening star., 1954-01-11
Less Subsidy, More
Free Enterprise Are
Key 10 6. 0..P. Plan

Key 10 6. 0. P. Plan
The tert OF President Eisen-
hotDer'S general proposals for
a farm program follot0S:
I submit herewith for the
consideration Of the Congress
a number of recommendations
affecting the Nations agricul-
ture.
The agricultural problem to-
day is as serious and complex
as any with which the Con-
gress will deal in this session.
Immediate action is needed to
arrest the growing threat to
our present agricultural pro-
gram and to prevent the subse-
quent economic distress that
could follow in our farming
areas.
I have given assurances to
the American farmer that sup
port of existing agricultural
laws, including continuance
: through 1854 of price supports
on basic commodities at 80 per
cent of parity, was a moral and
legal commitment that must
be upheld. Along with the full
f1llment of this commitment,
an unending effort has pro-
ceeded in the past IL months
to provide the American farm
er his full share of the income
produced by a stable, prosper
Gus country. This effort re-
quires for success new farm
program adjusted to existing
conditions in the Nations agri-
culture.
This message presents to the
Congress that new program.
1t is designed to achieve the
stability and growth in income
over the years to which our
farmers are entitled and which
the Nation must assure in the
interest of all l60 million of
our people.
Studies Of the Problem
In constructing it's program,
this administration resolved to
get the benefit of the hest
thinking of the Nations farm
ers, as well as that of it's farm
experts. Over 60 different sur
vey groups, and more than 500
of the eminent farm leaders in
the country, have participated
in these studies. Agricultural
colleges and research institu-
tions contributed their work
and thought. Scores Of pro-
ducer. professor and ttrade
groups. as we'll as national
farm organizations. gave their
findings and proposals Mail
from thousands of individual
farmers, and opinion polls
among farmers. have been
analyzed and weighed. The,
bipartisan, broadly repre-
sentative National Agricul-
tural Advisory Commission
has steadily worked and con-
suited on the problem for the
past IL months. Numerous
commodity organizations have
been consulted Many mem
bers of Congress have shared
their own rich experience in
this effort. Accordingly. as
promised a year ago. the most
thorough and comprehensive
study ever made of the farm
problem and of government
tai farm programs has been
completed.
Recommendations By
Commodity.
The recommendations which
have been reaped from all this
inquiry are in the best tradi-
tions of bipartisan approach
to the Nations agricultural
legislation. They recognize
that each farm crop has it's
own problems and that these
blemS require specific
treatment. Accordingly Part II
of this message presents de-
tailed proposals for the treat
ment of Is commodities or
commodity groups. I here con-
fine myself to those aspects Of
the farm program in which all
farmers and all citizens are
equally concerned.
Some Fundamental
Considerations.
In its approach to this prob
lem. the administration has
hold to the following funda-
mentals:
/. A stable, prosperous and
free agriculture is essential to
the welfare of the United
States.
2 A farm program must
fairly represent the interests
of both producers and con-
sumers.
8. However large surpluses
may be, food once produced
must not be destroyed. Ex-
cessive stocks can be removed
from commercial channels for
constructive purposes that will
benefit the people of the
United States and our friends
abroad.
4. For many reasons farm
products are subject to wider
price fluctuations than are
most other commodities. More
over, the individual farmer or
rancher has less control over
the prices he receives than do
producers in most other indus
tries. Government price sup
ports must, therefore, be pro-
vided in order to bring needed
stability to farm income and
farm production.
S. A farm program first of
all should assist agriculture
to earn its proportionate share
of the national income. It