Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-11
Farm Prices, Income
For 81 Should Equal
So, Experts Predict
By Allen Drury

Agriculture Department eX-
perts told Congress today that
1854 farm prices and farm in
come should average close to
1853 levels providing abnormal
developments" do not occur in
either the weather or the econ
omy as whole.
o. v. Wells, administrator Of
the Agricultural Marketing Sery-
ice. and N. M. Koffsky. associate
chief of the statistical and his
torical branch of the service.
summed up the departments
view for the Joint Congressional
Economics Committee this way:
In recent months, there has
been a moderate and fairly
general improvement in prices
of agricultural commodities ). :.
domestic demand for food con-
tinues strong with no significant
evidence that the current busi-
ness adjustment has reduced
consumer purchases of food
With respect to the outlook for
1854, we see no substantial rea-
son why farm prices and farm
income should average much
different than in 1853. provid-
ing abnormal developments in
weather or in the economy as a
whole do not occur
Participate i'm Forum.
The department spokesman
participated in a formidable
discussion of the farm situation
which brought a panel of ex-
perts, most of them from colleges
and universities, before the joint
committee.
Mr.. Wells and Mr.. Koffsky
said price support programs will
continue to cushion the effects
of over production in some COM
moditieS. Cattle marketingS. they
predicted, will continue large.
but the unsettled market and
price declines in 1858 are not
likely to recur."
They also noted that while
wheat export prospects are not
as favorable as a year ago, cot
ton and tobacco prospects are
somewhat better"
DR.. Louis H. Bean, formerly
chief statistical adviser to the
department during the Truman
administration. remarked that
he could not find in the Presi-
dents farm proposals 1.-THE basis
for the stated hopes that inspire
them"
Plan Called Inadequate.
= Flexible prices and a lower. |
n1odernized parity level do not
guarantee the hoped-for reduc-
ton in acreage or production.
DR.. Bean said. nor the promise |
of greater consumption and ex- |
ports"
He said the plan to export 81 |!
billion worth of SURPRISES to .
needy people abroad over a
three-year period rs worth /
while but extremely inadequate |
both in relation to the SURPRISES
or to the number of hungry peo- |
pie abroad"
DR.. John K. Galbraith, profess
sor of economics at Harvard
University. told the committee
the administration should adopt
the Brennan plan of supporting
farm products that. can't make
their way profltably in the mar
ket place.
Economist Hits Plan.
DR.. C. Clyde Mitchell, chair
man of the Department of
Agricultural Economics, Uni
versity of Nebraska. also at
tackled the administrations
proposals. He said they are
"geared to the principle Of a
contracting and underemployed
American economy rather than
to the principle of an expanding
and prosperous economy"
DR.. L. j. Norton, professor of
agricultural economics, Univer-
slty of Illinois. was the only wit
ness to defend the Presidents
program. He said a lower level
OF price supports, with some
f1exibility. would increase con-
sumption and reduce carryovers.