Evening star., 1955-11-27

Administration farm program VIII
farmers out of business.
Rather, he said, a special
before Congress earlier this year,
aid programs now in existence
which he said could be expanded
if Congress permitted-would
help keep such farmers on the
land.
Mr.. Benson made these points
in a statement commenting on q
series of Associated Press stories
In which this writer gave his i'm
preston of what farmers, busi-
nessmen and political leaders are
thinking about low farm incomes
and prices.
The writer accompanied the
Senate Agriculture Committee
on its recent tour of major farm
ing areas to get farmers views
on how to bolster the agricultural
economy.
Widespread Dissatisfaction
The Secretary--to whom the
articles were submitted for his
comment II he 30 desired-said
he found that they accurately
refiectAd the mood Of farmers
and the conditions under which
they are operating"
In brief, the stories noted that
while there is no depression In
agriculture, there Is widespread
dissatisfaction. This arises from
the fact that farm prices have
been declining while city prices
and wages have held steady or
gone UP.
The stories said there is much
criticism of present farm policies
and Of Mr.. Benson himself. They
told how the situation put both
political parties on the spot be-
cause farmers challenged both to
come up with improved farm
programs.
"I certainly agree" Secretary
Benson said, ''that there is wide
spread discomfort and that many
farmers are caught in a severe
squeeze and are worried"
1--WE are determined" he add
ed, Ito do something about the
causes of the disparity between
farm income and unprecedented
prosperity elsewhere in the
economy, without penalizing one
to benefit the other"
Soil Bank Plan Studied
The G. o. P. farm chief said
farmers need help to tide them
over the present period OF ad-
justing ar-expanded farm pro-
duction to peacetime require
ments.
He said the administration is
giving minute study" to all
phases of the so-called soil
bank" plan to determine II 1t
would reduce production. give
both immediate cash returns and
long range benefits.
The articles reported that q
ground swell is developing among
farmers for such q plan. Under
1t farmers would get Federal pay
ments for taking part Of their
tillable land out Of production
and building up its fertility for
the future.
Withdrawal Of q certain por-
ton Of our land from production
until we have disposed of our
surpluses and balance is achieved
Is q proposal which offers some
possibilities" the Secretary said.
He added, however, that o.
program Of this kind would not
benefit small farmers who car-
not afford to allow good acres
to stand idle. He said the Gov
ernment Is earnestly seeking to
relieve the squeeze on this type
of farmer"
Threat Of Bankruptcy
The farm criticism to which
Mr.. Benson took exception was
the contention of many pro-
ducers that flexible price sup
ports--a key feature of the ad-
ministration program-would re-
duce farm product prices to q
point where many smaller
farmers-and many war vet
erans who bought land and
equipment at high postwar prices
could not make ends meet and
would be forced into bankruptcy.
"Our line of thinking in this
regard runs contrary to reports
our program would squeeze the
small and less efficient farmer
out of existence" Secretary Ben
son said. I'VE have a special
rural development program. We
are extending credit and tech
nical facilities which will
strengthen the position of low
income farmers and we will ex-|
pand such programs. Congress
permitting"
Many farmers said the adj
ministration's lower price sup
ports tended to encourage
greater production rather than
the reverse. as they were de-
signed to do. They said many
producers planted more In an
effort to increase production
enough to offset lower prices.
Admits Shortcomings
In this case, Mr.. Benson said,
81 am the first to admit that
flexible supports have their
shortcomings" but he added itI