The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-06-08
Soil Bank Plan Local Formula Limited
To 'Cuesses': No Official Word Yet
Striplin Says
Directives May
Come Next Week

No official word on the applica-
ton of the administrators new
soil bank program has been re-
celved here as yet. County Agent
E. F. Strlplln reported today.
The Associated Press, has COM
mented that the scope of the plan.
to reduce farm surpluses by pay
ing farmers to keep cropland idle
and employ conservation measures
on 1t. will be limited this year
Agriculture Secretary Benson
said earlier that farmers in areas
where crops are not too far
advanced may be aole to qualify
this year either by planting less
than their allotmentS or BY plow-
ing under part of the allotment
already planted The only crops
sp officially eliminated by the Sec
retary at that time were mature
crops such as winter wheat.
Advice Expected
But Benson said later in a
speech at Beaver Dam. Wis. that
the new farm law provides that
farmers may participate in the
program by blowing under crops
now growing Final regulations on
eligibility have not vet been re-
leased by the department.
Strlplin said he expected infor-
nation on the program some time
next week. The agent commented
himself that he did not think any
farmer in this area would pillow up
any crops Hhe added that since
wheat and other small grains Will
be harvested here within the next
two weeks, none would probably
come under the heading Of eligible
crops.
Although ASC office manager
Donald Morris was not available
for comment Striplin said reSpon-
slblhty for supervising the pro-
gram locally would probably be
shared between the extension serv-
ice and ASC officers.
The new law provides ST. 200
600, year for payments to farm
erS who take land out of produc-
ton of surplus crops. 1t also re-
qulres application of conservation
measures to the idle acres. Ben
son has advocated that the nation
IntPndS Ia " n Inl1nr'.. NF
surplus reduction on dollars
worth of conservation for every
dollar paid out.
Under present plans the propos-
ed rates for blowing under crops
already seeded OF for not planting
land intended for the crops. will
average nationally about $40 an
acre for corn, $24 for wheat $40
for cotton and S34 for rice. Rates
for peanuts and tobacco Will be
announced later. Payment pre-
sumably would be made this sum
mer or early fail as soon as farm
CT compliance can be determined.
Officials believe that farmers
would be willing to pillow up only
land which already is destined To
crop failure. because of adverse
weather or flood damage However
Benson has practically ruled out
JhiS group. We should not load
upon this program responsibility
for drought relief, flood relief and
credit needs" Benson said we
should not make the soil bank over
INTO kind of crop insurance pro-
gram that farmer takes out at
ter his crop is lost
How the soil bank plan viii fit
INTO the present allotment-quota-
support program remains a puzzle
to Striplln.
He hopes the question VIII be
settled before July 20 when wheat
farmers will vote on whether or
not to continue allotmentS. Strip
lin theorized that farmers who re-
duce acreage beyond allotmcntS
would be eligible to participate in
the soil bank plan.