Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-29

@AANS SNANNs
The Department has been VI
anticipation of the legislation.
but there still is much to be
done in the way of fixing the
payments farmers will get for
vast administrative problem in
the field which will be handled
on the local level by the Agricul-
ture Sterilization and Conserva-
ton Committee which now are in
charge of support programs.
Secretary Benson said he was
proceeding with judicious haste
to make the program effective
which means getting into the
farm belt the payments involved
Primarily this will come from
the $1.2 billion. crop-reduction
soil bank project, under which
farmers will be paid for keeping
land out of production.
Benson Sees President
Mr.. Benson conferred with
President Eisenhower today, and
later, in response to questions,
told newsmen he felt that there
is less criticism in the country
on the farm issue, than formerly
He felt the administration
farm policy is being more wide
ly accepted, and recognized as
being sound.
The new legislation is a sub
stitute for the bill vetoed by
President Eisenhower last month
because of support payment pro-
visions to which he objected.
Cotton export provisions which
the President feared might be
harmful to foreign relations
drew light fire this time, as did
a plan authorizing the Secre-
tary of Agriculture-if he sees
fit-to inaugurate a two-price
system for rice.
Mr.. Eisenhower also expressed
disappointment that the soil
bank program had not gone into
effect earlier, saying it is now
virtually impossible" to get it
going properly this year. with
planting so far under way.
Advance Payments Rejected
He voiced regret that Congress
had turned down his recommen-
dalton for a pay-in-advance
plan under which farmers would
have collected about $500 mil
lion this year simply for con-
tracing to cut back acreage of
principal crops next year.
Congress rejected this as an
election year gimmick.
Under the acreage reserve
feature of the bank" payments
will be made for cutting back
acreage of cotton, corn. wheat,
rice, peanuts, and some varieties
of tobacco. If compensation
were limited to land intended
for these crops, but not yet
planted, participation necesSar-
lily would be small. If, however,
farmers could be paid for plow-
ing under crops already seeded,
the payments would be Substan-
tial. The law provides for such
payments.
It is estimated that when the
soil bank is in full operation
about so million acres of tillable
land will be idled. Half of this
will be in the acreage reserve
and the rest in land to be turned
to conservation programs-such
as forage, timber and water stor-
age.
In addition to cutting down
actual production, the Govern
ment also plans to curb the sur
pluses which have been depress-
ing prices by inducing farmers
to take grains from Government
storage as payments in kind"
for participating in the soil
bank. instead of cash. Other
moves also are to be made to
step up surplus disposal.
Feed Grain Prices Boosted
The new law also boosts
prices for feed grains-oats.
barley, rye, grain sorghums and
corn grown outside the CONNER
cial corn area. and also adds
about $500 million to the present
fund of nearly the same size to
support the prices of perishables.
The text of the Presidents
farm bill statement follows:
Il have today approved the
farm bill, HR 10875.
THE heart of the bill is the
soil bank. It's acreage reserve
will help bring production of GER
tain crops into balance with their
markets. 1t will check current
additions to our price-depress-
ing, MISUNDERSTANDING surplus
stocks of farm products. 1t is
a concept rich with promise for
improving our agricultural situa-
ton.
Possibilities Seen Significant
1.-THE conservation reserve fea-
ture Of the soil bank can be the
most significant advance in the
conservation field in many years.
1t will result in improved use of
our soil and water resources for
the benefit of this and future