Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-09

hand on an enriched legacy to
future generations. The conser-
walton reserve program will con-
tribute materially to that end.
Further. production from the
acres today diverted from sur
plus e crops is now seriously
affecting other segmentS Of our
agriculture. The acreage of feed
grains. notably oats. barley and
grain sorghums. has been in
creased. The end product OF
this diversion has geen greatly
enlarged supplies Of and lower
prices for hogs. cattle and dairy
and poultry products. Producers
of fruit. vegetables and other
crops have been adversely af-
fected. The proposed conserva-
ton reserve. can also make a
major contribution to solving
this problem OF diverted acres.
Asks Voluntary Shift
I propose that farmers be
asked to contract voluntarily
with the Government to shift
into forage, trees and water
storage cultivated lands most
needing conservation measures.
Any farmer would be eligible to
participate in this program re-
yardless of the crop he produces
or the area where his farm is
located. ! would hope that some
rs million acres would be brought
into the conservation reserve.
Forest lands under good man.
agenent are constant and a
renewable resource. One-third
of our forest area Is in farm
woodlands. From this source
can come a large share of the
lumber. pulpwood and other
forest products to meet the grow
ing needs of our expanding econ
omy. The conservation reserve
can mean productive and protec-
tive tree cover for less productive
lands now used for cultivated
crops.
The Government itself must
encourage this transfer in order
to achieve the advantages to the
general welfare that will follow
from improved resource use.
! propose, therefore. that the Gov
eminent pay a fair share Of the
costs Of establishing the conser-
walton use, up to a specified per
acre maximum that will vary by
regions. The Governments share
will be sufficiently high to en-
courage broad participation and
thus assure the success Of the
program. Further, as the farm
er reorganizes his farm along
these soil conserving lines. rec
ommend that the Government
provide certain annual payments
for a period of years related to
the length of time needed to
establish the new use of the land.
The Congress will need to de-
velop the basis and procedures
for determining the amount of
the payments. Here. as In the
Acreage Reserve Program, ]
would not let the farmers CO.
operation impair his historic
acreage allotments.
The farmer, in turn. will agree
that the acres put into this Con-
servation Reserve will be in ad-
dition to any land that he may
put into the Acreage Reserve.
and will represent q reduction in
cropland cultivated. He will
agree to carry out sound soil and
water conservation on these
acres, and to refrain from re-
turning them to crop production,
and from grazing them for a
specified period.
Urgues Swift Passage
I urge the Congress to ap-
prove this program with the
least possible delay so that a sig
nificant part Of the desired Is
million acres can come into the
program in 1866.
My estimate is that il the
Congress acts in time, some $3.50
million will be invested in the
Conservation Reserve during the
calendar year. 1856, and a total
of about q billion dollars over
the next 8 years. Sums ex-
pended under this program will
be in addition to the $3.50 mil
lion provided for the Agricultural
Conservation Program for the
coming fiscal year.
In return the Conservation Re-
serve Program will bring these
large rewards:
It will result in improved use
Of soil and water resources fol
the benefit Of this and future
generations.
It will increase our supply Of
much-needed farm-grown forest
products.
1t will help hold rain and snow
where they fall and make pos
sible more ponds and reservoirs
on the farm.
It will reduce the undue slim
illus TO livestock production. and