The Sidney herald., 1956-03-29

efforts. Parity prices should be as
Sured for this given quantity allooe<
the individual. Production yer hi
allotment because of especially gooc
growing conditions or improved eff
ficiency, or for any other reason
could be purchased by the Commodi-
ty Credit Corporation at world mar
ket prices or the open market price
in this country. The CCC could either
store the product for use in periods
when we need the reserve. or use
special dispersion techniques such as
helping in emergencies that may de-
velop in other countries where re-
curing food shortages develop, OF
give SURPRISES to nations who could
and would agree to distribute the
produce IN such a way that they
would get to the folks who really
needed the food and fibre who are
not now and probably would not be,
under usual commercial procedures,
a factor in the market place to pur-
chase and consume these surplus
goods. Our food and fiber SURPRISES
could be a great instrument in a sim
cere crusade 10 eliminate hunger in
the midst of abundance for the world
as a whole and strengthen our hand
in world relations for peace and
prosperity.
Thus far. national farm policy has
been associated with price supports
III one 10TH OF announcer, Out many leSl
that a program of income support
rather than price support is what
agriculture really should have Under
this program, prices of farm products
would seek their level in the market
place at a point where supplies would
be cleared and no surplus would re-
suit. The difference between the mar
ket price and the desired support level
could then be made up by income
payments directly TO the farmer. This
plan is now in operation for wool.
but we are on an import basis in
this product and the program is be-
ing used as "A production incentive
program rather than a surplus control
program: The general idea of income
support has not been found politically
palatable for general use as yet.
In conclusion. there is no simple
single. .panacea to the American
farm problem. SURPRISES in various
commodities will be with us for a
long time and the production and
conditions are quite differ
ent for different farm products. but
the tremendous efficiency of Ameri-
can agriculture gives us assurance of
adequate food and fiber supplies and
makes il possible for us to build a fine
national program in the public inter-
est. The fact that we have an abund-
of our major food n fiber
products us alternatives or
cnOIceS. Sucn as storing up or stock
Diling eServeS for emergencies, wars,
drouths. or other crises. Our situation
Of abundance and SURPRISES makes il
possible for us to devise and carry
out sound soil conservation and soil
building practices not only to main
tain our basic soil fertility. but to
improve the capacity of our soil re-
sources to meet the increased demands
which will be placed upon them in
decades and centuries to come.
Dur great ability to produce makes
{ possible for US to face the ire
are in prospect with confidence and
that our standards of Iiv-
ng need not decline. but may be
improved. And. last, our
abundant food and fiber supplies place
our hands one of the most effective
Instruments to build up good will and
world peace and understanding thru
American leadership and