Evening star., 1960-02-09
TEXT OF FARM MESSAGE
ANY Constructive Plan
Agreeable to President

NSs~O~A =
FOLLOWING is the tert of
President EiSenhoDer'S farm
message to Congress today:
I urgently call attention. once
again, to a most vexing do
mestic problem-the low net
income of many of our farmers
and excessive production of
certain farm products. largely
due to economic distortions in
duced by years of Federal in
reference.
We are most fortunate that
our problem in agriculture is
overabundance rather than a
shortage of food. But it defieS
common sense to continue to
encourage, at the cost of many
millions of tax dollars, the
building Of ever larger excess
supplies Of products that, as
they accumulate, depress farm
prices and endanger the future
of our farmers.
The wheat situation is par
ticularly acute. Federal funds
tied up in wheat approximate
$3.5 billion. Although this
means that well over 80 per
cent Of the total funds invested
in inventories and loans of the
Commodity Credit Corporation
goes for wheat, this crop pro-
videS only s per cent of the
cash receipts from sales of farm
products. The Government sus-
tains net cost of more than
$1,000 in minute-$1.5 million
every day-the year around, to
stabilize wheat prices and
income.
Day by day this program fur
ther distorts wheat markets
and supplies. It's only future is
ever higher cost. Inexorably it
generates ever larger surpluses
which must be extensively
stored. Ultimately, if our Gov
ernment does not act quickly
and constructively, the danger
is very real that this entire pro-
gram will collapse under the
pressure Of public indignation,
and thousands Of our farming
people will be hurt.
I think the American people
have every right to expect the
Congress to move promptly to
solve situations Of this kind.
Sound legislation is impera-
lively needed. We must quickly
and sensibly revise the present
program to avoid visiting havoc
upon the very people this pro-
gram is intended to help. Every
additional day of delay makes
a sound solution more difficult.
Free the Farmer
I have repeatedly expressed
my preference for programs
that will ultimately free the
farmer rather than subject him
to increasing governmental
restraints. I am convinced
that most farmers hold the
same view. But whatever the
legislative approach, whether
toward greater freedom or
more regimentation, it must
be sensible and economically
sound and not q political poul-
tice. And 1t must be enacted
promptly. I will approve any
constructive solution that the
Congress wishes to develop, by
Constructive" meaning this:
First, that price support
levels be realistically related to
whatever policy the Congress
chooses in respect to produc-
tion control, it being recognized
that the higher the support the
more regimented must be the
farmer.
Second, that price support
levels not be so high so as to
stimulate still more excessive
production, reduce domestic |,
markets, and increase the sub
sides required to hold world
outlets.
Third, for reasons long ex-
pressed by the administration,
that we avoid direct subsidy
payment programs for crops in
surplus: likewise, we must avoid
programs which would invite
harmful counter measures by
our friends abroad, or which,
while seeking to assist one
group Of farmers, would badly
hurt other farmers