The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-05-14
Not Eligible
To Vote In
Wheat Program
Editor OF Herald:

w neat Program
Editor OF Herald:
I am a farmer and grower
of wheat but I will have no vote
l am stating this because many
people think farmers have de-
cided on this wheat program,
have made the rules: now it's
up to the government to let
them decide if they want it
simply Yes or No. I wish it
were simply that true! How
ever, many people not farmers
will have a vote!
What is a farmer? Well. in
my simple language it is a per
SoE who makes his living ON the
farm. Not person who lives
on the farm and makes his liv-
ing off the farm Or should it
be one who owns a farm en-
ploying others to take care of il
while he is prachcing another
profession for his main hveli-
hood. My answer is: A person
who owns and works his full
time on the farm with little
| other interest.
I feel l meet these require
mentS fully. May I state my po-
sltion. | was born on my father s
farm in Cumberland county.
have never lived in the city nor
have l ever been employed off OF
the farm. Oh, yes l did while
was in the service I was in the
service over So years entering
in Feb. l94l, being discharged
in Oct. l945.
II returning from service
went again to my fathers farm
/ then moved to my brother S
farm. on which we operated as
partners. and still are! In these
first few years we did quite .
bit of combining of wheat. We
also cut corn and filled a mum
Der of siloS. We built buildings
for turkeys and storage Of grain
We bought five other farm:
which joined our farm. Thest
farms had very little open lard
were for the most part cut ovel
saWmill land. We spent consid
cradle time, money and effor
clearing this land so we woulc
be able to grow crops, turkey
and cattle.
In these first few years W,
grew as much oats as we coult
as We knew that it was goot
turkey feed and turkeys do Xix,
! good quality oats. We also learn
ed that oats here was a yer,
uncertain crop. Wheat and bar
ley looked more promising. S
we grew these but found out tut
keys did not like barley. Turkey
did eat wheat and did we'll on
If not given too much. Whaa
was now under control. We coul,
plant it but only a limite
amount. There was no way t
get an allotment on our farm
The only way open was to buy
farm with ar allotment or rem
one We decided to rent a sma,
farm of less than 10 acres. w
have rented this farm since 1875
and wheat has been it's mai
crop. We will not rent this farr
In 1864 because of its sma.
fields and because U. S. is will
ing to pay more rent than W
can afford. -Four small fields G
less than 10 acres, il all, that
about two acres per field
l am told that the owner G
this farm will have a vote in tn
referendum. The owner l douh
has ever falmered, certainly no
since have known him. He ha
no way of blowing. working
harvesting or storing grain. H
is only living on the farm AM
working in town l could not ca
him a farmer. Yet he has
VOtel
l have invested in land, trac
tors, combine. mower, ploWs
cultivators, discs, drags, drills
truck, and cultipaker, fences am
buildings. We pay taxes on al
these. This other farm pays tax
es only on land yet he has
vote! Is this right? Is Their
any hope for new farmers
Must they buy land. machinery
and allotments to be a farme
Should they only work for cor
porations? Let's not make
harder to own property. It's to,
hard now.
| have made two trips to thu
Asses office, the first Monday
May 6. l was told l could no
vote! l went again on Thursday
May 8. 1 asked the head if h.
was not mistaken about the vote
He replied no, he didn't think SO
then asked to see the require
ments for voting. He did shov
me some and I could see n,
place that l was eligible. AS
saw them: If you have no allot
ment you have no vote. Just tina
simple. Perhaps he did not shoy
me all, don't know.
While | was at the ASCS of