agricultural public relations program financed by agriculture and related industries.

9. We recommend continued study and investigation for the purpose of developing an actuarially sound system of crop insurance.

10. We favor self-help for agriculture through the encouragement of farmer cooperatives.

11. We resolve to favor economy in Government, including the administration of farm programs.

AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 5, as Adopted JUNE 7, 1952, AND REENDORSED OCTOBER 12, 1953 (SOUTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN FARM COUNCIL)

We wish to protest the encroachment by any Federal agency that endangers the ground or surface waters of the States, and we deplore the action of the Bureau of Reclamation whereby it has acquired water rights to entire watersheds and are using the same in a manner detrimental to domestic and stock water supplies and contrary to good agricultural soil conservation practices.

BRIEF ENDORSED BY SOUTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN FARM COUNCIL AT WATERTOWN, S. DAK., OCTOBER 12, 1953

To: The Hope committee

From: South Dakota Stock Growers Association

The pattern of the cattle industry generally follows a cycle of rising and falling prices. From the high to the low price cycle normally covers a period of from 10 to 12 years. The cattle numbers increase in the cycle of increasing prices and decline in the cycle of decreasing prices.

We have gone over the normal cycle of increased prices caused by full employment and two wars and have been over a year in the declining prices. According to the latest figures of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics the cattle population is about 94 million of which about 22 million is beef cows. Unless more than 50 percent of the females are slaughtered during the year, cattle numbers will show an increase by January 1, 1954.

In order to bring about an increase in the slaughtering of cows the following resolution is submitted:

Whereas a healthy livestock industry is essential to national prosperity,

and

Whereas an accumulation of circumstances existing in the past has resulted in unprecedented numbers of cattle which has driven cattle prices to the lowest comparable figure in many years, and

Whereas cattle prices cannot be stabilized until such surpluses are reduced,

and

Whereas the cow is the beef-producing machine of the cattle industry and will be responsible for maintaining an overproduction so long as she is permitted to reproduce, and

Whereas the South Dakota livestock people are unalterably opposed to a price-support program on cattle because it would inevitably result in production controls, and

Whereas the Nation is committed to a foreign-aid program which could serve as an outlet for all surplus beef while creating friendship abroad; now, therefore be it

Resolved, That we, the South Dakota Stock Growers Association at a quarterly meeting held in Dupree, S. Dak., on this 5th day of September 1953, do hereby commend Secretary of Agriculture Benson in his sincere efforts and accomplishments thus far in the reduction of cattle numbers through the purchase of canned beef; but feel that there is an urgent need for the expanding of such program to save the cattle industry and therefore request the immediate inauguration of an intensified program of buying canned beef in sufficient quantities to encourage the liberal marketing of she stock, to the extent that the numbers of such stock will be materially reduced.

Further, that such program include the canning of several million cows and heifers which will be used exclusively for the feeding of hungry, friendly peoples abroad, in lieu of dollars now appropriated for such purposes, be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be directed to the President of the United States, Secretary of Agriculture Benson, the South Dakota congressional delegation, and the Governor of the State of South Dakota.

Mr. LOVRE. Next is the South Dakota Young Farmers, represented by Preston Scott, of Hecla.

STATEMENT OF PRESTON SCOTT, HECLA, S. DAK., ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA YOUNG FARMERS

Mr. Scorr. My name is Preston Scott, and I live at Hecla, S. Dak. One hundred percent of my work and time is devoted to agricultural production and conservation and marketing. As South Dakota chairman of the Young Farmers Republican Farm Council and as a memier of the Young Farmers Republican National Farm Council I am leased to present the following brief resolutions:

Whereas the House Agriculture Committee is sampling public opinion regardAg farm policy for which action they are to be commended, and

Whereas prices for farm products declines 18 percent during the last 2 years of the Truman administration and only 2 percent since the beginning of the Eisenhower administration, the Young Republican Farm Council of South Dakota makes the following suggestions:

RESOLUTION I

The Young Republican Farm Council of South Dakota resolves that 90 percent of parity be established as an absolute minimum to guarantee the farmer a fair return and assure his purchasing power, and that the present plan which expires in 1954 be continued until a better plan is devised and accepted.

RESOLUTION II

The South Dakota Young Republican Farm Council requests the following plan be put into operation immediately:

1. That the Government through the Foreign Operation Administration buy sufficient amounts of canned she stock to reduce the present surplus of producing cattle.

2. The Government purchase a greater amount of fat heifers through the mar ket place so the total slaughter of she stock will be increased. This portion of the program should be purchased through the school-lunch program, military, civil defense, and other governmental agencies.

3. The congressional Agriculture Committee study the fluctuations in livestock prices with a view toward defining definite limits as to which prices may decline during a particular period. This stabilizing program would be similar to that now in effect in the grain exchanges, the purpose being to eliminate extreme downward fluctuations in the livestock market.

RESOLUTION III

The council further resolves that the present plan of financing farm operators through the Farm Home Administration be broadened to remove certain existing restrictions toward obtaining this additional credit, with the view toward the simplification of the procedure of obtaining such loans in order that immediate relief be given present operators with as little delay as possible.

RESOLUTION IV

The council further resolves that a program to improve the public relations between the consumer, producer, and the various marketing agencies be encouraged to create a better understanding among the people as to the various problems confronted in raising and marketing agricultural products.

As an individual farmer I would accept, if necessary, livestock price supports, particularly on the psychological basis, especially because

they may be brought about by price supports on feed. It may be that we might have to handle livestock without resorting to supports. As an individual farmer I believe that the group requirements that Secretary of Agriculture set out in the plowing contest this month are adequate, workable, and enough over the long term to cover the situation, provided the young farm producer will do his part to fill in with intelligent hard work under the leadership of our Republican administration and congressional teams and local cooperation, and for the short term I believe that the foregoing four resolutions, if put into immediate broad effect and application, would alleviate the present draft of the statute for agricluture.

I believe that the young farmers in my own county indicate the feeling that high supports mean surplus and that we are willing to send our surplus overseas at what price is available to the Government.

We are more worried about the future than the present. We do not want the high price supports to be abandoned while industry and labor enjoy high prosperity, but do not like the high price supports and surplus in theory.

Mr. LOVRE. Thank you, Preston.

The National Association Soil Conservation Districts, represented by Ottis Tossett. The Chair now recognizes Mr. Tossett of Lansford, N. Dak., for 10 minutes.

STATEMENT OF OTTIS TOSSETT, LANSFORD, N. DAK., REPRESENTING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

Mr. TOSSETT. Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of this committee, I am Ottis Tossett, of Lansford, N. Dak. I farm 1,900 acres in Bottineau County. I am a supervisor of my local soil-conservation district. I have served as president of the North Dakota Association Soil Conservation Districts and am appearing today on behalf of the North Dakota Association Soil Conservation Districts Supervisors, of which I am currently a director. I am also, in that area, vice president of the National Association Soil Conservation Districts.

I wish to commend you and your committee for the thorough way you are reaching out into the rural sections of our Nation to acquire local ideas and material as a foundation for future farm programs. In the search for new, improved, and perfected farm programs, it is important that tried and proven time-tested experiences of the past be constantly reviewed and retained as a part of the proven needs of a great and growing Nation.

Soil-conservation districts, a vehicle provided and set up under State law and government by farmers, should be continued as the responsible on-the-spot medium of local soil-conservation applications. No doubt, increased State and county participation in district responsibilities and activities is desirable and urgently requested.

Federal responsibilities must be recognized and utilized to the utmost in order to extend needed conservation methods and programs across various State lines, watersheds, and public land. The vital national interest at stake must necessarily imply an overall national responsibility discharged through an overall coordinating national agency, with equal distribution throughout the country for ready

and varied contacts. It is my opinion that streamlining and trimming to excess cannot help but react, retard, and cripple this essential

service.

No equivalent State office or agency has either the funds or personnel to take over any long-established regional and national function. The ready and speedy availability of trained services, knowledge, and advice is the essence of successful application of conservation measures applicable to every section of our Nation.

Here in the great Midwest, my State is but a small segment of a huge watershed extending from the Rockies eastward beyond the Great Lakes and terminating in the Gulf of Mexico. The prevailing winds sweep a vast area extending to Alaska. Public lands, grazing areas, national forests, cultivated farmlands, crisscross State lines, watersheds, and mountain ranges.

The pattern is extremely widespread and complex. To attempt to coordinate and speedily meet rising and existing needs of such a vast area, from State offices alone, is a risk we cannot afford to take. Regional and national soil-conservation service needs to be expanded at this time of reduced crop acreage allotment in order to meet the problems arising from idle acres and reduced farm income.

I would like to add to this prepared statement that we recommend suitable legislation, that the cost of permanent soil conservation installations be allowed as an operational expense and thus be deducted as an operational cost for income-tax purposes. I would also like to add that I personally endorse the stand taken by previous witnesses in the price-support system of at least 90 percent.

I would like to also personally endorse the farm-storage payments so that we continue an ever-normal grain program for the prosperity of agriculture in our great Midwest. I tried to be brief in this statement. The effect mostly depends on the reorganization plans in the Department of Agriculture.

I appreciate this opportunity to appear before your committee. Thank you very much.

Mr. LOVRE. Thank you very kindly, Mr. Tossett. We are happy to have you cooperate with the committee the way you have done.

The following statements have been filed, and they will be made a part of the record:

Ingebert Fauske, Quinn, S. Dak., public lands committee of the grazing districts.

L. V. Ausman, Pierre, S. Dak., South Dakota secretary of agricul

ture.

J. J. Ewing, Turton, S. Dak.

E. L. Kalinowski, Devils Lake, N. Dak., farmers union, Crary, N. Dak.

H. A. Nelson, Fargo, N. Dak.-I understand that he has a new suggested farm program, which we will be very happy to consider.

Ernest H. Adler, Milbank, S. Dak., Grant County PMA community committeeman.

Melvin B. Nonhof, Bancroft, S. Dak.

James H. Lemmon, Lemmon, S. Dak., president, National Wool Marketing Corp.; Cooperative Wool Growers of South Dakota; South Dakota Livestock Marketing Association. Apparently Jim is president of all those organizations.

Henry Strom, Hillsboro, N. Dak.

A joint statement by B. P. Curl, Stanley E. Kurtz, and Mrs. Wilber Peery, Hazelton, N. Dak., Farmers Union, Local No. 680.

Howard Corey and Mrs. Andrew Swenson, Bryant, S. Dak., Farmers Union, Local 589.

A joint statement by Stanley Pittenger, Arne Goglen, and Adolph Hange, Cooperstown, N. Dak., Griggs County Farmers Union. Adam F. Remschmidt, Yale, S. Dak.

Clayton Ashley, Antler, N. Dak.

Wayne H. Evans, New Town, N. Dak.

George Moseman, who didn't leave his address.

Reino M. Johnson, president, and Mrs. Wayne H. Evans, secretary, New Town, N. Dak.; Sikes Farm Union, Local 497.

Phil Herbig, Herbig Bros, Sarles, N. Dak., farming 1,280 acres. Henry Smith, Nisland, S. Dak.

Claus C. Kuehl, Selby, S. Dak.

James J. Maher, Morristown, S. Dak., North Dakota State PMA committee.

Dave Wickens, Avon, S. Dak., chairman, internation committee. Martin VanLishout and Mrs. Claus Westra, Bowen, N. Dak., Sargent City Farmers Union.

Oscar Wahlund, Cogswell, N. Dak., Sargent City Farmers Union. Marvin Kenoyer, Sturgis, S. Dak., president, Meade County Farmers Union.

We also have another statement to be filed for the record from Math Dahl, commissioner of the department of agriculture and labor, North Dakota.

All of those statements will be made a part of the record and will appear in the hearings.

(The above-mentioned statements are as follows:)

To: The Hope committee.

BRIEF

From: South Dakota Association of Grazing District-Directors, Committee on Lands.

Subject: Policy with respect to disposal of public lands.

On April 2, representatives of the Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, and the Solicitor's Office met with Assistant Secretary Coke to consider Department policy for disposal of public lands administered by the Department of Agriculture. Following are the general policies agreed upon at the April 2 conference.

First. "The Department favors discretionary authority to dispose of any lands under its jurisdiction."

Second. "With respect to lands administered under title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, the Department favors disposal of its lands to private owners, by exchange, or sale at not less than the current appraised value, giving preference to present users. Mineral rights to be offered to purchasers of the surface at current appraised value." (See reference attached, office memorandum, dated April 23, 1953, signed R. E. McArdle and Robert M. Salter; approved J. Earl Coke and E. T. Benson.)

Since this policy determination vitally affects South Dakota grazing districts, the South Dakota Association of Grazing District Directors respectfully desire to call to the attention of the Hope committee the following facts:

I. THE DISTRICTS

The public lands administered under title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act in this State are found in western South Dakota and comprise 860,947 acres. These lands are leased for grazing purposes by 551 users through