The Executive and Farm Policy

Abstract

The national interest requires a reversal of the costly drift of farm policy in the area involving price supports, production controls, and surplus stocks and disposals. There is a dangerous trend toward continuing rise in surplus stocks, of wheat and corn especially, in spite of heavy exports under sub sidy and special programs. Disagreements between the Execu tive and the Congress have prevented or seriously delayed desirable legislative changes, and fear of the farm vote has hampered more far-reaching proposals. In arriving at deci sions on farm policy the Executive operates under handicaps arising from tradition, politics, and intrenched ideas, practices, and vested interests. Needful changes therefore require wide support based on clearer and broader public understanding. There is urgent need for fresh penetrating reappraisals—from the viewpoint of the nation as a whole—of the real farm situa tion in perspective, of the farm programs and their impacts, and of goals appropriate to changed agricultural conditions. Materials for such reappraisals are abundant, but the task calls for vigorous new efforts within and outside the government. A specially constituted interagency committee might perform this service, but this could advantageously be paralleled by a nongovernmental undertaking reinforced by individual efforts.