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Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT
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for periods of not less than three years at payment rate to be determined through competitive bidding; 2. The termination of acreage allot ment and marketing quotas effective with the 1964 wheat crop; 3. The price support for wheat at the higher of average world wheat prices during the immediate preceding three years or 50 per cent of parity with low premiums to reflect milling and baking qualities; 4. A prohibition against the release of government-owned surpluses for un restricted domestic use at prices at not less than 115 per cent of price sup port level, except as offset by com parable open market purchases. Farm Bureau will also recommend a feed grain program providing price support at the higher of 90 per cent of average market prices received by farmers during the immediate preced ing three years or 50 per cent of parity. Farm Bureau believes this is a con I structive approach to solving the wheat problem that we have and we in no way discredit the Congress of the Unit ed States with trying to solve our problem. Small Producer Provisions The 1964 wheat program for the first time in the history of wheat programs, takes away from the small producer the right for him to produce wheat on his farm for his own personal use. Un der previous programs the farmer has had the opportunity to raise up to 15 acres of wheat on his farm and market it without receiving penalties provided he stayed within his allotment which was less than 15 acres. Under certain conditions where wheat was grown for feed on a farm the producer was al lowed to grow up to 30 acres without restriction. These provisions have all been taken away from the small producer. He must come under acreage allotment, he must reduce his normal acreage planted by 10 per cent and depend upon an allot ment from the County ASC Committee to the number of bushels that he may market off his land. It is significant to note that in the sign-up for the 1963 wheat program in Montana we have had a 50 per cent re jection of producers from 1962 to 1963 on the wheat program. In 1962 nationwide, over 750,000 wheat producers signed up to divert wheat production to conserving uses, idling over 12 million acres. The 1963 wheat program which offered $2 a bushel for wheat through a price support of $1.82 bushel, plus 18 cents in payment in kind, has brought about only 385,000 producers willing to idle less than 6,600, 000 acres under the current program. This should indicate to persons m au thority that the wheat producers are not interested in further government as per controls. The question has been raised how would the certificate program be car ried out under the 1964 wheat program announced by the Secretary of Agri culture? First, a natioppl acreage allot ment would be apportioned ^among all the states on the basis of seeded acres during the past 10 years, 1953-1962, with adjustments for abnormal weather and trends for planting. County allotments would be deter mined on the same basis as state allot ments. The state allotment would be individual as proportioned out among farms according to past acreage of wheat, tillable crop, crop rotation prac tices, type of soil and topography and special provisions for small farms ac cording to the secretary's announce ment of March 29. These allotments starting at a tional level, are based on 1,220,000,000 bushels. Also each of the allotments would be determined on an average na yield of bushels per acre. The national average yield has been set at 25 bushel per acre and yet, according to the Sec retary of Agriculture's own figures in material put out earlier than his an nouncement, this figures out to almost 27 bushels per acre on an average yield basis. Penalize Efficient Producer This bushelage allotment will penal ize the efficient producer. If he has not received a favorable allotment of productivity index from his county committee in the past year he will be penalized and not allowed to sell his average yield as it has been produced on his farm in the past years. In reviewing the action of the secre tary and his announcement regarding the small producer, the secretary an nounced that each participating small farm would have an allotment which will be the larger of (1) the farmer's allotment based on national allotment Salted bales tell no tales ¥ But, with the baler, hay salting became impractical. Impractical, that is, until an enterprising Oregon farmer developed an attachment that adds salt dur ing the baling process. Now salted hay is back—and the smart ranchers are snapping it up for their stock. The little extra they pay in cost is returned many times over in extra pounds and profits. Would you like us to send you more important facts salted hay —plus assistance on where to find it in your area? Just mail the coupon today. Check the bins after feeding your stock salted hay, and what do you find? Scarcely a shred of ' evidence." And why not? Livestock really relish salted hay clean it up pronto, stems and all.. Chances are, your father fed his cattle salted hay standard practice. He knew it aided digestion and was a handy way to help give his stock their vital rations of salt. Not only that: salted hay keeps its color and aroma longer... is less dusty... holds moisture better... hangs tight to its leaves (and nutritive value). as on on I I LESLIE SALT CO. Q* I 505 Beach Street • San Francisco 11 □ Please send me facts on salted hay and where to get it. I • Please send free literature on the subjects checked below: □ Livestock Feeding name 1 CITY- 1 I \ I I I I □ Canning & Pickling □ Salt for Sportsmen I □ Home Curing of Meat I 1 I ADDRESS STATE 1 I I I J I April Î 5, 1963—11 or (2) 90 per cent of the average of a three-year wheat acreage but not more than 15 acres. The commercial producer had his acreage based on a five-year average but the small producer receives his allotment on the basis of only a three year average. Farm Bureau Policy In closing I would like to point out that there will be no non-commercial wheat producing areas in 1964, That the small producer must sign intention to participate in the program if it is adopted, that there will be new legis lation introduced in the event the pro ducers turn down the 1964 referendum, that the county ASC office is required, under the law, to provide a secret poll ing place for each farmer to cast his ballot on this referendum, that the hus band and wife and any children who help produce or harvest a crop who has a monetary interest in the crop. is entitled to vote under the provisions as set forth in the act, providing for who shall vote in the referendum. The Montana Farm Bureau has taken an active part in the referendum as a result of policy adopted at our last annual meeting and will be carrying on a program through newspaper, radio and information media to acquaint pro ducers of wheat throughout Montana with the details of the program and what the program entails and also some alternatives that are available for pro ducers if they wish to vote "No" on this referendum. We would urge you to study the facts presented here and go to the polls and cast your vote for freedom by voting No" in the 1963 referendum on the 1964 program. I appreciate the opportunity to pre sent Farm Bureau's views through this media that reaches into the farmers' and ranchers' homes throughout Mon tana. <<