Farm Surpluses and Food Needs

Archive Report

Growth and Disposal of Crop Surpluses

Mounting Accumulations of surplus farm commodities place the United States in the curious position of fearing that the 1959 harvest will be as good as the record harvest of 1958. Yet half of the world's population is underfed and American crop surpluses, while costly to the taxpayer, still fall far short of amounts that would be required if world needs for food and fiber were satisfied.

In a special message to Congress on Jan. 29, President Eisenhower coupled a request for revision of price support legislation with a plea for greater use of food surpluses for relief of hungry people abroad—” in short, using food for peace.” Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson disclosed on Feb. 12 that he was ...

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