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May 16 1947 As representatives of many of the nation's dairy farmers, the National Co-op, Milk Producer's Federation last week moved to get from Congress legislation to support dairy prices at levels that would yield returns to producers equivillent to those assured producers of feed crops, It is -ieportea that Searetai7 Anderson backed such supports and was about to announce such .a support program but backed dawn in the face of the President's drive to force prices dawn. A bill was introduced into the House last week calling for support ito the end of 1948 of milk for manufactured dairy prod. u.cts at a basic minimum of7f3.10 per cwt, USDA estimates that farm_ receits from the sale of dairy products during the first five months of this year win: be l er cent above the same period in 1946, counting the 1946 receipts to inolude dairy production Subsidy payments,. But dairy interests point out that costs are materially up. from last year, particularly feed costs, and that price guarantees to grain producers are„'tiieretore, meaningless ,to dairymen. Estimates by USDA on gross farm income. for the first five months of this year place the returns at . 25 per cent above last year, Barring a rtIcession', USDA economists see --------7. 1sciarp .ineinfno'indicationsofarm product prices in the immediate .future. High inaustrial, -production, 6=E-foreign demand, and almost full employment in this country are given as the basis for optimism, The price specialists see higher prices this spring and early summer than last year for truck crops and new potatoes. ',Although still d- bit above average, pro. duction of commercial truck cropswill be considerably below last year, and the. mailer supplieS, in the face of strong demand, are expected to make for prices favorable on the whole. The 3.94:7 am of dry beans will be supported by Government at. 90 per cent of .August, 15 parity, with price differentials for different classes, The supports will* be carried out by loans to growers or by support agreements with -growers and dealers. E g •rice supports for the Midwest TforJune by- Government .offers to buy dried or.frozen eggs are on the same basis as for May, at a level to reflect 35 cents .to Epducers. Revival for this year's potato crop of the potato-marketing order is announce! by USDA, ' Originally issued in 1942 and inoperative during the war, the Order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Regulations .as to size, grade, and quality are designed to keep low quality zoLtaistoesoff the Timercialmarkets. Against some opposition from the commercial industry, agitation by farm leaders and Congressional representatives for Government construction of an experimentallohosphatia fertilizer ylant and test-demonstration. programs, has resulted in. the introauction of companion bills into the House and Senate providing for these developments. Probably nothing More than committee hearings will developthis year. Similar proposals were defeated In thelast Congress. Chances in the Farm Credit Administration operations in the farm mortgage fi,eld are un er hearing haw before a special Senate Agriculture subcommittee. Propos al by FCA officials is to IsumallaulmEELEELE24-p land loan powers. of the Land Bank Commissioner to the Federal: Land Banks. 'The present 65 per cent limit of land banks would thus be extended to 76 per dent', Greater risks of the additional 10 per cent loan would be provided for in the proposal by transferring the assets of the Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation to the land banks and setting them up as a pneral y'stem reserve fund to back the su..lementary loans Walter B. Garver Agricultural Economist