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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />all the publicity. Over the years I have testified many times in <br />the Congress about reclamation projects. One of the questions always <br />thrO\~ at me by congressmen and senators from the south and midwest <br />is "tfuy should we help you out there to build projects to lend compe- <br />t:ition to our farmers?" I believe we are in a correct position if we <br />agree that subsidies are undesirable. including the subsidies on <br />tobacco, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and grains. It might be interesting <br />to see how that shoe fits the south and midwest. <br /> <br />Hr. Stapleton: How about some more conunents from other members of the <br />board? Are the members of the board from the agricultural areas in <br />agreement with this? <br /> <br />v~. Berthelson: ltr. Chairman, I am certainly in agreement with what <br />Larry has said. I think do~m the road a ways we will find out that <br />we will not be paying farmers to not produce food. We could well be <br />paying them to produce it. I definitely think we are headed into a <br />food deficit situation in this country if we try to help feed a lot <br />of people out in the ''1orld. I think the hand''1riting is on the wall <br />for food now the same as for energy. We thought we had lots of energy <br />and lots of gas and lots of other things and now we find out we don't. <br />I think in a.very short time the food thing could become serious unless <br />Mother Nature really shines on us with favor. ~le are in an era when <br />things will change fast. I think the federal government is now <br />recognizing it. Much of this land that they accuse us of taking out <br />of production they have already. We can run cattle on it and do <br />other things. I think the whole federal subsidy program is headed <br />towards a phase down. I predict that there will be shortages of <br />certain crops, and that if anything the government will be putting <br />money out to persons ''1ho promise to grow more food. <br /> <br />I believe that the National Water Conunission has exhibited total <br />ignorance as to the overall food production program. <br /> <br />Mr. Kroeqer: Ben, I would go along with this philosophy, but I think <br />that if you approach this thing on the basis of subsidies, that you <br />would include all subsidies, not just agricultural subsidies. Let's <br />go the whole route then, the postal department, the air lines, and so <br />on. I think they are in the same category as the agricultural pro- <br />grams. <br /> <br />b~. Sta~leton: We have heard from three of the conununities of the <br />state. Any other member of the board want to express an opinion <br />because I know there are lots of districts represented here? <br /> <br />-10- <br />