Estimates of countrywide overall results of increases authorized-Percents over June 30, 1946

1 Increased Rates, Fares, and Charges, 1942, 264 I.C.C. 695, 266 I.C.C. 537.

2 Increased Rates, Fares, and Charges, 1946, 264 I.C.C. 695, 266 I.C.C. 537.

557.

Increased Freight Rates, 1947, 269 I.C.C. 33, 270 I.C.C. 81, 270 I.C.C. 93, 270 I.C.C. 403.

Increased Freight Rates, 1948, 272 I.C.C. 695, 276 I.C.C. 9.

Increased Freight Rates, 1951, 280 I.C.C. 179, 281 I.C.C. 557, 284 I.C.C. 589.

May 17, 1952, on grain, grain products, grain byproducts, and flaxseed.

Increased Freight Rates, 1956, 298 I.C.C. 279.

Increased Freight Rates, Eastern and Western Territories, 1956, 299 I.C.C. 429.

Increased Freight Rates, Eastern and Western Territories, 1956 (Petition of Southern Railroads), 299 I.C.C.

10 Increased Freight Rates, Eastern, Western, and Southern Territories, 1956 (Petitions as amended).

11 Increased Freight Rates, 1958, 302 I.C.C. 665, 304 I.C.C. 289.

12 Increased Freight Rates, 1960, 311 I.C.C. 373, 313 I.C.C. 471, 313 I.C.C. 519, 313 I.C.C. 549, 313 I.C.C. 563. (Estimated increases subject to revision after final action on schedule relating to bituminous coal.)

Source: Transport Economics, Monthly Comment, Bureau of Transport Economics and Statistics, Interstate Commerce Commission, December 1961.

FARM PRICES AND INCOME

Mr. WHITTEN. Also, please furnish a table for the record showing the following factors from 1947-49 to date: price received by farmers, price paid by farmers, gross income from farming, production expenses, and net farm income.

(The information follows:)

Prices received and prices paid by farmers and farm income, United States, 1947-49 average and 1947-62

Sources: Economic Research Service-ESA. Compiled from "Agricultural Prices" and the "Farm Income Situation."

RURAL AND FARM POPULATION

Mr. WHITTEN. Mr. Secretary, you also point out that there are fewer farmers now and many small rural communities have dried up. Will you insert a table showing change in rural population since 1950, with a breakdown between those actually engaged in farming and those merely living in rural areas.

(The information follows:)

Official estimates of total rural and rural nonfarm population are available from the Census of Population for the years 1950 and 1960. The data are as

follows:

1960 1 1950..

! Includes Alaska and Hawaii.

Difference between total rural population from the 1960 Census of Population and rural farm population

figure developed by the Economic Research Service and Bureau of the Census.

Annual estimates of rural farm population are as follows:

Source: 1960 Census of Population, "General Population Characteristics," U.S. summary. Final report PC(1)-1B. Farm population-revised estimates for 1941-59. ERS-90. U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Farm Population," series census-ERS (P-27), No. 33. U.S. Bureau of the Census and Economic Research Service (in process).

PERCENTAGES OF FARM PRODUCTION AND PRODUCERS

Mr. WHITTEN. In 1959, it was estimated that 56 percent of the farms of the Nation produced only 9.1 percent of total commercial production. Last year the Department estimated that 78 percent of the farms produced 28 percent of farm products. Mr. Secretary, will you furnish current figures to show the percentage of production of 10 percent of the producers, 20 percent, and on up to 100 percent ?

(The information follows:)

The primary source of complete data on the percentage of farms in relation to the percentage of the value of farm products sold is the Census of Agriculture. The statement that 56 percent of the farms accounted for 9.1 percent of the value of farm products sold is based on data from the 1954 Census of Agriculture. Data from the 1959 Census of Agriculture indicate that farms with a value of sales of less than $5,000 made up 61 percent of all farms but accounted for only 13 percent of the value of farm products sold. Seventy-eight percent of all farms had value of farm products sold of less than $10,000. These farms accounted for 28 percent of the total value of farm products sold.

The first table includes information on the percentage of farms and the percentage of the value of farm products sold by economic class of farm as the data are published in reports of the 1959 Census of Agriculture. The data in this table provide the basis for estimating the percentage of the value of farm products sold by each 10 percent (decile) of the number of farms. The cumulative percentages of the total value of products sold related to the number of farms by deciles are shown in the second table.

Distribution of number of farms and value of farm products sold, by economic class,

Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture. 1959, "Economic Class of Farm," vol. II, general report, ch. XI, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Cumulative distribution of value of farm products sold, by number of farms in decile groups, United States, 1959

[Cumulative percentage of total value of products sold, 1959]

Number of farms by deciles:

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Farm Income Branch. Estimates based on reports of the Census of Agriculture, 1959.

PRICE SUPPORT LEVELS AND PRICES OF BASIC COMMODITIES

Mr. WHITTEN. Mr. Secretary, what were the price support levels and market prices for each of the basic commodities when you assumed office as compared to the present time?

(The information follows:)

Prices received by farmers and support prices for basic commodities, 1960 and 1962

All cotton, price to Dec. 1.

'Includes price support payment of 18 cents per bushel.

No support; support prohibited since marketing quotas were rejected by growers.
Not available.

*Subject to marketing quota referenda Feb. 26.

Source: Economic Research Service, Feb. 21, 1963.

NOTE.-When the present Administration took office in January 1961, the support prices in effect for basic commodities were those for the 1960 crops of these commodities. Support prices in effect now are those for the 1962 crops of basic commodities. The table includes support prices and season average prices received for 1960 and 1962 crops of basic commodities. The table also includes the support prices for 1963 crops of basic commodities that have been announced.

RURAL RENEWAL PROGRAM

Mr. WHITTEN. You discussed the proposed rural renewal program authorized by section 102 of the 1962 act. Mr. Secretary, how much is in the 1964 budget for this? What are the long-range costs for this program? Also, what types of loans do you propose?-with what terms?

Secretary FREEMAN. The 1964 budget requests $2,350,000 for rural renewal loans and technical assistance to be used in assisting local public agencies to organize, plan, develop, and carry out rural renewal projects. In the beginning of this program we feel that such projects will be carried out in only three or four selected areas throughout the country. With these initial projects, we will be feeling our way to learn more of the specific techniques and approaches that are needed for renewing, redeveloping, and revitalizing those rural areas where rural poverty is most prevalent because of unused and undeveloped land and water resources.

We recognize that the amount of funds needed to make wise investments in land and water resource development in rural areas are almost limitless as we look ahead to continued developments needed for providing a rapidly expanding population with needed opportunities for earning adequate incomes. The amount of loan funds provided by the Federal Government will make up a relatively small percentage of the total investments in such continuing developments and should serve only as effective seed investments to encourage, promote, and foster the total activity. We judge that should this approach prove as feasible as we hope and believe it will, the maximum budget requests, not to be reached for several years, would approximate $50 to $60 million.

This entire effort must be centered around the initiative and determination of local people to work together for accomplishing needed progressive economic opportunities. In other words, this program is designed primarily to help people to help themselves with Government assistance provided only to the extent necessary.

In the beginning of this rural renewal program much planning assistance will be needed. This will provide for a comprehensive rural renewal plan for overall economic development and will include provisions for using existing sources of technical and financial assistance to the extent possible in connection with various projects involved in the total renewal program of an area. Rural renewal loans will be made to a local public agency designated by the Governor or State legislature for accomplishing needed developments that cannot be accomplished through the programs and services of existing sources of assistance.

Rural renewal loans will be made for periods up to 30 years, with repayment of principal and interest deferred up to 5 years, if necessary. The interest rate will be the average rate paid by the U.S. Treasury on obligations of similar maturity outstanding at the beginning of the fiscal year in which the loan is made. The present rate is 2.936 percent.

The amount the local public agency may borrow will be based on its needs and repayment ability. Loans larger than $250,000 will require approval of the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.