The Farmville Herald And Farmer Leader

FARMERS' UNION STATE PRESIDENT WELCOMED. John B. Vance, second from left, who spoke at Worsham Thursday night. With him are, from left, Joe Hines, new FU insurance agent, H. Bennett, Chatham, J. P. Noble, Amelia, P. G. West, Surry, and A. W. Lewis, Prospect, county FU president. Messrs. Bennett, Noble and West assisted during a membership drive last week.

Cites Benefits
'Dirt Farmers'
Have Received

Virginia Farmers Union is experiencing 'an unparalleled rate of growth into a major farm organization in the state,' Pres. John B. Vance declared in a militant talk at Worsham High School Thursday night.

Vance, Amelia farmer and former head of the Marketing and Quota Division of the Virginia office production and Marketing Administration said we soon be the strongest farm force ever operating in Virginia.

He said the organization's membership today is 7,126, up 2,000 over the 5,104 members of a year ago. It proves, he said, that Virginia's dirt farmers think like you and I.

County Rally

Vance spoke during a rally of the Prince Edward Farmers Union which preceded a three-day membership drive. A. W. Lewis, of Prospect, county president, presided.

The organization's ability to speak for Virginia farmers and the membership spiral is the No. 1 accomplishment of the farmers union Vance declared.

He cited five additional accomplishments which he described as vitally important to agriculture and farm income and stability.

The first he said was the fight which broke Secretary of Agriculture Benson's wheat-tobacco tie in providing tobacco penalties if wheat allotments were exceeded no matter how small.

Small Farms Hurt

For the holders of Virginia's 25,000 five-acre wheat allotments that would have worked tremendous hardships,' he declared. He said the state organization began fighting it immediately and helped break the ruling with the assistance of the state's congressional delegation.

A second important victory Vance said was the recent law which reversed an earlier Agriculture Department ruling which provided loss of Agricultural Conservation Payments for farmers who exceeded wheat allotments.

He charged Farmers Union had a great part in stemming the flow of Maryland type tobacco into Virginia dark-fired markets and competing with Type 21. It had continued Virginia dark tobacco growers would have been ruined Vance declared. He said his organization worked closely with the Virginia Tobacco Advisory Committee in getting from the Department of Agriculture ruling that Maryland type tobacco must be prorated with other types grown on individual farms and counting against farm allotments.

Over-Production Hit

Vance also cited the FU's fight on behalf of 10,000 Virginia peanut growers which will save them millions of dollars and the organization's efforts to stabilize the tobacco situation by helping to break up the common practice of granting increased acreages the year following a season of over planting.

Perhaps the most important victory of all, although as yet unfinished, Vance declared is the House vote recently which returned the Department of Agriculture to a system of 90 per cent of parity for basic commodities.

He said the Senate has yet to decide on the matter.

We won the House vote against a world of opposition some of which I simply cannot understand Vance charged. He listed opponents as Secretary Benson, the White House, the Farm Bureau, Grange and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Worsham meeting concluded with awarding of door prizes and refreshments. Prizes donated by Farmville merchants, were won by Clinton Childress, Mrs. A. D. Habgood Jr., J. B. Cook, Donald Morris, Mrs. Joe Hines, J. H. Daniel, J. W. Redd, Howard Oakes and Willie Horsley. Prizes ranged from auto tires to hand wrenches.