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Show Moss Urges Benson To Buy Poultry This week Senator Frank E. Moss urged Secretary of Agriculture Agri-culture Ezra Taft Benson to use "Section 32" funds to buy eggs and chickens for the school lunch program. Citing the Secretary's authorization authori-zation to use such funds to encourage en-courage export of farm products, encourage domestic consumption or to support farmers' purchasing purchas-ing power, Senator Moss stated they should be used to bolster depressed poultry prices. Thirty per cent of the customs duties collected by the government govern-ment go to make up the fund. In his letter to Secretary Benson,4 Ben-son,4 Senator Moss said: "I am sure you are aware of the present plight of the poultry raiser. According to the agricultural agricul-tural marketing service of the USDA, as of April 15, chickens nationally were selling for 15.9 cents per pound and eggs for 30.2 cents per dozen. In 1951, these chickens were selling for 27.1 cents per pound and eggs for 47.8 cents per dozen, a price reduction reduc-tion of 41 per cent and 37 per cent respectively. "Utah prices are comparable with chickens selling at 18 cents per pound and eggs at 26 cents per dozen. Based on these prices the poultry man is only receiving receiv-ing 44 per cent of income parity for his eggs. These prices will spell ruin to the some 3000 poultry poul-try raisers in Utah as well as poultry men in other states. "It is my understanding that the Department of Agriculture has some $40,000,000 of Section 32 funds available that will be returned unused unless the Department De-partment finds some need for them before the fiscal year closes on July 1. "This is to urge you, therefore, to use Section 32 funds immediately imme-diately to buy chickens and eggs for school lunch projects, to provide pro-vide better diets for our senior citzens and to improve the diets of our servicemen. I believe Section Sec-tion 32 funds may be properly used for all of these purposes. Their immediate use would help stabilize today's egg and poultry prices. "I will appreciate it if you will advise me on this matter as soon as possible since the plight of the poultry industry is serious and the need for relief is urgent." . Clifford Webb, signalman 3rd class, USN, son of Mrs. Annie T. Webb of 446 East Third So., and Monty C. Noland, gunner's mate third class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Caples M. Noland of 2160 Green St., are serving aboard the anti-submarine aircraft carrier USS Princeton operating with the U. S. Seventh Fleet in, the Wesern Pacific. |