Show With World Shortages Shortages- US U.S. U. U S. S Productivity Faces Challenge The world shortage of es essential essential essential es- es materials means a anew anew anew new challenge for the United States to produce says National National National Na Na- Cotton Council Board Chairman Mike Maros Noting that a scarcity of raw materials is shaking the worlds world's economy he warns Everything we have and andall andall all we aspire to as we talk talka a about b 0 u t the e. e quality of life is in danger s sif a if we cannot get the production production production pro pro- which X is at the foundation foundation foun foun- it dation of our I national strength and pro progress ress The Fabens Tex cotton producer says increased production production production pro pro- of cotton as well as the whole range of vitally vitali needed raw materials is essential es es- To achieve this greater production he says ays some of the thinking that has tended to dominate national policy in ht recent years will shave have to change Production has been so taken for Cor granted that the whole theme of our national policy has tended to center on the consumer and environmental environmental environmental problems Maros comments Now I think all Americans arc are coming to realize that these great problems problems problems lems have to be reconciled with the problems of oC those who produce Theres There's no need to talk about consumerism consumerism consumerism in this country if we cannot have a rebirth of pro- pro Viewing other changes that occurred throughout the world In 1973 1073 Maros believes believes believes be be- the big question facing lacing his own industry is whether it can move with the times I believe that we can and I believe that thit these gr great at changes if viewed realistically realistically realistically realistic realistic- ally give rise to a new optimism optimism optimism for cottons cotton's future he hesta sta states tes changes he sees as presenting new challenges to the cotton industry are 1 I the energy crisis 2 the dollars dollar's changing value in inthe inthe inthe the international exchange 3 the new farm bill and 4 rising costs of production coupled with scarcity of oC supplies supplies sup sup- plies Maros believes the energy crisis provides the cotton industry with a unique op op- opportunity to help solve the problem We are waging an au out all-out conservation conservation conservation conser conser- program and w we w can also help the nation save vital energy since a pound of cotton can be produced with only one-fifth one as much energy as a pound of competing competing competing com com- synthetic fiber he points out Pointing to the dollars dollar's rising rising ris rising ris- ris ing strength in the world th the Council hoard board chairman notes the role of expanded agricultural exports and says cotton has been a major contributor con con- Cotton exports exports after after averaging averaging averaging av av- av- av only 3 33 3 million bales for four seasons reached 5 52 2 million bales last season and may hit 6 million during the current year As a result foreign exchange earnings from raw cotton exports hit million last fiscal year and are arc now on their way to toa a record of well over a a hillion hillion hil bil hil- hil lion dollars Theres hope the range long-range trend will continue upward he says He emphasizes that higher production costs in 1974 must be met with accelerated efforts in modern management management management manage manage- ment and technology Progress Progress Progress ress in these areas is being made marie in such cutting cost-cutting practices as the universal density bale spearheaded by bythe bythe bythe the Council and seed cotton storage techniques developed by bv Cotton Incorporated We are arc also now at a critical point in the biggest cutting cost-cutting project ever undertaken undertaken un un- for cotton the cotton the program to eradicate the boll weevil Maros notes lie He says this program could lead to new technology for eradicating eradicating cating other expensive in insects Insects insects In- In sects in the future With the problem of rising costs and scarce supplies affecting affecting affecting af af- af- af the entire cotton Industry in industry in In- industry Maros says proper consideration must be given by the government and the American people to these obstacles at a time when production production production pro pro- is so badly needed The world needs our production he tic emphasizes and the country needs it In order to clothe and feed our people to fight inflation to conserve energy to ward off recessions and to strengthen our posit position position on in the world economy Maros Maro says the petroleum allocation program m must not only provide provide farmers with enough fuel for their tractors tractors tractors trac trac- tors harvesters irrigation pumps agricultural aviation and the like but processors process rs and arid suppliers also must have hav enough h so that production bottlenecks are jire avoided |