§1442 Price Support and Acreage Requirements for Corn and Other Feed Grains

Summary

When base acres apply to corn, the Secretary must make getting corn price support depend on two rules. A producer must set aside 15% of their farm’s corn base acres (tilled in the farm’s normal rotation) into either the corn acreage reserve or the conservation reserve. The producer also must not plant more than their corn base acres. The Secretary can still give price support to producers who don’t follow these rules, but not at a higher level than those who do, if needed to keep the program working. Corn acreage allotments do not apply to the 1956 crop. By December 15, 1956, the Secretary must hold a vote of 1956 commercial corn producers on whether to use this price-support plan for 1957 and later instead of the old acreage allotments and prior price support. If two-thirds or more vote yes, no corn acreage allotments will be set for the commercial corn area for 1957 and later, and price support will be set at levels the Secretary thinks will help market corn but not push uneconomic overproduction. For 1956, price support for four other grains (sorghum, barley, rye, oats) must be 76% of the parity price on May 1, 1956. For corn grown outside the commercial corn area, and for crops with base acreages (unless the next rule applies), support must be 82.5% of the support level for corn in the commercial area paid to producers who meet acreage limits. If the Secretary gives 1957 corn support in the commercial area to producers who do not meet acreage limits, then 1957 support for those four grains and for corn outside the commercial area must be at least 70% of parity at the start of the marketing year. The Secretary must set that level to be fair compared with the corn support, considering normal price relationships, feed value, supply and demand, and the ability to sell stocks bought under the support program.