Los Banos Rotary Club History
Reynolds Optimistic On Cotton Outlook

John Arthur Reynolds, who recently represented the Western Cotton Growers Association, at cotton hearings held in Washington, d. C., Tuesday noon told members of the local Rotary Club he is confident that legislation will be approved in the opening days of the next session of Congress that will give California farmers a more equitable consideration in the over-all national acreage quota next year.

The present law under which Secretary of Agriculture Benson declared the 1954 cotton quota of 17,900,000 acres, was enacted in 1938, reduces the prospective 1954 cotton acreage in California by half; because of the long base period used.

At the last session of the legislature, Reynolds explained, he, and other representatives of the Western Cotton Growers endeavored to present to the congressmen and senators the fact that cotton farming in this state has really become the states Number One cash farm crop; also that as California farmers can grow cotton more efficiently than is done in other sections of the cotton belt an unfairly drastic cut here would deny consumers the advantages of large production and efficient farming practices.

Reynolds praised the wonderful cooperation given his group by all California congressmen and senators, and likewise by all of our neighboring states. As the result of this cooperation the House approved a bill that would increase the national cotton quota to 22 ½ million acres, which would in turn have increased the California quota acreage from the approximate 700,000 to 991,000 acres.

With the opening of the next session of congress, Reynolds and others interested in the program will return to Washington to work for passage of a similar measure by the senate. He emphasized that the work of the committee is made more difficult by the fact that very few of the eastern congressmen have any idea of the importance of the crop to California economy, Reynolds also emphasized that most members of the agriculture committees of both House and Senate come from the deep south or Midwestern wheat belt, and that any legislation which would be detrimental to the south's interests would become mired down and lost.

However, he said, "we are very hopeful that the legislators from the deep south will recognize and appreciate California's position and we are confident that we will be able to secure new legislation which will give California cotton men at least partial relief from the present critical situation."

Reynolds also spoke briefly concerning California's wine and raisin interests, and of the good work the California delegation is doing for those farmers. As for the wool growers, he said the outlook isn't so bright. Despite valiant and continues efforts of Californian representatives, it is doubtful if the depreciated wool market picture will change much next year.

Reynolds, who, through his regular position as secretary of the San Joaquin Valley Empire Assn. has visited Los Banos many times and has spoken to service clubs here on numerous occasions, was introduced by program chairman Charles Kaljian.

October 23, 1953

---