COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-NINTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ALBANY AND PERRY, GA, SEPTEMBER 6, 1985 Printed for the use of the Committee on Small Business U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1986 SUBCOMMITTEE ON ANTITRUST AND RESTRAINT OF TRADE ACTIVITIES AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESS CHARLES HATCHER, Georgia, Chairman HENRY B. GONZALEZ, Texas RICHARD RAY, Georgia VIN WEBER, Minnesota D. FRENCH SLAUGHTER, JR., Virginia BRENDA O'CONNOR, Subcommittee Staff Director David K. REHR, Minority Subcommittee Professional Staff Member (II) Adams, James Lee, Jr., farmer, Camilla, GA, and president, Georgia Barlett, Peggy F., professor of anthropology, Emory University. Bouverie, James Pleydell, chairman, Agricultural Investment Manage- Clark, Joseph G., chairman, Colquitt County Board of Commissioners, Curry, Jimmy, president, Georgia Peanut Producers Association, Shell- DeLargy, Paul, Center for Business and Economic Studies, Small Busi- Gamble, Wilbur, chairman, Georgia Peanut Commission, Dawson, GA. Hill, Glenwood, program leader, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fort Mays, James, farmer, Lee County, GA 117 Mixon, John W., director, Georgia Forestry Commission 92 Munford, Charles, farmer, Reynolds, GA 117 Paige, Ralph, Federation of Southern Cooperatives. 118 Pearson, Al, farmer, Fort Valley, GA. 111 (III) Testimony of-Continued Thompson, Garland, president, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Atlanta, Adams, James Lee, Jr., farmer, Camilla, GA, and president, Georgia Page 47 Barlett, Peggy F., professor of anthropology, Emory University: Attachment to testimony Ikerd, Dr. John E., head, Extension Agricultural Economics, University of Irvin, Thomas T., commissioner, Georgia Department of Agriculture: Prepared statement. Mixon, John W., director, Georgia Forestry Commission: Prepared statement. Sheffield, John E., owner, Sheffield Co.: Prepared statement.. APPENDIX A.-Prepared statement of A.J. Singletary, Blakely, GA... B. Prepared statement of Tim F. Maund, executive director, Central 121 126 128 FUTURE OF FAMILY FARMING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1985 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ANTITRUST AND RESTRAINT OF TRADE ACTIVITIES AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESS, Albany, GA. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9 a.m., in the Albany Civic Center, 100 West Oglethorpe Boulevard, Albany, GA, Hon. Charles Hatcher (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN HATCHER Mr. HATCHER. Before we begin, let me ask the panelists for the first panel to come on up and take your seats, if you will. I see we have one, two, three there. If Hill McKemie would come on up. Dr. Ikerd is already there and Commissioner Irvin. I appreciate all you folks being here. I would like to introduce myself to those of you whom I may not have met. I am Charles Hatcher and I represent the Second District of Georgia in the U.S. House. I serve on the House Small Business Committee and, just beginning this year, chair that committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust and Restraint of Trade Activities Affecting Small Business, which is the subcommittee that is holding this hearing today. Other members of the subcommittee here with me today are Congressman Vin Weber of Minnesota, who is seated here, and Congressman Richard Ray of Georgia's Third Congressional District. He is from Perry, GA. On my right is Brenda O'Connor who is the staff director for the subcommittee, formerly on my staff or your staff in Washington, and next to Congressman Weber is David Rehr who is the minority professional staff member of the subcommittee. Also with us here today as a guest of the subcommittee is Congressman Wyche Fowler, Jr., of Atlanta. We invited members of the Georgia House Delegation to be here, and we are glad that Wyche could be with us. If there are no objections, Congressman Fowler will be invited, at the appropriate time, to make any remarks he would like to make and to address questions to the witnesses as the rest of us do. Hearing no objections, it is so ordered. Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here for this hearing today. As you know from the publicity and perhaps from some personal contact you have had, the subject of this hearing is the future of family farming. Now, some people may wonder why a small business sub (1) |