FARMERS UNLOADING CORN FROM A TRUCK ONTO A CONVEYOR BELT, WHICH STACKS IT UP FOR LATER BURNING. FARMERS STANDING AROUND WATCHING THE CORN BURN. THE CORN BURNING.




Initials PBS/N/MR/SS



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Background: MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS ORGANISATION IN NORTHWEST INDIANA, SOUTHWEST OF CHICAGO, DESTROYED 2,000 BUSHELS OF CORN BY BURNING IT IN A FIELD ON MONDAY.

THE NATIONAL FARMERS ORGANISATION, WITH HEADQUARTERS AT CORNING, IOWA, IS A SMALL, MILITANT GROUP OF DISGRUNTLED FARMERS WHO HOPE TO FORCE HIGHER PRICES FOR THEIR CORPS AND SLAUGHTER ANIMALS. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES, OF WHICH THE NFO CAN CLAIM ABOUT 5 PER CENT AS MEMBERS, MAINLY IN THE MIDDLE WEST OF THE UNITED STATES.

LAST YEAR, THE NFO TRIED TO FORCE AN INCREASE IN MILK PRICES PAID TO FARMERS BY WITHHOLDING MILK FROM MARKETS AND BY DUMPING IT. THIS YEAR, THE NFO HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS KEEPING GRAIN AND SLAUGHTER ANIMALS OFF THE MARKETS. CORN PRESENTLY SELLS FOR ABOUT ONE DOLLAR PER BUSHEL. THE FARMERS ADMIT OVER-PRODUCTION OF CORN CAUSES THE PRICE TO BE DRIVEN DOWN TO SUCH A LOW FIGURE.