The Farmer's Lesson

When the time came for cotton planting last spring, Arizona Farmer Jack A. Harris saw a fine chance to teach the Government a lesson--and make himself a quick profit (TIME, July 22). A foe of all price supports, he put his 1,600-acre Pima County farm into the soil bank in return for a $209,701 Government check. Then he sidestepped the bank's purpose by sowing 4,500 acres of cotton in another part of the state. Even after paying an 18 1/2-c- penalty a pound for growing cotton without an allotment (which amounted to $965,595, the biggest penalty ever), Harris planned a killing on his crop.

But last week with his crop about harvested, Farmer Harris could figure on little profit. Bad weather cut his crop severely. He had counted on two and a quarter 500-lb. bales to an acre, but is harvesting half a bale less an acre. In addition, cotton prices have so far failed to climb above the 34-c- a lb. Harris counted on to bring a profit. Since Harris had harvested less cotton than the total that the Government estimated when it assessed the huge penalty, he is eligible for a rebate, says he will apply for one this week. Said he sadly: "It looks to me now like just about a break-even deal, with the rebate. If it had been a normal year, I would have had a nice profit."

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