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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on Banning Potato Futures Trading

Original title: Prohibit trading in Irish potato futures on commodity exchanges: hearings before the Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing and Consumer Relations of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Eighty-ninth Congress, second session, on H.R. 6006.

Record date · July 20, 2026

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What This Bill Does

This document is a transcript of a 1966 congressional hearing regarding H.R. 6006, a proposed bill to prohibit the trading of Irish potato futures on s.

Why it matters

The hearing explores whether banning potato futures would stabilize market prices for farmers and consumers or restrict financial tools used by the agricultural industry.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Potato farmers

Farmers' ability to hedge against price fluctuations or participate in futures markets would be restricted if the bill passes.

Directly affected

Commodity exchanges

Exchanges would be prohibited from listing or facilitating trades for Irish potato futures.

Key Facts

  • The hearing concerns H.R. 6006, which proposes a federal ban on trading Irish potato futures.
  • The proceedings were held by the Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing and Consumer Relations.
  • The hearing took place during the second session of the 89th Congress.
  • The primary subject of the debate is the impact of commodity exchange speculation on the potato market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a potato futures contract?
A is a legal agreement to buy or sell a specific quantity of potatoes at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future.
Why was this hearing held?
The hearing was held to gather testimony on whether banning potato futures trading would be beneficial or detrimental to the agricultural economy.

What else do you want to know?

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

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policy shift90% confidence

Historical Market Regulation

The document highlights a mid-20th-century effort to increase federal oversight of agricultural commodity speculation.

H.R. 6006

Connected Entities

Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing and Consumer Relations
OrganizationAgriculture Committee“The parent committee overseeing the subcommittee.”Map →
OrganizationSubcommittee on Domestic Marketing and Consumer Relations“The congressional body conducting the hearing.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy50
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz5
    Current news / social attention level

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