County Farmers (Continued from Page 8) Farmers’ concern is agricultural research—or the lack of it. Act Number 298 of the 1967 General Asembly provides $400,000 annually from the harness racing funds for agricultral research. This money had been allotted by an agricultural research committee each year for just these purposes. Then, in 1971, Secretary McHale was fit to change all this. He took charge of such decision making, abandoning the com mittee. He talked of rural health projects. Then he needed a ruling. Physical exams of rural people, it was concluded, is agricultural research. That’s when McHale released approximately $90,000 to a rural health program at Coudersort and another $37,000 for a Green Erwin Hamed to Head U. William Erwin, Indiana farmer and consultant to the Ad ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, recently was named Deputy Under-Secretary for Rural Development of the U.S. Department of Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz said that Erwin, 46, who Thumb employment program. “We are sympathetic with the needs for improved health ser vices and with the attempt to upgrade the lives of the rual elderly,” stated Gene McDowell of PFA. “But we feel such programs should continue in more knowledgeable depart ments such as Health, and Labor and Industry. Why the duplication? “Our objection today is the expenditure of agricultural research funds for such purposes. “Agricultural research is too important to be slashed or compromised. I realize it can seem whimsical at times. Yet a study of why dairy cattle slobber while grazing clover eventually led scientists to new drugs for the treatment of certain respiratory diseases. And research in behavior of hogs has helped medical doctors better un derstand ulcers of humans. “And despite the screams s. Rural Development Program has served in appointive posts under three Presidents, will take office immediately. Erwin served on President Nixon’s Task Force on Rural Development, on President Johnson’s Committee on Com munity Relations and on President Eisenhower’s Com about beef prices today, it has been agricultural research over the years that has made food the best buy in America today. Americans feed their families with only 15.5 per cent of their take-home pay—after taxes. In 1961, we spent 19.8 per cent of our take-home pay for food. In Russia—if I recall correctly—the average citizen spends something like 40 per cent of his take-home pay for groceries. That is if they can even find what they want in the market. “But, alas, Mr. McHale wishes to change all this. “Surely $400,000 won’t make all that much difference. It’s the principle here,” With H. B. 1343, the size and composition of the committee would be locked in by law. A wide cross section of agriculture opinion would be represented and the end result would be worthy and a vital research project, he said. mittee on Programs and Progress. He has served as special consultant to the Ad ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the past year. Erwin succeeds Henry Ahlgren who resigned last October to return to the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 11,1972 Minnichs Return From Texas Mr. & Mrs. Paul Minnich returned from Houston, Texas, last week where they attended the 70th annual national con vention of the Farmers Union. More than 2,000 delegates and guests at the farm organization conference heard presidential candidates Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern attack Administration policies for agriculture. Humphrey charged that “the administration is trying to peddle a phony election year line that these are good times on the farm . ~ the Nixon record on the needs of farmers is one of failure and neglect.” McGovern added, “Someone hasn’t been paying attention to the struggle to save the family farm,” and said that “the parity ratio has fallen as low as 67 per cent, the lowest since World War II.” While President Nixon was unable to attend, a telegram of greeting from him was read. Delegates adopted resolutions calling for a new approach to farm policy that would assure parity income for small and medium-sized farms and cut off payments to large corporation farms. The national president of Farmers Union, Tony Dechant, called the plan “a complete turnaround from present policies” and said that it is needed to halt the disappearance of the family farm. In other convention action, delegates picked Omaha, Nebraska as the site of the 1973 convention and re-elected Dechant as president, and elected E. W. Smith, Jamestown, North Dakota, as vice president. Pennfield, Ag Teachers Meet P nnfield Corporation hosted 21 Ijcal teachers of agriculture ana Henry Givler, area agricultural consultant, at a dinner meeting at Bird-in-Hand Motor Inn this week. Purpose of the meeting was to share some of the practices important to the farmer and his business, and to become better acquainted in sharing mutual concerns for the farm industry. Among areas of presentation were veal calf raising practices, LOOSEN UP your timing... When you use AAtrex® SOW herbi cide you’re free to work your weed killer into your total com 1 program to suit yourself. It’s your choice—apply it . A 1 x before planting, during planting, 66 or after planting. AAtrex is not only the most effec tive weed killer in corn, it’s also the one that allows you the most Qptgy " I freedom in timing the application. Call us today for all the details of applying AAtrex. Smoketown, Pa. 397-3539 They heard panels on the in vasion of farming by off-farm corporations headed by Governors William Guy of North Dakota and David Hall of Oklahoma, and a panel on local taxes headed by Governors Robert Docking of Kansas and Patrick J. Lucey, Wisconsin. E. G. Marshall, television personality and expert on medical care, addressed the convention banquet on “National Health Insurance—A Must for the American People.” U.S. Senator Gal McGee (D- Wyo.) headed a panel on voter registration and Nebraska Governor J. James Exon spoke on state legislatures. Agway Names 2 Sales Executives Two key appointments in volving feed and crop sales executives have been announced by Agway, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. Marshall W. Backus, feed and crop sales manager for the 12- state cooperative, has been named market information manager, a new post. Succeeding him is Charles J. Shenot, formerly feed and crop sales manager for Agway’s Northern Division with headquarters in New Hartford, N.Y. In his new assignment, Backus will be responsible for gathering and analyzing market in formation for use by Agway management in current and long range planning. manure handling procedures, economics of the feed industry, and the growing and production of eggs and meat birds. En couragement was offered to the agriculture teachers present to feel free to use Pennfield’s facilities when needed in the instruction of students and Young Farmers. Those present from the Penn field staff were Robert Gregory, Dr. Tom Coulton, Glenn Herr, Ira Wenger and Gene Bailey. 9
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