20—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 26, 1973 From Local A There is concern in much of the dairy industry about recent government decisions and reports that may have an adverse affect on the industry. The USDA has decided to set support payments at 75 percent of parity rather than continuing at 85 percent. Also the Cost of Living Council announced that cheese The heavyweight tractor lightweight price Don’t spend more than you have to This 8 hp compact tractor by Gilson is priced $lOO below comparable models Compare features and you’ll find Gilson on top too Like electric start, a Briggs & Stratton power plant, built-in headlights, chrome hub caps, disc brake and smooth hydro performance traction drive And more Be a little frugal Test drive a Gilson A great machine to have in your corner Stauffer R.D. 2 East Earl, Pa Teachers: Thoughts in Passing imports win ue raised by 50 percent. While neither of these announcements is good news, it is confusing that on one hand the USDA would agree that any in crease in parity above 75 percent would stimulate too much milk production and increase government costs-and then a few days later watch the same ad ministration ask for further dairy imports to meet consumer demands. Perhaps of more concern is a report issued by Peter Flanigan, an assistant to President Nixon for International Economic Affairs. This report recommends that we offer to reduce or lift import controls on milk in return for assurances that feed grains can move into common market countries without restrictions. Mr Flanigan suggested that farmers will be better off converting from milk cows to beef cattle. Experts predict that if we follow this proposed route, the U.S. would need 16 billion pounds less domestic milk production. This means that 40,000 (40-) cow dairy REPAIR SERVICE 215-445-6175 herds will no longer be needed and dairy farmers would have to change their operations or look for a job. This could be sensible economic approach to try to solve the balance of trade deficit of the past two or three years. Perhaps what Mr. Flanigan is proposing is the law of comparative ad vantage which states, to maximize profits one should produce those things where percentage return alone cost is the greatest. It may be to the advantage of the American economy if it were to produce beef and feed grams (which are expensive on the world market) so that we could increase the grain exports and in return buy “cheap” milk products from common market countries. This economic law works within the nation to determine what agriculture products will be produced in various geographical regions capable of producing the same product. Furthermore, Try A Classified Ad! J. Richard Thomas evidence indicates trade between nations is usually mutually beneficial. However, I am not presently convinced that this is the pattern that we should follow. We must consider the long range effects on shipping this portion of our dairy industry to foreign shores. With a loss of a part of the dairy industry also comes a loss of jobs in production and processing dairy products as well as jobs in producing supplies for the dairy industry. This could also have a negative effect on the agricultural economy of a state such as Pennsylvania which has dairy receipts of Vi billion dollars annually. More facts are needed on the long range economic ef fects before we follow the advice of Mr. Nixon’s assistant to do away with a portion of the American dairy industry. Dairymen must continue to follow developments as they happen, make a decision on the proposal, and then take ap propriate action that is best for all. J. Richard Thomas Teacher of Agriculture Lampeter-Strasburg High School Why ore READ GRAIN, FEED and STORAGE BINS The Number ONE Bln in the Nation? + DESIGNED and ENGINEERED to Prevent Lodging During Unloading. + HEAVIER GAUGE STEEL Then Competative Bins + STRONGER and TIGHTER + WEATHER PROOF, RAT PROOF, FIRE PROOF + SIMPLE TO ERECT + DESIGNED to move Contents Easily + ECONOMICALLY PRICED FOR FULL DETAILS CONTACT Shenk’s Farm Service Lititz R.D.4 Ph. 626-4355 OJR Installs FFA Officers The fifteenth regular meeting of the Owen J. Roberts FPA Chapter was held at the OJR High School last week. Howard Stoltzfus, Chapter president, opened the meeting. Elections of officers was held. The results are as follows: Steve Ullser, president; Thomas Mowrer, vice-president; Lora Hilbert, secretary; Ruth Friedhofer, treasurer; Lisa Bremen, reporter; David Pepple, chaplain; Donald Shaner, sen tinel; Shane Clark, student ad visor, and George Tkaczuk, parlimentarian. Joseph Lefever, Manheim, eastern regional vice-president of the State FFA Association, assisted Howard Stoltzfus with the Installation of Officers. Lefever then spoke on the goals of the FFA and how the officers must help to reach them. Neal Burtner, Chapter advisor, spoke about the judging teams for FFA Activities Week to be held at Penn State in June. Lisa Bremen, News Reporter
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