Cooperative Movement Key To Family Farm Survival
The cooperative by undue antitrust restraints and keep farm marketing said in Madison, Wisconsin
movement must be en- in order to encourage the open, Under Secretary of recently,
couraged and not threatened survival of the family farm Agriculture J. Phil Campbell Addressing the Sym-
Harvest more hay per acre...more
digestible nutrients per ton.
H. JACOB HOOBER RHOADS MILL, INC. EARL SAUDER, INC.
INTERCOURSE, PA. Selinsgrove, Pa. NEW HOLLAND, PA.
H. M. STAUFFER & SONS, INC. 0. KENNETH McCRACKEN & SON VAN-MAR FEEDS
LEOLA, PA. MANHEIM, PA. LEESPORT, PA.
Beacon Reps.
Ted Belefski Chester Weist R. E. Rudisill
Ph. 523-9173 Ph. 741-2600 Ph. 854-2281
Beacon Feeds, York, Pa. Phone 717-843-9033
Hay Pre-Serv
Lancaster Farming Saturday, May 4,1974
poslum on (Cooperatives and
the Law/Mr. Campbell
asserted that “we are
moving out of an era in
which government will stand
as a backstop for continuous
overproduction and moving
into an era in which
production must be market
oriented.
“But if there is to be an
open market, we must insure
an organizational base to
keep it open. In short, we
must encourage the
cooperative movement if the
family farm is to survive and
we are to keep food and fiber
in an open market.
“There is much concern
for continuation in America
of the family farm, a tough
competitor which lives upon
its own labor and its own
management. Yet, it is
ironic that while concern for
the family farm remains
high, there is little concern
expressed for the
organizational economic
climate which offers it the
best opportunity to survive -
a favorable climate for
cooperatives.”
The question of antitrust
should not be silenced
throughout the food industry,
however, Mr. Campbell said.
“Rather,” he said, “let it be
leveled at the points where it
is needed most - at those
sectors of the economy that
sell to and buy from the
farmer which are, in fact,
already highly con
centrated.”
Eighty-five percent of a said. “Farmers who do not
farmer’s production inputs attend the annual meetings
are purchased - mostly from of their cooperatives have no
highly concentrated in- right to complain about their
dustries, Mr. Campbell said, management,” he observed.
“But having acquired the In addition to good
tools of production,” he management, Mr. Campbell
continued, ‘ ‘the farmer must said, cooperatives must have
then risk the vagaries of the expert legal advice to assure
weather, disease and in- that they will comply with all
sects, as well as a highly Federal and State laws,
variable price structure for particularly in the area of
his production-and he is the antitrust.
one who must bear the risk of
betting this year’s Cooked Tongue
, . Cooked tongue is an “ace” in
production costs against the refrigerator for meat platters
next year’s demands. or for combining with salads for
“While there may have a cold meal It’s easy to cook and
been a time early in chill a fresh or smoked beef
Ampriran historv when wluch is convenient for
American History wnen future use Just cover with water
independent family farmers cover the pot tightly and simmer
could prosper while sup- until tender, 2% to 3% hours
plying a free and open Plunge tongue m cold water re
market, such a prosperity *?°Y e skm and chi " s,lce as
has been sporadic at best desire '
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SMOKETOWN, PA. Phone Lane. 397-3539
and a free and open fanp
market has not been
available here for a long,
long time.
“The history of
cooperatives and other
fanner organizations which
sprang up in the 19th and
early 20th Centuries is that of
fanners banding together to
free markets from the iron
grip of buyers. The pressure
to obtain or retain such
control is constant among
the buyers. Markets are
either closed or constantly
threatened by closure. Many
commodities today, notably
broilers, no longer operate in
a free and open market.”
The Under Secretary
warned that there are
dangers in cooperatives that
farmers must guard against.
“Farmers must always
beware of being victimized
by poor or greedy
management in cooperatives
... as stockholders in a
corporation and as members
of a labor union sometimes
are victimized.
“The experiences of the
dairy farmers, who have lost
some political power, should
serve as a warning. Elected
officials listen to them now
more because of their vote
than because of their money
because of the wide publicity
given to money contributions
made to members of both
parties for political cam
paigns.”
An alert membership is
important, Mr. Campbell
11