52 —Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 29, 1975 Pa. House Considering Farm Co-op Legislation Rep. Kenneth E. Brandt, (R-Lancaster,) said last week legislation to protect farmers from mismanagement of their cooperatives and insure a stronger voice in collective bargaining in the market place, is under consideration in the House. “According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, average farm prices have dropped 17 percent nation wide during the past year. In the past three years Penn sylvania has lost about 4,500 dairy farmers alone because of unfavorable economic Before you buy any farm loader, see a Bobcat in action! 4 - MODELS To Choose From, all with 4- Wheel Drive. BOBCAT Handles small jobs, big jobs, indoors, and outdoors. Ideal for working in HORSE BARNS, HOG BARNS, FEEDLOTS, ETC. Almost anyone can learn to operate a BOBCAT m 15 minutes. LET US DEMONSTRATE and Show you how easy it is to own or lease a BOBCAT conditions,’* Brandt said. “Mismanagement of some farmers’ cooperatives has added to the problem. Last year some 940 members of the Lehigh Valley Farmers Cooperative were assessed $3.8 million to pay a debt about which most of them were unaware. Under state cooperative laws, farmers share in both the fruit of milk sales and the failures of their cooperatives. Lehigh’s crisis hit many dairymen in the state. "As a result, a resolution has been reported out of MELROE BOBCAT WORLD'S MOST POPULAR , SKID STEER LOADER committee which directs the House Agriculture com mittee to investigate all aspects of farmer’s cooperatives, including their management, financial structure and the respon sibilities of farmers who serve on their boards of directors. "The intent of the proposed investigation is to develop legislation which would require stronger accounting procedures, possibly under state con trol.” Brandt, a member of the Agriculture Committee, said public hearings will be held later this month on the Lehigh Valley Farmers’ Cooperative, and then ad ditional hearings will be held on all the co-ops around the State. “The investigation will include virtually every aspect of cooperative operation in Pennsylvania, particularly the respon sibilities of boards of directors,” Brandt said. “Our intention is to draw sharply to the attention of farmer stockholders that they are responsible for the operation of their cooperative. We also want to delve into some of the problems with cooperatives who have either misjudged or have been victims of bad judgment on the part of their managers,” Brandt added. The committee will try to find out whether the con clusions presented in a year old study of cooperatives are true that managers have taken control from farmer members. A second bill would strengthen the position of farmers’ cooperatives in their relations with dealers, requiring dealers to bargain in good faith and to keep complete records of agreements with and payments to producers in such a manner as to facilitate audit. The bill further gives the Department of Agriculture power to investigate com plaints of false statements by dealers concerning market conditions, or the Taylor Appointed Charolais Director Appointment of Stephen A. Taylor as director of foreign marketing for American- International Charolais Assn., has been announced by Dr. J. M. Gossett, executive vice president. A native of Houston, Taylor for the past 18 months has been employed as assistant manager of a IS,OOO-acre ranch at San condition, quality and quantity of produce received. The department may revoke a dealer’s license for unethical practices or failure to pay farmers the money he owes them. A third bill would require farmers’ cooperatives to file bonds with the Department of State to protect their members, the maximum amount of a bond to be set at $200,000. A fourth would create a three-man Agricultural Bargaining Board and provide for standards of farmer’s associations to make sure they are finan cially sound and have bin ding agreements with their members. This measure further provides that it shall be unlawful for a dealer to coerce a farmer in the exercise of his right to join a cooperative, discriminate against him because he is a member of a farmers’ association, or pay him not to join one. The Agricultural Bargaining Board could be called in to arbitrate disputes between farmers and dealers as to the fair price of farm commodities. YOU CAN COUNT ON US AGRI-EQUIP. CARL L. SHIRK R D #2, Farmersville, Ephrata, PA 5 Colebrook Road, Lebanon. PA 717-354-4271 717-274-1436 **• l E * SNAVELY DEPENDABLE MOTOR CO. street L ' tltZ ' PA East Main Street, Honey Brook, PA 717-626-8144 215-273-3131 ERB * HENRY WUIP., INC. GRUMELLI FARM SERVICE 215 3fi7 ? n ifio AVenUe ' NCW Ber,invl,le ' PA Robwt Fu,ton Hißhway. Quarryville. PA 367-2169 717-786-7318 HENRY S. LAPP LANDIS BROTHERS RDI Cains Gap. PA 17527 1305 Manheim Pike, PO Box 484 717-442-8134 Lancaster PA 717-393-3906 INTERNATIONAL STAR SILO ASSOC., INC. RD#4 Myerstown Pa 717-866-5709 Jose, Costa Rica in Central America. He succeed Jorge Lucngas, who resigned to return to his Tampico, Mexico home. "Taylor’s knowledge of tropical cattle and agriculture makes him a strong asset in the association’s foreign marketing program,” the executive officer stated. “He will be responsible for maintaining the high level of exports of Charolais and Charbray cattle to the Latin countries. In 1973, Charolais led all breeds in total numbers exported.” A 1972 graduate of Sam Houston State University at Huntsville, TX Taylor has spent most of his life on purebred ranches and working with beef cattle. He is the son of Everett Taylor, well-known manager of FORD TRACTORS 2000 Gas C L 40 Loader . 2000 Diesel 9 N 3000 Diesel 8 N 4000 SUG N A A 4000 SUD 600 5000 Diesel 800 5200 Diesel 3000 7200 Diesel 5000 6 X 9000 Diesel 5000 6 Y 3400 Diesel 4500 TLB KEU.ES BROS. TRACTOR CO. Buffalo Springs Call (717) 949-6501 10 Miles North of Lititz Texas commercial and purebred ranches, and Mrs. Taylor, who also resides in Costa Rica. While serving is assistant manager of Hacienda Chapernal at San Jose, young Taylor's respon sibilities included breeding, selection, health and nutrition of 1200 head of purebred Charolals cattle. He also assisted with the marketing of purebred bulls and fitting cattle for ex positions in Central America. ENERGY-SAVING Almost 15 percent of the energy used in the home is used to heat water Every time you open the door to the oven the temperature drops from 25 to 50 degrees If you have an electric range—cut your cooking time by five minutes, turn off and let the reserved oven heal continue to bake your food
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