periodicals Division \ W 209 Pattoe Library ) ponm. State University mm V01.20Np.42 Improved farm outlook seen By Dieter Krieg Note: This report is compiled from the following sonrcet of information: L.The 12th »mm«l Northeast Regional Outlook Con ference which was held in Lancaster this past Wed nesday and Thursday with specialists and economists from a number of agricultural colleges in attendance; 2.. Recently - received bulletins from die Departments of Agriculture in Washington and Harrisburg; 3.. Reports from private businesses; and L.The Wall Street Journal. There are some important thoughts to keep in mind in interpreting these trends and assumptions. Dr. John Crothers, a marketing specialist at the University of Maryland, who spoke on the grain and feed outlook, described the agricultural outlook as involving “massive uncertainty.” Stirring up some laughter, be likened this “anything may happen” condition to mothers who 20 years ago had their little daughters vaccinated in places they thought wouldn’t show. Jessee Cooper, Penn State extension ag economist, who served as chairman for the Thursday session, stressed that “You can’t ignore what’s happening over the fence ... there’s a lot of interrelationship between ag businesses.” That statement became more apparent all throughout the conference as speaker after speaker noted that what happens in (me market will have an effect on the others. Dairy The House Agriculture Dairy Subcommittee has scheduled hearings in Pennsylvania for Sept. 19 to determine if the dairy crisis is real and what Washington might be able to do about it. This follows a USDA dential last month to milk producers’ requests for a hearing to consider emergency adjustment of fluid milk prices to bring them more in line with production costs. Milk supplies could shrink, according to some sources, if government action is not forthcoming soon. Representative William C. Wampler, ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, warned that “unless the governments acts, and acts soon enough, it is inevitable that even greater numbers of dairy fanners will sell out or go bankrupt. The Virginia congressman noted that 18 percent of the nation’s dairymen have quit in the past three years, leaving only 300,000 in business. "Any continuing reduction in the number of milk producers can only cause a A look into the past - the former Cyrus Ferguson farm, near Oxford, 15 years ago. Serving The Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania Areas Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 6,1975 scarcity of milk supply and could even bring about rationing,” Wampler said in a full page statement which appeared in the Washington Post. Opinions about a milk shortage are mixed. Production is expected to continue slightly below a year earlier, but a “steady to stronger” trend in milk prices this fall should avoid short supplies. Wampler In This Issue* FARM CALENDAR 10 Markets 2-6 Sale Register 64 Fanners Almanac 8 Classified Ads 37 Life on the Farm 10 Homestead Notes 38 Home on the Range 43 Junior Cooking Edition 44 Sale Reports 71 Country Comer 38 York Fair 49 Canning 45 E-Town Fair 61 What’s New 50 Milk Hauling 18 Dairy Show 18 himself notes that although there have been shortages and rationing of other food items, there has never been a national shortage of milk. Wampler believes that a “worse dairy crisis” can still Price Index Prices received by far mers during August remained unchanged when compared to July of this year. Lower Prices for cattle, potatoes and Photo by Dieter Kriei $3.00 Per Year be averted if the Ad* ministration and Congress act immediately. Fred Webster of the University of Vermont Extension Service claims: “Low cull cattle prices and unemployment are widely believed to have discouraged many dairymen from culling or even selling ooL” Ac cording to Vligfl Crowley, Penn State, dairy and beef colling programs would be better off to go ahead now rather than later because of expected drops in prices. Butter sales have in creased by 25 to 30 percent, Webster reported, with prices rising right along with it, due in pert to the lower butter production. The Vermont dairy specialist noted that there is a shift in manufactured dairy products which is going from hard products such as butter, cheese and non-fat dry milk, to soft items like ice cream and cottage cheese. “We’re moving to a better situation as far as supply «ad demand are concerned,” he explained. Webster pointed aid that It normally takes 10 months for farmers to respond to marketing conditions. The price increases for dairy products seen at the stive now won’t be noticed on the farm until October or November. Webster predicts rising prices this fall and says dairymen “are in for a new ballgame.” Prices are expected to go up - although it is not certain by how much and how soon because of declining production and stocks. The Minnesota - Wisconsin price series is expected to go up to $B.lO this winter and remain there for the first half of 1976. Webster expects “high feed prices and a lag in farmer optimism behind price changes to cause enough culling this fall to restrict production welt into next year. He also expects the economics of dairying to force more operators into bigger operations and notes the average herd in Vermont now has 60 cows. His figures show larger dairy farms making more profit than the smaller ones, he said. One observation the professors made while in Lancaster was that a small glass of milk costs 40 cents; a larger one goes for 60 cents. (Conlinued on Pace 14]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers