20—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. Nov. 1.1975
Grangers addressed by
officials and legislators
John W. Scott, master of
the National Grange told
delegates to the 103rd annual
session of the Pennsylvania
State Grange that the
Russian-U.S. grain deal
should help prevent
"disastrous feed cost levels
that plagued American
farmers recently."
In the past, he said,
Russian grain buying
disrupted the market and
forced prices up. But with
the Soviet Union assured of
adequate purchases at world
prices, he added, the deal
“should benefit livestock
producers of this country.”
Scott also warned that
“this nation must stop
puttii g our government
deepjr into debt.” He
pointed out that the present
national debt is $540 billion,
and that it will be increased
by $76 billion in the 1976
fiscal year, and an additional
$5O billion in fiscal 1977.
Food stamps, he said, now
consume 64 percent of the
U.S. Agriculture Depart
ment’s budget, while funds
for agriculture research are
being cut.
Welfare programs have
There was lots of applause for the talent the auditorium at McCaskey High School to see
displayed in shows and contests held as a part of what the best talented of them had to offer. The
the Pennsylvania State Grange's annual con- events were held October 27-30.
vention. Held in Lancaster this year, Grangers filled
This family vocal group from Schnecksville group won first place in its division. The group
delighted a capacity audience of Grangers at the included; Lynn, Debbie, Joanne, Jimmy, and Andy
talent contest held as a part of the Pennsylvania Schneck; John and Mark Schankweiler; and
Grance convention activities on OcL 27-30. The Michael and Matthew Seitler.
become “a luxury that
American taxpayers cannot
afford," the delegates were
told by J. lather Snyder,
state Grange master.
"We must face the welfare
problem realistically. Wc
must restore It as a wor
thwhile assistance program
to help those who deserve
and need help. But wc must
eliminate fraud and abuses
which cost taxpayers billions
of dollars."
And, Snyder warned,
federal financial aid Jor any
program or project is a
myth. It is in reality not a
grant from Washington, but
a share of money paid by the
nation’s taxpayers.
Welfare reform is but one
of a score or more topics that
Grange delegates will
consider at the policy
making sessions of the
convention.
A. Wayne Rea dinger, past
state Grange master,
cautioned the group that
“leadership seems to be
lacking at every level of
government.
Wc must rcdcdlcalc
ourselves and go back to the
prlnicples on which this
nation and this Grange was
founded." he told the group.
A sound, fully productive
agriculture is "a very key
element of this nation’s quest
for peace, and the American
farmer has become a vital
part of this effort," Senator
Patrick J. Stapleton, of
Indiana, chairman of the
State Senate Agriculture
Commiittee, said in his
address at the session. “Our
agricultural abundance
helped open the door to 800
million people on the
mainland of China. It helped
to improve relations with the
Soviet Union. It helped to
build bridges to the
developing world. It enabled
us to contribute over the past
20 years about $25 billion
worth of food to hungry
mouths throughout the rest
of the world.”
But, he warned, family
farms have been declining in
number in the state and
nation for the past 30 years.
“It must be the goal of the
General Assembly to im
prove farm income insofar
mk
John W. Scott. Master of the
National Grange, chats with Richard
Mauie, who served as chairman of the
convention committee. Scott a for
mer dairyman from Butler County,
spoke at the Pennsylvania Grange’s
as it is possible for state a
government to do so, and to nn I*l% Ikl
help the rural communities m m w%3 *
which have been hard
pressed through the loss of 11 • w
“Our B rural communities TiOllUtlOTl tfitVS
need our immediate at- JL v
tention. Improved health,
transportation and housing
are essentials. And reduced
production costs for farmers
must be worked out ”
Uncaster Farming Photo
by Dieter Krieg
annual convention in Lancaster this
week. As head of the national farm
' organization Scott has an office just a
block away from the White House.
Maule is a dairyman from Quarryville.
LANCASTER - The recent increase in support prices for
milk were long overdue; some environmental im
provement projects put before farmers should be cost
shared by taxpayers; young people should receive some
help in their efforts to start fanning, and fanners should
receive first priority in an energy allocation plant.
These were some of the comments made to Lancaster
Fanning by John W. Scott, Master of the National
Grange, who was in Lancaster for the annual convention
of the Pennsylvania Grange. A former dairyman from
Butler County, Scott now heads the influential farm
organization and has an office just one block away from*
the White House.
Commenting on milk prices, Scott believes the recent
increases were needed, “and they will really be needed
when the flush comes next Spring.” He expressed hope
that government would refrain from importing large
volumes of foreign dairy products, which in his opinion is
what killed milk prices a year ago.
The farm leader noted that the parity level will most
likely slip down to 75 per cent or less by next Spring when
USDA is supposed to readjust it. Asked if he believed Earl
Butz, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, would set the April 1,
1976 parity level at 75 per cent, as has been suggested by
at least one dairy cooperative leader, Scott answered
“no.”
He explained that the administration agreed to an 80 per
cent parity level, and believes this is an indication Butz
will continue to set prices at that level. Scott also pointed
out that original legislation set before the administration
asked to 85 per cent of parity for milk prices, and if Butz
did decide to go under 80 per cent in April, “well get
legislation to bring it back up to at least 80 per cent. ’ ’
Asked if he was either pessimistic or optimistic about
the future of the dairy industry, the Grange Master
hesitated for a moment bid indicated in his remarks that
better times should now be before the dairyman. “Costs
are really high,” he began, “but now that we’ve prevented
the Russians from buying up 17-million tons of our grain,
we should be able to keep our feed costs down.” He added,
however, that production costs would continue to in
crease.
“Dairymen are also hurt by the price of beef cows,” he
continued. “When I was farming, veal calves in a year’s
time paid my taxes - now they’re nothing,” he remarked.
Scott farmed all his life until 1962, and in addition hauled
milk for 24 years. He had a herd of 50 cows on his farm
near Slippery Rock.
The Grange has been seeking legislation to enable
young men who want to start fanning, Scott told Lan
caster Farming in an interview this week. One of the
present situations it is trying to change is the inheritance
tax laws. “Inflation and ever-increasing property values
have made the $60,000 exemption figure completely out of
date,” the farm leader stated. Efforts are underway to
bring these laws “up to date with the times,” and the
Ways and Means Committee is_now considering raising
the limit from $60,000 to $200,000. “This should help young
fellows who might inherit a farm,” Scott said.
Besides that, a bill has been sponsored and introduced
before the House which would guarantee loans to young
farmers. According to Scott, payments on principle would
be deferred for 10 to 12 years and loans would last for up to
30 or 40 years. “This won’t really take government funds
unless the loan is defaulted,” he pointed out, adding that
the rate of interest should be favorable but not subsidized.
“Too many times agriculture is accused of being sub
sidized,” Scott proclaimed, “while in reality there are no
subsidies at the present time except those involved in
conservation programs.
Scott defended such use of government funds, “because
IContimied on Pace 24|
By Dieter Krieg