McHale answers his critics
>■} Too much research to aid
rural paopla and not enough
to IncraaM farm production.
That’s tbo gist, 1 tako it, of
criticism leveled against my
tsnuro as Pennsylvania
Secretary of Agriculture.
Calling me a welfare
secretary instead of an
agriculture secretary is an
effective way to knock me in
rural communities where
welfare is a loaded word.
Unfortunately,' the real
Issues get obscured when
everyone begins shouting
welfare.
Permit me to set the
record straight In these
closing days. I never said I
wanted rural people to exist
on doles. Welfare handouts
are a last resort that no one
% wishes on another.
I said rural communities
have become populated with
ex-farmers. I said let’s not
forget these hard working
men who were driven off
their farms by harsh
economic circumstances.
Let’s find a way to employ
them, to revive an unhealthy
business climate. Call me an
employment or a business
secretary if agriculture
secretary hurts too much.
" i 7k(c6 <Uto Umct to * Uaft"
189 AS ' SB&O I
Pi «jj
R.D. 4 MYERSTOWN, PA. 17067
CALL COLLECT 717-866-5708
ONLY A FEW DAYS LIFT
. FOR YEAR END SAVINGS
V p PLACE ORDER NOW, BEFO
•mm '
I f
V'
If you are in the market for a bulk milk cooler and you don’t check all the ad
vantages of the Mueller Models “OH”, “MHL," and “MW” you may be buying an
obsolete cooler.
1 also said that most
farmers fortunate enough
still to be forming were in
danger of going under. I said
a government that
traditionally has balled out
large Industrial corporations
certainly could offer some
protection to the small
farmer-businessman.
Was I whistling in the
dark? Was the danger to
small farmers real or
imagined? Let’s look at
some facts.
In a report to the Congress
prepared in August of this
year by the Comptroller
General of the United States
• a report that is available in
my office in case anyone
wants to verify the accuracy
of this column - the small
farmer is depicted to be in
economic trouble.
The report plainly asserts
that "although some publicly
supported extension and
research projects have
related to the needs of small
farm operators, the
department (USDA) aim
land grant colleges have not
made a concerted effort to
solve problems impending
the economic improvement
of small farm operations.
THE BULK
MILK COOLER
THAT HAS
EVERYTHING.
including
AUTOMATIC
WASHING
SYSTEM!
- MUELLER
NEW MODEL "MW"
/tiy
- USED BULK TANKS -
New 18 can [Can Coolers) J2J 300 lb. Sputniks
400 jal. Esco 500 gal. Esco
300 gal. Jamesway 800 gal. Esco
500 gal. Girion 400 gal. Girton .
QUEIN
Box 67, Intercourse, Pa. 17534
After S P.M.
JOHN D. WEAVER 656-9982 - KENNETH M. GROFF 354-0473
SID DIENNER 761-1521
OR Answerinf Sirvicfe 354-4374
We Stock Hess' Farm Supplies, Check Our Prices on Animal Medications
Also, they have not
adequately evaluated the
economic and social Impacts
of production-efficiency that
small farm operators need to
plan for and adjust to
changes brought about by
such research."
In a nutshell, the weight of
federally aupported
agriculture research
projects has been to increase
farm production. This in turn
has kept farm prices at
about the same level over the
years though farm costs
have soared. Small fanners
unable to assimilate new
technology to Increase their
production fell by the
wayside.
According to the report,
the number of farms in the
United States has steadily
declined since 1935. From
1950 to 1975. for example, the
number of farms decreased
about 50 percent.
What happened? Ac
cording to the report, the
spread between prices
lauuers receive and prices
they pay has always been too
wide.
Prices received for farm
products increased 83 per
cent from 1953 through 1974,
with 50 percent of the in
crease occurring Just in 1973.
Meanwhile prices paid for
farm input items increased
113 percent and prices paid
for family living items in
creased 92 percent.
As the report sums it up,
“because prices farmers
received for sale of com
modities have not kept pace
with prices they paid for
farm supplies and materials
and family living items and
because the real value of the
dollar has continued to
The Mueller Model “OH" with HiPerForm cooling,
Mueller-Matic Automatic Washing System, and built
in Ireeze protection control is the most advanced bulk
milk cooler in the world. The nation’s most
progressive dairymen are using it. Shouldn’t you be?
y
added new features of the “MW” bulk tank.
ROAD REPAIR
Foi
The “MW" is one of the Lowest pouring
Height Bulk tanks. Check with us ail the
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V. A. Lister
Ruston
SRI Lister
Phone 717—768-7 111
decline, farmers must use
new or improved technology
to increase their output Just
to maintain stable incomes."
Expressed in a more
dramatic way, one
agricultural economist has
stated that "the cycle of
introduction of new
technology, adoption by
farmers, increased output,
depressed prices, and fur
ther search for new
technology to maintain farm
income has placed fanners
on a treadmill."
What should be done? The
report says USDA and the
land grant colleges should
intensify their efforts to give
training and technical
assistance to small farm
operators. The objective
should be to create a better
life for these farmers and
increase the productivity of
the land under their
management.
After skiing, skating or
sledding, appetites are apt to
run high but enthusiasm for
cooking may be low. With
easy Taco Dogs, in 15
minutes you can have a
quick hearty meal on the
table. Wrap skinless franks
in a taco shell. Season with
prepared Mexican flavored
taco sause, top with
shredded Cheddar or
Montery Jack cheese. Bake
until cheese is melted.
TRY A
CLASSIFIED
AD!
EASE
24 Hour Service
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dec. 27,1975
Longwood Gardens
offers short courses
I/mgwood Gardens still
has room for students In two
of its winter-spring hor
ticultural short courses;
Bonsai for Beginners and
Vegetables. The bonsai
course will meet on
Tuesdays, February 17 and
24, and March 2 and 9, from
9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Mr. Mark
Ponganis, grower in charge
of Longwood’s popular
bonsai collection, will
discuss the history and basic
techniques of bonsai, in
cluding selection of plant
materials and containers,
soil mixtures and planting,
pruning, and general day-to
day care. Registration for
the course is 315.00 and will
be open through January 23.
The vegetable course will
meet on Thursdays for six
consecutive weeks, from
February 12 through March
18. Two sections of the
course are offered, one
meeting from 9:30 to 11:00
a.m., the other from 7:30 to
9:00 p.m. Mr. David
Foresman, instructor in
Longwood’s Department of
Education, will discuss soil
y New Idea's Superpickers
conditioning, vegetable
variety selection, planting,
fertilizing, and pest control.
Registration for this course
is $20.00 and will also close
on January 23.
For further information on
registration procedures,
write' the Department of
Education, Longwood
Gardens, Kennett Square,
Pa., 19340, or call 21S-380-
6741, ext. 237.
Be a wise consumer when
shopping for sausage
products. Select packages
that provide a full view of the
product and read labels
carefully. Label information
should include: name of the
product, list of ingredients in
descending order of amounts
used, weight in pounds and •
or ounces, names and ad
dress of manufacturer or
distributor, a government
inspection stamp and in
structions for storage and-or
preparation.
51