10— Lancaatar Farming, Saturday. Jan. 17. 1976 ‘'PSISWmg EDITORIAL COMMENTS Milk across the ocean An editorial appearing on this page two months ago pointed out the need to correct a severe sanitation problem on a Pennsylvania dairy farm Those responsible for carrying out the rules and regulations of their respective sanitation departments have since acknowledged the existence of conditions referred to m the Nov. 8 commentary and have taken steps to correct the situation. If my writing about the problem influenced the initiation of corrective measures, then I am sincerely pleased. But a far greater problem confronts the nation's dairy industry as a whole. This column can call attention to it, but it will have to be the dairymen and their marketing organizations who have to blow the whistle, and their own horn. The problem is imported dairy products, and it’s three-pronged. Our lead story on page 1 hints that Secretary Butz may betray this nation’s dairy industry by making a deal with Europe to swap our gram for their cheese and butter. That’s one prong of the problem. Prong number two is that our present trade agreements do not impose countervailing duties against subsidized dairy imports from foreign countries Most European dairy products are subsidized by their respective governments and it presents U.S. farmers with an unfair competitive factor. At least that’s the way we view it from this side of the ocean. It should be pointed out, however, that foreign nations are only trying to protect themselves. Granted, the imposition of coun tervailing duties would favor the U.S. dairy industry, and, sure enough, we would be taking an additional step towards protecting our markets It’s a delicate matter with definite political overtones. The third prong is the most obvious of all to me and it’s one of which I can speak as an “eye-witness,” rather than just a student of events in Washington and elsewhere. Sanitation is the problem A tip of the hat A note of appreciation goes to Sperry-New Holland Machine Company and Lancaster’s WGAL-TV for the informative agriculture program which was aired this past Monday evening That, in my opinion, is what’s needed to bring about a better understanding between the people who produce food and those who consume it Sponsored by Lancaster County's Ir 1 r BY DIETER KRIEG, EDITOR Some dairy specialists at univer sities and farmer cooperatives have made accusations that foreign cheeses have arrived at these shores in rotten or near rotten condition. I can't confirm that and would hope that such a scandalous situation is untrue. But I can confirm that dairy sanitation standards as we know them are almost unheard of in West Germany. Being a native of Germany, I reveal this fact with anything but pride. Nevertheless, some German dairymen produce milk under the filthiest conditions imaginable. The problem isn’t a lack of proper facilities or knowledge, but simply a matter of low priority. Neither the government nor many farmers consider sanitation regulations to be important enough to worry about. It would be unfair to single out just one country when other European nations are being accused of the same lackadaisical attitude. At any rate, the sad conclusion is that nothing has been done about it. If'American dairymen might be swept aside in favor of European dairymen, as Butz hinted in his London speech, then it's about time the industry starts blowing its own horn a little more. I’m all in favor of sanitary regulations which U.S. dairymen have to abide by, even though some points on the score sheet border on the ridiculous. And I like foreign cheeses. But I don’t think it’s fair for our dairy products, which are produced under government imposed quality standards, to be placed alongside products from foreign countries which do not have similar health regulations. And I think if the facts concerning these matters are put before the public, they’ll bend an ear our way. After all, American housewives are the most persnickety creatures on Earth. All the dairy industry has to do is blow its own horn a little more often and a little louder, even if it takes a couple more pennies per hun dredweight to provide the power. own Sperry-New Holland Machine Company, the half-hour program presented scenes of the 1976 Farm Show in a way which should have been of interest to non-farm as well as farm residents. I would think that such a presentation has educational and entertaining values, and all I can add to a “thank-you” is that I hope we'll see more of it in the future. THEY LAUGHED AT HIM l,