Lancaster Farming. Saturday. Feb. 7, 1976 74 Elizabethtown farmers hear crop statistician ELIZABETHTOWN - Monthly farm crop reports are important In stabilizing the prices of farm products, for the benefit of both far mers and consumers. This was the thrust of speeches by William J. Fluke and Chuck Hammond from the Penn sylvania Crop Reporting Service, at the meeting of the Elizabethtown Young Fanners recently. Working cooperatively with USDA, since IW6. the Pennsylvania Crop Reporting Service gathers information from farmers and processors monthly for milk and eggs and seasonally for many other farm products. Their goal is Proposed tax bites outlined HARRISBURG Pennsylvania’s taxpayers will pay approximately $22 billion in Federal taxes as their share of the cost of the Federal spending budget of $394.2 billion proposed by President Ford for the fiscal year beginning October 1,1976, according to an estimate released today by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce. The figure was based cm the State Chamber’s calculations that Pennsylvanians bear 5.58 per cent of all Federal taxes. If Congress accepts this budget, it will mean a burden of the following amount* of direct or hidden federal taxes for residents in each of the following counties: (We list only those counties within Lancaster Fanning’s prime coverage area, and surrounding agricultural coun ties.) Adams Bedford Berks Blair Bucks Centre Cumberland Dauphin Delaware Franklin Fulton Huntingdon Juniata Lancaster Lebanon Lehigh Mifflin Montgomery Perry Schuylkill Snyder York The Federal Budget proposed for fiscal year 1977, of ap proximately 9394.2 billion, was prorated among the states on the basis of a formula involving tax collections, personal income, population, and other related data as last reported by the V. S. Department of Commerce and the U. S. Treasury Department. This formula was arrived at jointly by the Council of State Chambers of Commerce, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Tax Foundation. Pennsylvania’s estimated share of the Federal Budget ($21,996,360,000) was prorated among the 67 counties by the Research Department of the Pennsylvania Chamber on the basis of their population, retail sales, market value of taxable real property, and estimated effective buying income. to determine the amount of crops held in storage, being produced presently, and to be produced in the near future. The need for this statistical service was brought on in the 1800's when farmers moved westward with rapid production in creases, poor transportation of commodities and slow communications. Surpluses and price swings were great, causing instability in the market for both buyer and seller. Today the Service studies all phases of farm crop production-past year’s records, current trends, and seasonal variations all have $112,181,000 72,588,000 591.702,000 230,962,000 985,437,000 173,771,000 600,501,000 365,139,000 455,325,000 1,161,406,000 180,370,000 17,597,000 57.191.000 24.196.000 655,491,000 189,169,000 532,312,000 74,788,000 1,588,137,000 46.192.000 235.361.000 50.592.000 552.109.000 a direct bearing on com* modity future markets and retail outlet* alike. In ad dition to people involved in processing and markets, the estimates are uaed by farm organization*, legislators, (arm supply and service companies, and bankers and credit associations. These estimates affect prices only on a day-to-day basis, but it’s the supply entering the market that influences the market in the long run. It would be im possible to conceal from buyers an unusually large supply by estimating it too low. Conversely, the producer needs information about a prospective short supply as soon as possible. Official estimates remove uncertainty about actual conditions. Copies of the 1974 Crop and Livestock Annual Summary were given to farmers. Several questions were asked concerning bow certain figures were arrived at. One farmer asked why the state and county figures for milk production per cow Our idea of banking The things that people used to believe in are often considered old-fashioned today. Things like honesty, integrity and friendship in business. But you’ll find all th things when you ban at the Friendly First - the bank where you know you have friends. You can walk into any office of the First National Bank of Strasburg and get friendly help from everyone on the staff - includ ing our officers and managers. were so low 10,000-10,700 lbs. respectively). Mr. Fluke and Mr. Hammond an swered that the figures in cluded all cows having freshened once, and that the figures were based on fanner responses. Another fanner brought attention to what seemed to be a discrepancy in custom silo-filling rates. The rate listed per ton was $2.00 while Tractor club elects officers The Northern 4-H Tractor club held its first meeting of the year on Jan. 26 to hold elections for new officers. Results of the balloting are as follows: Scott Augsburger, Reinholds, president; Clifford Martin, Far mersville, vice president; Jim Snader, Akron, secretary-treasurer; David Koch, Fannersville, news reporter; Mark Eby, county council. Hke First Tlotionoi fcowk of StnoAbun Penn aylvania Crop Reporting Service, Department ol Agriculture, 2301 N, Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA. 17120. WISCONSIN VH4D AENL ENGINES MEMBEft rote