8a Lancaster Farming. Saturday. August 7, 1976 Grange opposes ag bargaining HARHLSBUUG - The Pennsylvania State Grange lust week characterized proposed legislation to create an Agricultural Bargaining Board as "unrealistic and too restrictive " Testifying at a hearing on House Bill 211, Charles E Wismer, Jr . chairman of the Grange’s legislative com mittee said the legislation fails to establish qualifications for appointees to the proposed board He also stated that a board of three members, as proposed PennAg director critical of HB2II HARRISBURG A bill currently before the Penn sylvania House of Representatives would damage the system for marketing farm products within the state, Moms E Brown told a hearing convened here earlier this month by the House Agriculture Committee to examine the impact of H.B 211. Brown is general sales manager of feed and flour for F. M. Brown’s Sons, Inc., Birdsboro, and is also involved in the operation of a 750-acre, 90-head dairy farm. He currently serves on the board of directors for PennAg Industries Association, a trade organization of Pennsylvania agribusiness firms. H. B. 211 would provide the legislative framework for farm bargaining organizations which could compel buyers to buy from producer groups. Further, in Brown’s views, the bill would require all producers of some farm commodities to sell their production through this land of organization. “While we are generally sympathic to the desires of the committee to develop plans for producers to get a higher percentage of the food dollar,” he said, “we do not feel the Rep . Brandt explains HB 211 HARRISBURG - Rep. Kenneth R. Brandt, R- Lancaster, said last week the House Agriculture Com mittee is considering legislation to establish a State Bargaining Board to determine the standards of fanning cooperatives and their members. Brandt, a member of the Agriculture Committee and sponsor of the bill (HB 211), said the measure is designed to help small family farmers who presently must compete against the giant food growers. “Years ago there were Weaver’s Quality Eggs, Inc., a subsidiary of Victor Weaver’s, New Holland, will be receiving a home of its own late this year in the Green field industrial Park East. The new 5,000 square-foot facility is being built on a seven acre tract along William Penn Way by the High Realty Company. Designs and plans were drawn up by Harold A. Althouse and Associates of Ephrata. Weaver’s will lease the brick and steel structure on in the legislation, would not be representative of those engaged in producing the many different commodities included in Penasylvania’s agriculture He also told members of the House Agriculture Committee that in granting the board authority to adopt, amend and revise rules and regulations, “we would be handing over to this board virtual control of bargaming processes involving agricultural products ” many more markets available to the Penn sylvania farmer for the sale of his products,” Brandt said. “These included produce terminals, auctions, and exchanges. “Todays farmers must compete against the big food producers who often times sell produce at lower prices than the average farmers.” “This bill would determine the provisions under which farmers can band together in the form of a bargaining cooperatives for the purpose of the sale and marketing of farm products.” Winner also declared that the broad scope of the legislation would be too restrictive Under terms of the legislation, he said, producers and handle!a could discuss and limit production in such a way that is would be “virtually impossible for a new producer to start in business, or a farmer to change his operation " A section of the proposed legislation describing bargaining methods and processes, Wismer said, "is approach in H B 211 is the solution We are not opposed to producers joining together to market their products and we think processors should negotiate with such groups But the fact is farmers can do that now They do not need legislation to accomplish it ” Marketing groups succeed or fail for different reasons, Brown pointed out. Some may fail because buyers just aren’t interested in the crop. Others might go under because not enough of the crop is produced in any given area to warrant the establishment of a market. Or there may be a lack of competing markets. Poor management could be another reason Brown warned that the restrictions placed on marketing could hurt both producers and buyers. “While reference is made about ‘freedom to join’, the actual intent is to club every producer of a commodity into marketing only through the accredited association. “When the association represents 51-percent of the producers, regardless of the volume, the terms become Brandt said the bill would establish a Pennsylvania Agriculture Bargaining Board which will accredit the State’s cooperatives in order to protect each member. The Board would consist of a three member panel ap pointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate to act as overseers of Hie cooperatives. “Fanners are presently at the mercy of people outside of agriculture,” Brandt said. “But this bill would give the farmer a more active a long term basis. With 55 employees expected to be working in the plant, the facility will focus on egg production, sales, and transportation. The Weaver Company processes between 40 and 50 thousand dozen eggs per day and distributes them to retail markets all along the upper East Coast, in addition, they handle eggs in bulk packaged form for distribution to institutions and large v.olume food service establishments. so unrealistic it is difficult to believe that such a program could truly benefit producers or handlers " In expressing the Grange’s opposition to the proposed legislation, Wismer voiced the opinion that the bill would weaken the position of Pennsylvania agriculture Commenting on the proposed legislation following the hearing, J Luther Snyder, master of the State Grange, warned that bargaining over the sale of farm produce "could be decision-making role in his future.” He added that the bill in its present form has many provisions and changes to be hammered out but “it is basically a very good piece of legislation.” “The problem is that farmers must buy retail and sell their products whole sale. We must provide fair prices for farm good in the State.” He urged farmers in the Lancaster County area to contact his office for further explanation or possible in put.