118— Unctsttci^niiii^S^iiirtoy/DtctwfetrZ^lft?^ NFU pressing for open books In foreign ownership of farmland WASHINGTON, D.C. - Disclosure reports of alien holders of U.S. farmland, required under Public Law 95-460, must be open to public inspection im mediately, National Far mers Union said last week in testimony at an ASCS hearing relative to the Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. Bob Mullins, assistant legislative director, made the assertion in commenting on USDA’s proposed rules for ad ministration of the new law, which Farmers Union had spearheaded in the past session of Congress. “There is no con fidentiality in these disclosure reports,” Mullins noted. “Congress passed this bill because it wanted early answers and the law specifically sets out the manner m which reports must be open to examination by any in terested party.” Noting that some have contended that the data should first be analyzed or evaluated, Mullins con tended that “there must not be any delay, any screening, any editing, or any cover-up. The law intends that the people and the appropriate state agencies see these disclosure reports in their original form.” Mullins observed that the administrative rules must be issued by Jan. 12, 1979, or earlier, and that the law requires disclosure of new acquisitions within 90 days and existing holdings within 180 days. First reports presumably then will be received by April 12 with public inspection permitted beginning April 22. Reports on existing holdings would be due July 11, with in spection allowed ten days later. First submission of Modern Poultry Supplies, Inc. 1907-AOlde Homestead Lane, Lancaster, PA JIM AND MIKE ENCK reports by USUA to state departments of agriculture would be due Aug. 12, and would be issued semian nually thereafter. The Farmers Union spokesman told the hearing officer that the data which will be forthcoming will be useful to members of state Farmers Union organizations in determining whether restrictive legislation on alien ownership or control is needed. “Over the years, our State Unions which have pressed for legislation on alien or corporate land ownership of operation, have found themselves inhibited by the sheer difficulty in proving the extent of foreign in vestment and control,” Mullins said. He advocated that USDA vigorously press its inquiry into the real and ultimate ownership or control of Farmer’s price drops WASHINGTON, D.C. - Prices fanners received for their products during the month ending Nov. 15 were IVt per cent below the previous month’s average while the prices they paid for their production costs remained the same, ac cording to monthly figures released by USDA. A drop in pnces received for meat animals and fruit was not entirely offset by increases in poultry and eggs, feed grains and hay, dairy products and vegetables. Fruit producers took a 15 percent drop in prices during the month with beef cattle farmers absorbing a 5 percent decline. Poultry and hni m t\ft f/cl but Jot the nnnust Chu\twu\ ttu ' American farmland by foreign persons or entities. “The law says that ‘any interest’ must be disclosed and we think that this term should be defined as any interest whether through direct ownership, in whole or in part, leaseholds, options, contracts for deed, trust arrangements, life estates, stock ownership, or easement,” he explained, urging that the veil of con cealment be pierced if necessary by going through several levels of ownership. Farmers Union urged that there be aggressive en forcement of civil penalties upon aliens who fail to make the required disclosure. The law provides for penalties up to 25% of the value of the property for failure to make the disclosure, or for making false reports. (The above was reprinted from the Dec. 15,1978 edition of the National Farmers Union’s Washington Letter.) egg prices were up 4 percent, feed grains and hay up 2 percent, and vegetables were 5 percent higher. While the cost of feeder livestock was down 3 percent, feed, vehicles and supplies rose an average of the same per centage. The parity ratio for all commodities for the month dropped to 70 percent. Beef cattle and manufacturing milk were the only com modities earning prices better than 80 percent of parity. NOW 1 Before It's Too late' Practice Bttt % Y(M ugmii holiday r(< out , thi on uiia nI boll ) old jmbioued tm mid stuff At a recent banquet at St. John’s United Church of Christ, New Chester, for Area 2, the following employees of Atlantic Breeders Cooperative were cited for records of service. Front row, left to right: William Massa, East Prospect, 30 years; Wayne Cohick, Newville, 25 years and NAAB Quarter-Century plaque; Credon Bixler, Carlisle, 50,000 first services; Second Row A. Dale Souders, McConnellsburg, 20 years and 40,000 first services; Lee Musser, Mercersburg, five years and 10,000 first services: George Shue, Brodbecks, 5 years; James Willis, Shippensburg, 30,000 first services. 8 mmmll /■T\ / ' .♦.and Please,^ Oh LORD. Let there be Peace on Earth Wolgemuth Bros., Inc. WMnMNMtfMDH Mount Joy, Pa.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers