Cooperative report (Continued from Page 1) enhancing prices.” The Commission noted that such responsibility should be entirely removed from USDA and transferred to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 3. Competition impact Bid FARM POWER AND EQUIPMENT . . ._s " STEIGER DELIVERS MORE OF THE HORSEPOWER YOU PAY FOR. Steiger’s 4WD tractors consistently transfer more engine horsepower to the drawbar where you need it. In recent independent tests, Steiger 4WD tractors delivered the highest percentage of engine horsepower to the drawbar pin. By comparing each model's ad vertised gross engine horsepower to the highest drawbar horsepower attained in the tests, Steiger tractors placed above all others. Steigers delivered an average 84.08% of the engine’s power to the drawbar pin. The competition averaged only 75.81 %. Check the horsepower where it counts ... at the drawbar. Steigers work harder. statements may be required whenever businesses (in cluding cooperatives) consider major marketing decisions. The Commission’s suggestions follow along the line of thoughts introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts who says that the least anti ALL 4WD TRACTORS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL competitive alternative should be chosen. Other recommendations included in the finalized report would seek repeal of anti-trust exemption of the insurance industry con tained in the McCarran- Ferguson Act; seek repeal of the Reed-Bulwinkle Act under which the trucking industry has an immunity from anti-trust laws in order to organize rate bureaus; and seek to abolish the an titrust immunity of rail carriers to meet and set freight rates. Don Graham, a spokesman for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, headquar tered here in the nation’s Stop by any time end line up e demonstration. capital, says the Com mission’s recommendation’s are “horrible.” Charging that the recommendations would be disasterous to agriculture, if implemented, he says they would wreck the federated cooperative system and grossly reduce marketing efficiency. Graham, a lawyer who specializes in cooperative law, believes the best way for farmers to make their point is to get in touch with their legislators and ex change opinions. He suggests farmers support congressmen who show an understanding and sym pathy for the farm com munity, whle working to “throw” the others out. t£STEIGER.™s?r Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 23,1971 According to USDA statistical information, five out of every six fanners in the country belong to one or more cooperatives. The NCFC represents every commercial farm marketing cooperative. A spokesman at the headquarters of the National Farmers Union, here, told Lancaster Farming that the National Commission for the Review of Antitrust Laws and Procedures wants USDA out of the cooperative watchdog role because no secretary of agriculture has ever moved against farmer cooperatives. The belief among Commission members is that the FTC would do a better job of rooting out alleged cases of undue price enhancement. Under present regulations, the U.S. secretary of agriculture is charged with promoting cooperatives and enforcing legal technicalities, both defined and undefined. DANIEL’S ENGINE CONTROL Diesel Engine Repair & Rebuilding Specializing in GM t Detroit Diesels. ENGINES FOR SALE 320 Waukesha gas, fan to flywheel 383 cu. m. Chrysler, power unit w/clutch 471 Detroit Power unit w/clutch RD3 Ephrata, PA 17522 Ph: 717-733-3890 A spokesman at the National Milk Prducers Federation points out that there has never been a legislative definition for undue price enhancement and he personally believes it would be next to impossible to establish. “We are very concerned about it,” the spokesman affirmed. “The report is pretty misleading and fairly hostile towards cooperatives,” concluded the NFU spkesman. “But I think we have a pretty good chance of defending ourselvs in the Congress,” he added. He believes that President Carter would be “hard pressed to go all out with the recommendations.” While many of the nation’s farmer cooperatives have had considerable financial and image problems, especially in recent years, the general consensus of the famer cooperative people is that their system should not be locked into place. It’s claimed that they need the freedom granted to them by the Capper-Volstead Act if they expect to remain competitive. 27
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers