VOL 24 Ho. Shelhamer leaves ag office , By DIETER KRIEG HARRISBURG Kent Shelhamer is out of the ; . Secretary-of Agriculture Office, and his replacement, • Penrose" Hallowed, is in. The change took place Tuesday, when Richard Thornburgh took over the reigns of state government. Hallowell is Thornburgh’s choice as agriculture secetary and he has been given the keys to the Department the fact that he hasn’t yet been confirmed by the State Senate. Shelhamer formally took office in February of 1977, accepting the top agriculture job with humble en thusiasm. None of that seems to "have diminished since then. A man who prides himself on his career as a farmer, as well as a politician, Shelhamer said he wanted to make the Department more responsive to the needs of Penn sylvania’s fanners. He believes he has done that. Many fanners would agree. At Monday’s Pennsylvania Far mers Union Convention, for example, the news of his . departure prompted remarks that he will be missed. “He was the best secretasry of agriculture the state has had for long time,” said one Centre'Countian. Others in the group nodded in agreement. Praise for Shelhamer has come from other groups and well. While be admits that he isn’t liked by Slaughter steers hit new high LITFFZ Slhughter-steectprices in •lancaster®36hty - continued their record high this week, following the trend established last. Week when prices set a new record high in the county. The high of the week set a new record again Jor Lan caster County slaughter steer prices. At the Vintage Sales Stables on Tuesday, prices climbed to $57.60. This week’s Monday Lancaster Market, compared to last Wednesday’s prices, found slaughter steers firm to 50 cents higher with the most advance being on tire good to low choice. High choice and prime, yield 3-4, weighing lOPft to 1325 pounds, brought 63.25 to 65.25, Choice, mainly -yield 2,1075 to 1325 pounds, brought 64.00 to 65.50, with a couple going for 65.75 to 66.35; Choice 2-4, 1000 to 1350 pounds brought 61 JO to 63.75. On Tuesday, at the Vintage Auction, slaughter steers were $2.00 to $3.00 higher than the week previous, with most late sales $3.00 higher. High choice and prime 3-4, weighing 1075 to 1425 pounds brought 64.50-66.85, with eight head bringing 67.00 to 67.60, Choice, mainly yield 2, weighing 1100 to 1350 pounds, went for 65.00-66.25, with a few bringing 66.25-66.75; Choice, yield 24, 10000 to 1325 pounds, brought 62.25-65.00. Cooperatives facing the ax LAS VEGAS, Nev. - House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash) has predicted that legislation will be introduced this year to limit the scope of farmer cooperatives in the U.S. Foley said the legislation will result from recom mendations of the National Commission To Review An titrust Laws and Procedures. The recommendations, which will be sent to the President on January 22, will call for modifications to the Capper-Volstead Act affecting cooperative mergers and cooperative marketing agencies in common. Speaking at the 50th annual meeting of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Foley expressed con cern that House members of the commission were from the Judiciary Committee, and had little or no experience in agricultural matters. He assured his audience that cooperatives will not be decimated by ill-considered legislation, and suggested that the Agriculture Committee might toy to gain some jurisdiction over the legislation when it’s introduced in the House., ' Foley added, however, that urban members of Congress won’t be easy to approach on the issue. “The story of the value of cooperatives win have to be told at the grassroots, level throughout the country,” he said. Turning to Other issues facing the Agriculture'Com mittee, Foley said there is apprehension In the country that food prices will rise about 10 per cent again this year. Serving The Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania Areas - Also Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January2o,l979 everyone, he is modestly pleased with the kind of % relationship he has had with farmers and farm organization leaders. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Farmers Association, the Pennsylvania State Grange, and the Pennsylvania Farmers Union and he met regularly with leaders of each of those groups. He hopes his successor will continue that tradition. During a recent interview with Lancaster Farming, Shelhamer made it plain that he appreciated-the two years he had to serve as secretary of agriculture. He came into office with a practical, grass-roots, nuts-and bolts philosophy and he believes he earned respect with that attitude. What follows is the first installment of a 2- part story on Kent Shelhamer and his two years as Penn sylvania Secretary of Agriculture. Acknowledging that he has made some people unhappy with his decisions, he is proud of his positions nonetheless. In feet, he’s as proud of his “stubbomess” as he is of his farm background. He made the flatter a prerequisite for high-level employment in bis office. ’‘There is no job for a fanner that’s too tough to tackle,” he said in an interview two years ago. He was determined to be a secretary of agriculture who worked on behalf of farmers. (Turn to Page-15) ' ; , S . The Lancaster County summuy for the week ending, , Friday nbti(shat slaughter With high choice and prime 34, weighing 1673 to 1425 pounds bringing 63.75 to 66.00; and a few bringing 66.00 to 66.85, about 15 head going for 67.00 to 67.60. - For a more complete market report, see the market and livestock reports beginning on page 2 of Lancaster Far ming. Compared to Monday; Wednesday's auction prices at the Lancaster Stockyards were mostly steady, with in stances of being 50 cents higher on choice and prime. High choice and prime, yield grades 34, weighing 11000 to 1375 pounds brought 63.75 to 65.85, with a few head going for 66.00 to 66.60; and choice, yield 2to 4,1000 to 14000 pounds, went for 61.50 t 064.75. Thursday, at the New Holland Sales Stables auction, compared to the Thursday before, slaughter steers were mostly steady, with instances of 50 cents lower on good to low choice. High choice and prime, 34, weighing 1125 to 1425 pounds, brought 63.75 to 66.10, with a few head going for 66.25-66.85; choice, mainly 2, weighing 1075 to 1425 pounds brought 65.00-66.25, with a few head bringing 66.25- 66.75. He stated that any proposal for an agricultural relief measure requiring large outlays of federal money, or raising food prices, will cause great public concern. The Agriculture Committee chairman said that other issues expected to be examined by his committee this year include: bargaining legislation, federal grain in spection, federal crop insurance, export sales reporting requirements, sugar production base, and the general agricultural situation. Cooperative Monitoring System The role of cooperatives in-fighting inflation was covered by James C. Webster, director, Office of Governmental and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture. “In terms of fighting inflation in the farm economy,” he said “you have always been on the front line and you’re still there. Cooperatives have been and continue to be examples of efficiency in the food system.” Webster added that despite this proved record, co-ops are charged by some with having too many, privileges and too much power. He noted that Secretary of Agriculture Bergland believes that the protection fanners have under the Capper-Volstead Act imposes a stem responsibility not to betray the trust that legislation imposed. As a result, said Webster, Secretary Bergland has established a monitoring system to carry out his authority under the Capper-Volstead Act. He said the system will - . (Turn to Page 15) §SmM m * y W fra^M mr ~V. % V"!? q i w * '""V y win nnmdfri'ir Stj- 5...1 vA W v s a. \y J .X y ' , N*„ k * * y *.S. * Si —*S . .... % 7 * V" l'/>' V V - v Ismter mm'****-- hmm meet-ps*r britet effect la-FWpmryi fN&fEte **t prin ted oi w IH. v, v • .:m&&; /'3ppr In WJt taektbtn rime JfeoSfc OMtoter r*" ■ ■? ""i l s >S tv vJ, , f ' Jit \ ' yilyf Rfry Mn|l(-r $6.00 Per Year WfmX&k^mKmMSSMiskl^ iMmferK