26
—Lancaster harming, Saturday, January 20,1979
Farmers will need increase
HARRISBURG - With
farm operating costs
currently running 11 per cent
higher than a year ago, the
inflation rate being
predicted at somewhere
between 7 and 10 per cent,
and an OPEC oil price in
crease near 15 per cent, U.S.
farmers will have to get 1979
price increases running
from 12 to 15 per cent just to
stand still incomewise,
Reuben L. Johnson said at a
luncheon session at the
annual convention of the
Pennsylvania Farmers
Union on January 16.
Head of the Farmers
Union’s Washington
legislative staff, Johnson
told the convention, being
held at the Penn Harris
motel, that USDA
economists are saying that
“1979 may be a carbon copy
of 1978 for the American
farmer.”
“While there was some
improvement for some
commodities in 1978, it was
still a difficult year overall
and it is hardly reassuring
for farmers to hear that 1979
will be no better,” Johnson
said.
The Fanners Union of
ficial pointed out that
dairymen have been
somewhat better off than
other commodities because
they had a mandatory 80 per
cent of parity support level,
which escalated along with
rising costs.
“However, the legislative
authority for 80 per cent of
parity supports expires this
year and the support level
»,could drop as low as 75 per
cent of parity next October
1,” Johnson explained. “We
will work for a support level
at 90 per cent of parity
because we think it is fully
justified by dairy farm
operating costs.”
Johnson said that Farmers
Union and several other
farm organizations would
push for adoption of a
proposed “National
Agricultural Bargaining
Act,” which would require
handlers of agricultural
commodities to bargain m
good faith with associations
of farmers on prices of farm
commodities and terms of
sale.
Farmers Union will also
press for approval of a
proposed “Fair Meat
Trading Act,” which would
provide for licensing of
commercial meat pricing
reporting services and seek
to assure that such prices
are honestly reported and
not subject to manipulation
to the detriment of farmers
and consumers.
“It is now clear that more
than 70 per cent of the meat
supply is being formula
priced, either on the basis of
Drink
Mik
fori
to BORN!
the ‘Yellow Sheet’ or the per cent of the livestock
‘Meat Sheet,’ and that these slaughter volume,” he
prices reflect as little as two reported.
electric company.
When the power lines go down, the chances of
crippling financial losses skyrocket.
Why risk it when you can own your own electric
company ... a Winpower tractor driven
alternator. It provides immediate electrical
power for feeding and watering poultry and
livestock, for milking machines and milk cooling
equipment, for heating and ventilating systems,
and for household and other electrical needs.
Your Winpower representative has a wide
variety of tractor and engine driven models to
choose from. And, if you’ll provide the tractor,
he’ll show you a Winpower unit in action ... on
your farm. It’s easy, convenient, and there’s
no obligation.
MARVIN HORST AL MAURER
1950 S. sth Ave. Box 78
Lebanon, PA 17042 Cambra, PA 18611
717-272-0871 717-864-3135
WAYNE OLVER JAY RICHWINE
Damascus, PA 18415 528 Hogestown Rd
717-224-4169 Mechanicsburg, PA 17236
717-766-4382
808 SWANSON
Kennett Square, PA 19348
215-444-5610
Ask the powerhouse.
5 ———
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I llcon i j
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