14—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 27,1979 ASA recommends priority levels ST. LUUiS, Mo. - A system of priority levels for the use of energy should be established for a different segment of agricultural production, processing and marketing, according to recommendations made this week to the USDA, and the Federal Energy Ad ministration by the American Soybean Association (ASA). The level of priority should depend on the degree to which each segment is essential and on its ability to have access to alternative energy sources the statement said. Nominations accepted for conservation awards LANCASTER Nominations are being accepted for the sixth national “Conservation Tea cher-of-the-Year” awards program according to Aaron Z. Stauffer, chairman of the Lancaster County Conservation District. The competition is open to all full-time teachers working at the kindergarten through high school level who have developed an outstanding program of environmental education. The National Conservation Meat packers to meet WASHINGTON, D.C. - A thorough airing of the problems facing the meat industry has been scheduled for the annual convention of the nation’s largest meat industry association. The National Independent Meat Packers’ Association will hold its annual meeting February 12-17, at Tarpon Springs, Fla. On the list of speech topics are food marketing, the cattle and hog situation, legislation in the 96th “Generally, we believe that farm production, in cluding soybean production should be accorded top priority,” said ASA president Merlyn Groot, a soybean producer from Manson, lowa. “If farmers can’t produce because of energy shortages, other segments of the food chain would have no product to process.” “Farmers have a high regard for processors and other outlets for their production,” says Groot. ‘‘We recognize that processing and marketing Teacher of the Year will receive $l,OOO in cash and an expense paid trip to Houston, Texas, for the 1980 annual convention of the National Association of Conservation Districts. The national second place winner receives a $5OO cash award and thfe first place regional winner will be given $2OO. Co-sponsored by' NACD and the Allis Chalmers Corporation, the purpose of the awards program is to encourage the development of creative learning ex- Congress, nitrite, net weight and nutrition. Delegates also will give special attention to the problems of slaughterers. Speakers will include Richard A. - McDougal, president. National Cat tlemen’s Association, John Soorholtz, president National Pork Producers, Council and Rep. Dawson Mathis, (D-Ga.), chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Oil Seeds and Rice. segments of the food chains are essential for the utilization of the farm products. But to assure that supplies of raw materials are available, we must first and foremost assure priority access to energy for producing the most esential farm commodities.” Groot also noted that other energy users often have greater ability than farmers to use alternative energy sources such as coal. Generally, farmers do not have much flexibility other than gas or petroleum products, he explained. periences in conservation for young people. “Any teacher m a public or private school in our conservation Istrict who puts emphasis on en vironmental conservation as a regular part of the in structional program is eligible for nomination”, said Stauffer. Interested teachers can obtain ad ditional information and nomination forms from the Lancaster County Con servation District. The awards program also includes equivalent prizes for the conservation district judged nationally to have provided the most effective stimulus and help for con servation education programs within the district. Correction Licking Creek Farm exhibited the reserve grand champion Angus bull “Fleetwood Exchequer”, at the Pa. Farm Show. The bull was also named the in termediate champion. “Gibbet Hill Aman 28” was the reserve senior cham pion, shown by Erdenheim Farms and “Seldom Seen Great Northern,” shown by Cecil Teets, was the junior champion. According to the ASA recommendations, different priority levels would be set for different commodities and uses, such as Priority I, Priority n. Priority HI, etc. Basic reasoning behind the ASA plan is that its priorities were not assigned and all segments of the chain had equal priority in the allocation of scarce supplies, in effect, no segment would have priority. The result would be that all segments would make demands on limited supplies. All would have equal claim and agriculture might not receive necessary supplies in a tune of need. for energy use To further support the need for such a priority system, Groot pointed out that U.S. agriculture exports last year accounted for over $27 billion in the U.S. balance of payments. “Agricultural exports are vital to the U.S. economy and to the welfare of the nation’s 2Vz million farmers, especially to the half million soybean farmers,” says Groot, explaining that soybeans were the nation’s number one export crop last year, with a value of $6.4 billion. “At the same time, foreign buyers of our products would be sorely hurt if their need for soybeans and other food could not be met because U.S. production was cur tailed by inadequate energy supplies." Citing government policy of assigning priority to food production during war time, Groot called on government authorities to set similar priority measures on energy should they be necessary in any future crisis. “The basic situation - the need for an assured con tinued supply of food - would not be different in a time of peace,” he said. “We must act now to set guidelines in order to be prepared for the future” Groot said.
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