IS— Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 24,1979 This farmer (Continued from Page 17) Recollecting his visit to Washington, Coles said: “The prettiest thing I saw - and it put a lump in my throat - was at night in the mall, as I looked out at the dome of the Capitol all lit up. The snow was on the ground along with all the tractors, and the full moon was coming up over the Capitol. It made me have a devine feeling. I thought ‘Oh, God, why can’t they listen and understand. ’ ” Despite the fact that the activities in Washington have not received the official endorsement of the majority of farmers. Coles speculates that the movement may have more support than the actual figures indicate. While only 2000 to 3000 fanners travelled to the nation’s capital, he’s convinced thousands more would liked to have gone. “Everybody can’t go,” quipped Jesse Nelson, a neighbor who also sympathizes with the movement. Nelson, who believes unions are to blame for the nation’s economic woes, questions why farmers don’t get an annual cost of living raise like everyone else. “Our income hasn’t gone up like our expenses,” he commented. “They’re always telling us to get more efficient,” he went on. According to Nelson and the Coles, there’s little, if any, room left to become more efficient. Mrs. Coles, who is a vocal and active supporter of the Washington tractorcade in her own right, emphasizes that the thought of the farmers just demonstrating for higher prices is “just not true.” There isa lot more involved, she says. According to the Coles, the AAM is fighting for the survival of the family farm in America and for more financial independence, rather than dependence on financial institutions. They are also concerned about conglomerates and foreign interests, both of which are are chiseling away at America’s agricultural potential, they say. Imports, politics, taxes, estate planning, foreign aid, are also topics of concern. The AAM, say-the Coles, isn’t in Washington just to parade around with tractors, they’re in town to question and talk with legislators. The Coles pray and hope that legislators and the general public will listen to and understand their pleas. They believe that if the facts are understood, support will be forthcoming. Members of the American Farm Bureau Federation, The Grange, and the Woodstown Friends Meeting, the Coles are genuinely concerned about the future of farming as they have known it. They note that farms and operating costs are becoming increasingly expensive. While the farmer once used to be in charge of his own destiny, he is becoming increasingly hemmed in by government and financial institutions, the Coles explain. They’re worried about that. They and other supporters of the Washington tractorcade aren't just concerned about 1979, they’re concerned about 1980 and 1985 and other years down the road, the Coles added. They insist that the trends that have been established in farming must be checked lest the family farming concept will be destoyed forever. Mrs. Coles, who is an enthused and excited member of American Agri-Women, goes even farther; “There’s a big problem in the world with farming. The future of the country is at stake.” History has proven, she continued, that in order for a nation to have a healthy economy, it HI-ENERGY - VITAMINS MINERAL SUPPLEMENT “DUTCH BELL” STOCK FOOD SUPPLEMENT MAR-GRO "ALL PHOS" BETTER BEEF STOCK FOOD SUPPLEMENT TRIPLE RICH HOG MINERAL AARON S. GROFF S SON FARM £ DAIRY STORE RD3, Ephrata, PA 17522 (Hinkletown) Ph. 717-354-4631 Store Hours: 7 A.M. to 9 P.M. Closed Tues., Wed. £ Sat. at 5:30 P.M. must have a healthy farm business. “Right now we have neither,” she proclaimed. “It’s about time people in agriculture stand together,” the New Jersey farm wife continued. “Why should we produce cheap food? ” she asked. “I really think that the last thing those farmers want is for the government to support them,” she went on. “A farmer is going to farm if he possibly can. If we had, a healthy agriculture there wouldn’t be any land to sell.” The Coles believe that there is a direct connection between farmers going out of business and government and big international monied interests putting the pressure on them. “They control the money,” they charged, “and they want the family farmer out f business. The Coles are fearful of eventual total world domination by an extraordinary wealthy and powerful international organization known as the Trilateral Commission. It supposedly is a coalition of American and foreign businessmen and politicians, including socialists and communists. Clahning that Eastern farmers really aren’t very well informed, but that their Midwestern counterparts are, the Coles credit friends in South Dakota for their awareness. “Quite frankly, I doubt we would have been interested in the Washington tractorcade if it weren’t for personal contacts in South Dakota,” said Mrs. Coles. “They have so much more information out there,” she added, as her husband acknowledged agreement. Their South Dakota friends are cattle ranchers. “We (fanners) are propping up the economy for awhile, but a judgement day is going to come,” Coles warned. He says that farmers can’t continue the debt load, nor can the nation’s economy be continually propped up by agricultural exports. Furthermore, both Coles and his wife claim that there are some discreptancies in the way trade is carried on. For example, they charge that exports are brought into the country even when domestic production is termed surplus. ‘ ‘And please don’t think that all of the food in the schools is government-bought sur plus,” Mrs. Coles added. She has worked in school cafeterias and remembers unpacking poor quality tomatoes that were shipped in from Mexico. Among other aims of the American Agriculture Movement, the Coles support the 100 per cent parity idea. “They’re taking 100 per cent of our milk, why should we get 80 per cent parity,” Mrs. Coles quipped. Mrs. Coles, like many other members of the American Agri-Women, feels particularly offended by observations and statements by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Robert Bergland which indicate that the complaining farmers have “overextended themselves as a result of bad business management.” She argues: “The government wants us to go out of business.” The New Jersey dauy farm couple also argues that if the laws of supply and demand are going to apply to agriculture, then they should also apply to other segments I | THE LOWEST POURING HEIGHT ON THE MARKET TODAY - 34"! 500 Gal. Milkeeper 500 Gal. Mojonnier 625 Gal. Sunset 735 Gal. Sunset 500 Gal. Mueller w/auto tank washer (2) 545 Gal. Sunsets (1 sold) (2) 600 Gal. Mojonniers (1 sold) ★ Service on all Makes of Milk Tanks ★ All Work Guaranteed SHENK'S FARM SERVICE 501 E. WOODS DRIVE LITITZ, PA. 17543 PHONE: (717)626-1151 Bulk Tanks • Therma*Stor After 5 P.M. - Call Titus Burkholder - 717-859-1620 Our Service Trucks Are Radio Dispatched 24 Hr. 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Merton Coles raises com and alfalfa, has 115 Holstein dairy cows, and 60 heifers. Their farm Is located 33 miles south of Philadelphia. Feed grain, wheat set-aside sign-up now WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sign-up period for the 1979 feed grain and wheat set aside programs is from February 15 through April 30, according to Ray Fit zgerald, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Stabilization and Con servation Service (ASCS). The sign-ups will be held in ASCS county offices. This year producers may YOUR FARM EQUIPMENT IS YOUR LIFE LINE PUT ALL THE DIESEL PROBLEMS IN CAPABLE. RELIABLE HANDS AT MILLER DIESEL INC. Specializing in Diesel fuel injection pumps, injectors and turbochargers. 6030 Jonestown Rd. - Harrisburg, PA 17112 717-545-5931 Interstate 81 - Exit 26 Celebrating our 20th year in business. JheAnbtsstdif • PLANNING LAYOUTS • SALES • INSTALLATION • SERVICE certify their fall-seeded crops-barley and winter wheat-during sign-up and not have to make a separate visit to the county ASCS office, Fitzgerald said. The sign-up period which had been tentatively set to end in mid-April, is being lengthened two weeks to give county ASCS employees sufficient time to handle thef added workload of simultaneous certification, he said. «s SHE NX'S FARM XpsSsjt t S«VIC£ KTAUF IROAD UUXPORTRO MAWPOWT N W E
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