ClS—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 26,1980
New Farm Bureau president
will push legislative program
CAMP HILL - With just
two weeks experience,
Robert Delano is a
newcomer in his present
position.
But he is no stranger to
farming nor to the back
stage operations of a major
farm organization.
The Virginia farmer was
elected president of the
American Farm Bureau
Federation at the group’s
annual meeting m Phoenix
during Farm Show week.
He travelled to Penn
sylvania Monday to speak to
members of the State
Council of Farm
Organizations. Before that
meeting he took tune to
outline his feelings on a
number of farm related
topics.
While he repeated the
standard statement that his
first goal is to implement the
policy of the voting delegates
of Farm Bureau, he added
he hoped to put major em
phasis on the group’s
legislative program
Delano said he felt in
flation was the prime
problem facing America and
American farmers today.
He said there are two ways
to reduce inflation: either
balance the budget or limit
government spending
constitutionally
Delano noted U.S Senator
John Heinz from Penn
sylvania has put in a bill
which would limit govern
ment spending.
“This is a preferable route
to take,” Delano said
He said interest in writing
an amendment to the Con
stitution is waning and said
he feared some people were
losing mterest in the concept
of balancmg the budget
altogether
‘ If we do put a limit on
government spending then
we will be able to have a
balanced federal budget, but
not before, ’ he said
“Ninety percent of in
flation is excess government
spending,” he added
He said Farm Bureau
would work to get legislation
passed to eliminate this
problem
Delano said he came to the
job with no “pet projects” or
favorite ideas
While he said he hadn’t
even talked to all the em
ployees yet, he is no stranger
in Farm Bureau circles
He has been Vice
President of the American
Farm Bureau Federation
since 1976 and served as
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HOWARD L GROFF
CO.
Quanyville, Pa. 17566
717-786-2166
Exclusive interview
Robert Delano, a Virginia cash grain farmer and
new president of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, says he’ll emphasize legislative ac
tivity during his tenure of office.
President of the Virginia
Farm Bureau.
His home is located along
the Chesapeake, about 100
miles South of Washington,
D.C. and to the East of
Richmond.
He admits his farm
background makes him a
more Midwestern oriented
farmer than either an
Eastern farmer or a
Southern farmer.
“I know about the gram
end of agriculture and I am
learning about the other
problems,” he said.
As a big gram producer he
reacted quickly to the
President’s recent embargo
of gram sales to Russia.
He was quick to point out
that the amount of grain
weighing on the American
market should be considered
as 19 5 million tons rather
than 17 million tons.
He picks up the other 2 5
million tons from the grain
which the Southern
longshoremen have refused
to ship out of the country.
“Even if the CCC buys all
19.5 million tons of gram it
could cost agriculture
between $4 billion and $5
billion.
“That will be taxpayer
money,” he pointed out
He said he was interested
in marketing and bargaming
legislation which would
allow farmers to bargain for
the price they receive for
goods.
He pomted out that far
mers are at the mercy of the
set prices and often fall
victims to surprises such as
the gram embargo.
“I hope to continue the
kind of administration Allan
Grant liad,” he said, adding
“I will continue the em
phasis on the export trade
“We need access to export
markets.
“I have m mind sendmg a
group to Brazil to study their
use of gasohol. I want to see
how they use corn and other
biomass for fuel.”
He said he felt programs to
push for a bushel of-gram for
a barrel of oil were im
practical.
“I’m agamst the use of
gram as a weapon,” he said.
“But we do support the
President. If he has more
information on the situation
than we do, then we have to
take his word for it ”
Delano said he will con
tinue to be interested in the
thrust of agricultural labor
unions, as was Grant
“We will not waive in-
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terest in sensible labor laws
which allow the worker to
make his own decisions,” he
said.
But he promised Farm
Bureau would be against
union boss control.
“Some union bosses have
abused their privileges,” he
said.
Delano said he wanted to
work with the Grange,
National Farmers Union,
National Farmers
Organization and other farm
and commodity groups to
see that legislation and
programs which would
benefit the farmer are
enacted.
He said he would work for
some relief from the vast
amount of regulations
farmers have over their
heads
In particular, he cited the
number of regulations on
clean air and water which
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have an impact on farming
operations.
He said AFBF work on •
these programs, along with
the legislative activity,
should provide farmers with
the forum they need in
Washington.
The 55 year old Delano,
while a self-professed gram
farmer, holds a degree in
animal husbandry from
Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute
He pledged he would serve
in his post with dedication
and devotion.
Already, just two weeks
into the job, he has made an
impact in several
agricultural areas.
A forceful speaker with a
light Southern drawl, he
should be an able
representative for the
nation’s Farm Bureau
members —CH
1278 Loop Rd.
Lancaster, Pa. 17604
717-397-3721
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