A36—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 2,1980
Hallowell interview
(Continued from Page Al)
Hallowell said he bad
changed the orientation of
the Department of Rural
Affairs without making any
big organizational change.
He noted the goal to have
an agricultural promotion in
every county in Penn
sylvania within the next six
to eight months.
He said they were making
an on-going evaluation of the
mall promotions. Hallowell
also said research would be
done on the farm logo to
establish its degree of ef
fectiveness.
He said he chose his
deputy secretaries because
he had confidence in them
rather than because one man
was from the Grange, one
from Pennsylvania Far
mers’ Association.
Luther Snyder is former
Master of the Grange, Chet
Heim directed PFA's
legislative affairs.
“We tried to hire people
who had the combination of
ability, ag experience, and
some desire to work for
farmers and the Thornburgh
administration,” he said.
Hallowell said he thought
the upcoming Farm
Equipment Expo would be a
success.
He pointed out a number of
changes would be made this
year in the Expo. These will
include addition of a tractor
pull, livestock, and some
sales.
An energy conservation
theme will be used at this
year’s show, he said.
There are about the same
number of exhibitors this
year as last, he said, but they
have sold more square feet
He said the farmers’ fun
night would be scrapped but
a Young Farmer volleyball
contest would be added.
S Pitching to legislation,
Haiiowell said the Gover
nor’s close ties to the farm
community were obvious
from the Governor’s
legislative package.
He pointed out two bills,
the 525 alcohol license
production act and the land
condemnation board, both
wee passed
Milk security fund
legislation is the outstanding
Capitol Hill topic among
farmers
So much controversy
surrounds the various
proposals that many
legislators seem afraid to
get mvolved in the turmoil
“We have tried to take a
UNDERGROUND LIQUID MANURE SYSTEMS
strong stand to push for
legislation this year. We
tried to get it passed last
year, but we couldn’t come
close to a concensus between
farm co-ops, farm
organizations, and in
dividual farmers.
“Those three groups still
are not all at the same
point,” he said.
Referring to his proposal
he said, “It’s a good bill. It
would help farmers. It
probably would hurt dealers
a little bit. And they have
made their point clear with
many legislators.
“Cooperatives, in the
marketplace, are their own
enemies as well as dealers.
Co-ops have done some
unethical things in
marketing milk, trying to
get customers. They take
them from each other by
making a deal of sorts,” he
said.
“They are able to do things
the milk dealers are not. The
Milk Dealers Association
points that out,” he said.
He said the old one cent
payment by dealers mat
ched by one cent by farmers
seemed fair to him, and still
does. But it was not accepted
by farm organizations or
dealers.
He noted PFA had that
proposal as its policy but the
co-ops did a good job of
getting members to PFA
annual meeting and
changing PFA policy.
“They did their homework
pretty well,” he conceded.
“It is still my opinion and
that of enough legislators we
are talking to who we have to
get to introduce, support and
pass a bill, that the two cent
proposal might pass.
“So, I’ve tempered the
message I get from farmers
with the message I get from
legislators,” he said.
He noted the impact on
consumers and dealers had
to be considered even though
his prune concern was
farmers.
He said he had access to
confidential Milk Marketing
Board statistics from which
he could figure who would
participate at the two cent
rate and how many more
would contribute at one cent.
He said building the fund
would depend more on the
amount of milk assessed
than on the rate of charge.
He said the two cent
proposal may give rise to
unfair advantage for
-
neighboring states. He noted
a one cent rate would be less
than New York pays, and
therefore Pennsylvania
farmers would retain a
relative advantage.
“I haven’t heard anyone
say they did not want to be
included m a security bill.
Even co-op members value
their milk checks as much as
farmer selling directly to a
dealer,” he said.
He said the cost probably
would be recovered by
dealers through the Milk
Marketing Board.
“I think there probably
are feelings underneath the
surface we are not aware of.
“Some people, it seems, as
soon as it looks like there is a
concensus, want something
more, like they are almost
trying to avoid concensus,”
he said.
“We are making every
effort to have a security fund
bill introduced in the near
future
“I hope, if the bill is
generally beneficial to
Pennsylvania fanners and
Pennsylvania milk
marketing, that everyone
will support it, at least
enough to let the legislators
get credit for passing
something instead of various
groups being critical
because it doesn’t have
feature they may have
wanted,” HaUowell said.
He noted the Governor and
his wife stayed close to
Penrose Hallowell
Farm Show. He said the
Governor’s interest in
agriculture has helped
Department morale. *
“The Governor has been a
real asset helping us help
agriculture,” he said
He added, “If the milk
security bill passes it will be
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because the Governor helps
put the pressure on* the
legislature to get something
passed.”
"1 hopesome of those who
are leaders of co-operatives
who think I have not sup
ported their proposal as
much as I should have being
a co-op member and dairy
farmer realize I conducted
myself and the Department
in a manner to get the most
suitable security bill passed.
“There are times I have to
play the role of the bad guy a
little bit,” he noted
He has done some other
laudable things on his own
Hallowell, although
assigned a driver, doesn’t
use him. In another break
with tradition, he’s driving a
higher milage car—a
Skylark equipped with CB—
than the Secretary
previously had
He said he used his driver
only about three times on
LITITZ' - The next
program in the Travel and
Adventure Series sponsored
by the Paradise Rotary Club
will be held Saturday,
February 16, 7:30 p.m., at
the Conestoga Valley High
School.
Photographer-Narrator
will be Chris Borden, in a
presentation entitled,
“Sparkling Switzerland”.
XHM DEERE
V rtfT'
Travel
to host
A. B. C. GROFF, INC. LANDIS BROS. INC.
New Holland PA Lancaster, PA
Phone (717)354 4191 Phone (717)291 1046
occasions when he used the
car as a mobile desk. The
driver generally is assigned
to other tasks.
“It’s a luxury the public
doesn’t want to afford,” he
said.
Sad to note, the new car
was hit the second day he
had it.
Thirty other cars were
eliminated from the
Department fleet.
The phone bill was cut, too.
They got a $5OOO check back
from Bell Telephone one
month.
“We’re just trying to do
the little things every other
family in this country has to
do as the bills go up,” he
said.
“We’re bragging we’re
going to make Agriculture
Number 1 in 'Bl. Penn
sylvania Agriculture, we’re
growing better . . that
where we’re going,” he
concluded.—CH
series
lecture
Borden describes Zurich,
Geneva, Interlaken, and the
Swiss Riviera as some of the
attractions in Switzerland.
You will see a political
anachronism, an economic
paradox, and everyone’s
favorite dot on the map
Tickets for the program
will be available at the door
at Conestoga Valley High
School.
john oec*c
*