D2s—Lancaster Farming fj Saturday, March IS, 1980
Pork producers approve boost in checkoff
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - “A
giant step forward for pork
producers," is how a
National Pork Producers
Council spokesman sums up
that group’s move late last
Thursday to approve in
creasing the Council’s
voluntary market hog
checkoff rate.
AlO cent per hog increase
(from 10 to 20 cents) will be
implemented January 1981
following action by NPPC’s
delegate body meeting at the
American Pork Congress in
St. Louis. The feeder pig
checkoff rate of five cents
per pig marketed remains
unchanged.
Thursday’s action came
after a day and a half of
delegate discussion and
consideration of several
proposals. Much of the in
Market association seeks produce growers
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
WEST CHESTER - A
direct marketing association
to assist farmers in finding
markets for their produce is
operating in the five-county
area of Bucks, Montgomery,
Lancaster, Berks and
Chester.
The non-profit association,
headquartered in West
Chester, is the Farmer-
Consumer Services
Association, Inc., which is
operated in cooperation with
Penn State and the Pa. Dept,
of Agriculture.
“We are now seeking to
enroll growers m the five
county area who are seeking
markets for their produce,”
George E. Perry, Jr.,
executive-director of the
association, said.
“Working with interested
growers, we'll seek markets,
such as fruit coops, small
stores, roadside stands,
state institutions and school
districts.”
Cost of membership m the
association by a grower is a
one-time $5.00 enrollment
fee. The association also
tense discussion centered on
whether the checkoff would
be based on percentage of
value or a flat rate per head.
The additional funding will
include allocation of 60
percent of the increase to the
Council with the NPPC
member states and National
Live Stock and Meat Board
each receiving 20 percent of
the funding. Funding for the
Pork Industry Group of the
Meat Board earned the
stipulation that the NPPC
received additional
representation on the Meat
Board’s policy-making body
with election by the NPPC
delegates.
The increased funding
plan, recommended by
NPPC’s Planning and
Resolutions Committee
could, according to NPPC’s
Orville K. Sweet, executive
charges a five percent
commission on sales.
Types of fanner members
being specifically sought by
the association include
growers of sweet com,
canteloupes, tomatoes,
cauliflower, eggs, fruit,
Easter flowers and bedding
plants.
During the past winter
season the association
worked with a number of
apple growers to find juice
markets with independent
processors.
“We try to bring together
and match growers with
markets both geographically
and according to size,”
Mane A. Pelmo, association
manager, said.
In most instances, the
association arranges for
direct shipment of the
produce by the grower to
help guarantee a fresher
product and minimize
handling. But the association
does maintain a refrigerated
warehouse at West Chester
to serve smaller grower
volumes and markets.
The association’s
vice president, should nearly
double funding available for
carrying out Council
programs. Budget for the
past year was $2.2 million.
“The delegate action,”
Sweet continued, “is a vivid
example of grassroots’
action and response to a real
industry need.” Initial
moves for such an increase
in the entirely volunteer
producer-funding program
were launched by delegates
at the 1979 Pork Congress.
“Delegate action,” Bill
Buller, NPPC president,
Brookings, SD, said, “came
after long, exhausting
sessions featuring debate,
largely over allocation of
funding. However, at the
end, the comradeship of pork
producers and their typical
desire for unity prevailed.
“Poork producers see the
marketing program is
federally funded under the
Farmer to Consumer Direct
Marketing Act. It is
governed by a seven
member board of growers,
including Dick Solly, Bucks
County, president; Fred
Funk, Lancaster County,
vice president; Carlton
Groff, Lancaster County,
secretary-treasurer; Peter
Alexcih, Lancaster County;
William Dean, Lancaster
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increase as an opportunity
for Council growth and came
forward in recognizing they
alone have the un
derstanding and decision
making power to respond to
future industry needs. The
delegates were responsive to
the groundswell of
grassroots’ comments on
previously approved
checkoff proposals, ” he said.
All pork producers, and
the industry as a whole, can
justifiably have pnde in the
delegate action taken here in
St. Louis.
Producers for the balance
of 1980 will be striving for
ward to increase checkoff
participation within their
respective states through the
Market Blitz program im
plemented earlier this year,
Buller said. This drive is
County; Byron Hawthorne,
Chester County; and Tom
Styer, Bucks County.
Interested growers should
make early contact with the
association to provide suf
ficient time for establishing
summer markets. Contacts
can be made at the Farmers-
Consumer Services
Association office, 880 S.
Five Points Rd., West
Chester, Pa. 19380,
telephone, (215) 436-5316.
CONCRETE
aimed at increasing par
ticipation from the present
53 percent level to 75 percent
giving all involved yet
another opportunity to
strengthen funding at all
levels.
Delegates approved ap
pointment of a permanent
checkoff committee to
monitor the program to
involve and maintain a high
level of total producer in
volvement.
On another issue,
delegates in St. Louis voted
to table until 1981 action on a
proposed political action
committee as recommended
by the Council’s Board.
R. R. 2
Chambersburg, Pa. 17201
Phone 717-264-9588
Delegates before ad
journing named five new
directors to the executive
committee: Russell Rowe,
Michigan, to a three-year
term; Ed Cox, Arizona, to a
three-year term; and Wayne
Walter, Kansas, to a three
year term. Amo Moenning,
Minnesota, was elected to a
one-year term to fulfill a
vacated unexpired term.
Myron Laffoon, Indiana, was
elected to the new director’s
spot created by a change in
bylaws. George Belt,
Kentucky, was elected to
serve as an NPPC member
on the National Live Stock
and Meat Board.