A32—Lancaster Famine, Saturday, April 19,1990 Bergland (Continued from Page Al) Master Fanner Huntsberger asked Bergland how he plans to help this group survive the squeeze. “Money problems are found in all sizes of farms,” the Secretary noted, “especially with young people getting started and established farmers who lost their crops last year.” Some $2 billion in economic aid, carrying 13 percent interest, has been approved to finance those “with no other place to go.” Again and again, America's agriculture head hammered home the unhappy state of farm economics: “There is no quick fix.” He urged farmers to “borrow carefully. Spend less and save more.” Members of FUEL, York County’s pioneer cooperative for on-farm fuel production, sought tips from Bergland on government help for grain alcohol distilleries. He indicated that both research and credit assistance are available with Farmers Home Ad ministration setting aside $lll million for gram fuel production. Bergland warned, however, that only large capacity plants, with the ability to extract a variety of by-products, are economical at this stage of developement. “The pigs have come home to roost,” was his summation of the depressed state of the pork and poultry industries, both burdened with oversupply depressed prices. Part of the pork problem, Bergland admitted, is tax policy that mcouraged off farm business capital to build large hog houses, taking generous investment credit benefits against the cost. Although! fanners will be expected to nde out the plunge until pork prices reach their own market level, USDA is purchasing some quantities for use in the school lunch program. Speaking to the govern ment’s concern about severe soil losses from erosion, Bergland warned that 30 million acres had gone from grass to gram during the mid-19705. While no clear policies have been drawn up to return this marginal land to sod, one solution might be “conservation easements that would put it back into grass (hi a business-like arrangement.” Following the question and answer session with York farmers, Bergland demonstrated his cow milkmg ability and took a brief tour of the Beshore farm E Wayne and son Jed Beshore are partners in the 50-cow registered Holstein farm. Barely a year ago the Beshores were also visited by a deluge of TV cameras and officials as one of the closest dairy operations to the stricken Three Mile Island nuclear plant All questions on TMI were neatly sidestepped by Bergland. About 250 fanners turned out at Pen-Col to question the Secretary as he fielded questions from a wagon-bed stage “The Russians are a pain in the neck ’ Bergland "I'm the one who took it out," Bergland replied to the queery of grain grower Geary Huntsberger on the reinstatement of the government’s lime program. Those conservation funds are instead being directed at stopping soil losses with terracing and waterways programs. replied to questions con cerning the effect of the grain embargo at his next stop, the Wolf operation at Millville in Columbia County. “We’ll do business with them only as long as they don’t endanger us.” In sisting the embargo had not really hurt American grain sales, Bergland said grain is being shipped out at such rates that “we’re having trouble loading the boats fast enough.” Several young farmers from the Danville area, angry at taking a beating from low prices and high costs, presented the Secretary with a letter of recommendations for ag policy changes. Their key concerns were the lack of an effective WBIG V COW BY KRAIBURG "MORE UDDER ON THE RUBBER" sep Cows Happy, Resting, id Profit "Sure-grip” textured tread surface. Specially developed tread surface gives solid footing, protection against udder injuries, abrasions and sore hocks Grooveless surface provides easy cleaning. Pebbled surface has no grooves to retain urine or manure, washes easily, dries quickly with minimum effort energy policy, increased interest rates, cheap grain policies, and the widening cost between farm and retail prices. Bergland promised to study their letter upon his return to Washington. One trend Bergland ap proved is the slight back wards slide in land prices. He admitted it was not a welcome view from the standpoint of all farmers but is part of the “hard line” stance being taken by the Carter Administration to help cool inflation. Farmers at the two Thursday dairy visits received Bergland’s com ments with polite applause, nodding agreement with some policy statements but murmuring among them selves over others. DIRECT FACTORY DISTRIBUTOR QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Many questioned later agreed there were no easy answers to the hard economic problems and that “no one man, not even the Secretary of Agriculture, can solve any issue by himself.” “There’s nothing any one individual can do,” sighed one Columbia County far mer. “It’s just too big. Everyone needs to cut back, but no one does.” Just across the hill from where Bergland was meeting with York County farmers, another part of the campaigning was going on. Ted Mondale, 22 year old son of Vice President Walter Mondale, spent several hours visiting with voters and the civics classes at rural Red Land Senior High School. 10 Year Warranty Program, Excellent heat loss resistance. Keeps cows' body heat from dis sipating Thermal insulation action rejects cold and dampness from concrete underflooring Saves bedding materials. Provides safe, sanitary lying com fort for cows Tapping talents he learned as a boy on the Minnesota family farm. Bob Bergland perched on a milking stool before Beshore Lindy Louise, a VG 87 Harrisburg Gay Ideal daughter with four year records to 26,000 pounds milk and 900 of fat. MATS VANCO SALES CO. RD4, Box 300 Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone-717-776-3494 Please send free sample & installation instructions Name Address Phone SIZES IN STOCK FOR IMMEDI DELIVERY 36x60 43x65 42x60 43x69 39x65 48x60 39x69 48x66 42x72 48x72
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers