NEDCO president foresees era of super co-ops N.Y. - Today’s predominant topic of conservation seems to be, “Super Co-ops”. Are they good for dairymen? The topic becomes more important now that we are witnessing an attempt to establish such a co-op m New England, says NEDCO President Edward Mc- Namara The new co-op, "Agri- Mark, Inc.,” will it become a reality? If so, how will it affect the market, the producer and relationships with other co-ops? All are important questions of concern to most of us. In spite of publicity to the contrary, there are a few financially solvent co-ops in the Northeast. These financially stable co-ops will be the ones who will ponder long and hard on whether or not to become a part of Agn- c 0 ’ & tAce Centrifugal • Pump PTO Driven High pressure cast iron l u * xi straight cen tnfugal with pulleys and 10 groove belt assembled for direct mounting on 1 3/8 600 RPM PTO shaft 075 PSI Equipped with 6 spline quick coupler PTO drive shaft grease lubricated leather lip seals Fully guarded for operator safety No PTOCH 600 10QC * 126.99 Homelite Centrifugal U Pump \J^r^ Designed to handle dear water and water con taming chemicals 3HP Briggs and Stratton engine All exposed internal parts are stainless steel or reinforced thermoplastic for longer life and trouble free service Supplied with universal* mount base 2 x 2 6000 GPM 5 in 10 sec priming time $ 164.49 - I Sanborn j jßr'' y 2 hp , Compressor X Equipped with grounded 3 wire electnc cord 1 HP electnc motor extra thick 10 gallon tank heavy duty wheels handle platform and hose No 34A50 10 CFMOispI 3 4 *129.99 COMPLETE LINE OF DELAVAN SPRAYER PARTS Your Leading Headquarters for all your Farm & Home Supplies! Animal Health Products, Automotive Supplies & Accessories, Clothing-Footwear, Electrical Supplies, Farm Equipment, General Hardware, Lawn & Garden, Livestock Equipment & Supplies, Oil-Lubricants, Paint & Sundries', Plumbing, Hand & Power Tools. Mark, Inc., especially if other options are available, McNamara says. Can a small co-op continue to provide the best possible income and services to its members in the future as it has in the past? Unquestionably, we will all be faced with mounting challenges as it becomes more politically ad vantageous for politicians to become open allies of con summer groups. That fact became painfully obvious to many of us as we attempted to solicit support from city congressmen and senators in opposition to a hearing on the CNI proposal. This was a good test case in that the CNI proponents have a very weak ease but even then the aura of “consumerism” was too much to overcome by many politically conscious city EQUIPMENT, INC. 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The legislative advantages gained by super co-ops in some areas are significant, however, where they set up “political actions com mittees” with funds which are used legally to help finance campaigns for friendly congressmen and senators. There may be other avenues m the future, however, where super co ops’ benefits far outshine the legislative area. R.D. 1 RTE 272 SOUTH, HERRVILLE RD. WILLOW STREET, PA Phone: (717) 464-3321 s|99 6’ Reg. 2.49 » 2 » The modern thinking of many Department of Agriculture representatives of the present ad ministration is without question different than those in previous administrations McNamara says. They make no bones of the fact that new policies will be aimed m a different direction although admitting that present policies haven’t worked that badly. Nevertheless, they seem to favor a new approach which would somehow re-activate those “small” farms that have gone out of business and still get cheaper food for consumers, an amazing theory and one unlikely to happen without increased cost to taxpayers. In the midst of all this new theory we sit with our highly mechanized super-efficient farms wondering what’s m store for us. Is it a cost of \ \ JM STAR-AGRI STEEL PANEL FARM GATES ★ WOVEN WIRE ★ POSTS ★ WELDED WIRE ★ ELECTRIC WIRE it INSULATORS it ELECTRIC FENCERS Store Hours: Mon.-Thur. Sat. 7:30 A.M.- 7:30 A.M.- 6:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M. Fri. 7:30 -9:00 10’...534.99 14’...541.99 12’....536.9916’....546.99 Completely nvited, no welds to break or rust Complete with hinges screw hooks and slide latch Extra bracing for greater strength WOVEN FIELD FENCING Height 47” 47" 39” direction: FARM A HOI 213 W 30 W > WILLOW STREET 1 I MILE sour* OF WILLOW STREET 1 MILE SOUTH OF WILLOW STREET Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 3,1980—89 production torrnula which if Loss of market orders enacted nationwide, would would seriously impair dairy severely cripple the dairy farm income and create industry in the Northeast havoc in milk marketing as with our higher than national every farmer and coop cost of production? scrambled for markets at Will it be a program whatever price. This may be which, although not one of the strongest publicized to do so, would arguments in favor of super have the effect of co-ops. It would seem to me eliminating all marketing the bigger the percentage of orders, m an insane, short dairymen belonging to one term, cheap food policy? dairy co-op in a market, the Could it even be an at tempt to carry out the policy of the infamous “Flanagan plan,” originally proposed m 1972, which would have the long range effect of phasing out at least 10 percent of the dairy farmers in favor of importing dairy products? Whatever the policy turns out to be, you can be sure it will be a change from our present well-working dairy programs, McNamara predicts.^ 5 Panel Stay Price 81.49 12” 80.99 121* 54.49 12” 12Vi TO EM HERR IE SUPPLY.. S' LAND tSTEft HERRVILLERQAO ★ EM HERR FARM ft HOME SUPPLY QUARRYVILLE SUCK less traumatic would be a switch from the secure feeling of marketing milk under a Federal Order to one without such an order, he says. In either case, we will all be better served to continue our efforts in opposition to those who want to scuttle those orders meanwhile looking for the best alter native, if that should happen. Joint hauling of milk, and joint quality control are areas where significant savings can be realized as we found in our short ex perience with CMA. Joint use of facilities allowing near-by milk to go to the nearest facility can also be a significant factor m cost cutting and will become more necessary as fuel costs increase. Local co-ops would have to lose some of their identity as functions were transferred to the large co-op. In that case, much would depend on the type of large organization and how much dependence was surren dered. A direct membership super co-op would totally eliminate the local co-op while a federation-type would allow a certain amount of local control. There are many opinions, pro and con, concerning both of these arrangements: Maybe a combination would be workable? In the fmal analysis, McNamara says, the benefits of a well financed, properly structured super co-op, far outweigh the disadvantages. As the pressures from consumer groups become enormous, and they will, Justice Department, Cost of Living Committee, et.al., will continue to criticize farm programs, support prices, school lunch programs, special milk programs, etc. We shall continue to fight those un justified the facts are on our side; the price of food is reasonable and farm income is still not a par with the rest of the economy. Nevertheless, if these government programs are finally phased out we must have an alternate plan and, in my opinion, that can only be large well-financed co-ops with at least a majority of the farmers in the market in membership. 25* ] V YEAR ‘ g
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