AlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 8,19>0 MCMP District 14 holds annual meeting LEACOCK - The 78 producer-members of Maryland Cooperative Milk Producers District 14 met Wednesday evening for them annual discussion of co-op affairs. The overflow crowd saw a turned-around balance sheet, was given the outlook for the coming year’s milk market, touched on merger posibilities, and heard a plea for involvement in MCMP’s activities. The consolidated operations balance for 1980 showed MCMP $472,000 in the black compared to a loss of $250,000 recorded in 1979. Co-op business manager Ralph L. Strock said the figure looks good if seen as a turnaround from last year. But $306,000 of the $472,000 showing on ther bottom line is the result of member retain payments. Members currently have a five cent retain to reduce the balance on a $1.6 million loan from Baltimore Bank for Cooperatives by $30,000 per month. Roughly half of the money goes to interest payments, the other half to principle. Strode noted the per centage will tip in favor of principle on the loan as the payments continue. Lee Remsburg told District 14 members the path to prosperity is really a big circle. The Adams County dairyma r> called for an informed, involved, interested membership. ATTENTION FARMERS * Airville Form Service ★ Is Back in Business Under New Name and Management: AIRVILLE EQUIPMENT, INC. P.O. Box 37 (York County) Airville, PA 17302 717-862-3358 ★ Same Good Service and Personnel ★ SALES & SERVICE A A second five cent retain goes to capital for modifications of the Holly plant. These included a natural gas burner system for the diyer, a 50,000 gallon raw milk silo, a butter freezer, additional storage for spare parts and chemicals, and modifications to the existing waste treatment plant. “As Holly goes, so goes MCMP,” Strock told the members from Lancaster, Berks and Lebanon Coun ties. Last year Holly showed over $536,000 of red ink on the MCMP books. This year it is just barely in the black. Next year, Strock said, the Co-op expects Holly to make a substantial contribution to MCMP income. Strock also told members that the market is awash with milk despite the good price being paid. He noted MCMP has seven percent more member deliveries and 51 new members. That reflects Mid- Atlantic trends which showed September deliveries up 5.7 percent with 122 more producers. All of that lead Strode to question the likelihood of the dairy price support con tinuing at 80 percent of parity under the 1981 farm bill. Co-op President Herbert W. Wessel, Jr. said MCMP continues to look at merger, acquisition and con solidation posibilities. He promised members their financial integrity will be maintained in any move the Co-op should elect to make. He also said any such move would have to main tain the current level of services to members, and could not jeopardize the Holly operation. Wessel said he feels the Co-op is in sound financial condition. He said the Federal Order 4 advertising program, to which dairymen contribute 12 cents per- cwt or $5O million total, is returning $2.20 for every dollar spent. He said MCMP is studying the Pennsylvania milk promotion idea. He said the Co-op will net take a position on the matter until officers see. how it will mesh with MCMP’s and Order 4’s programs. District 14 Director Victor K. Ziegler, making his first report to members of MCMP’s newest district, urged farmers to work together. He noted the many aius*chalmcks Herbert W. Wessel, Jr., told a full house of members of District 14. Maryland Cooperative Milk Producers, the long-range outlook for the Co-op is good. He also assured members that MCMP is in “sound financial condition." changes and different directions fanners can take in the coming years. He urged members to be active and assure the dairy industry gets headed down the right road. A similar plea for in volvement was sounded by MCMP’s Outstanding Young Cooperator for 1980, Lee Ramsburg. The Adams - County dairyman, pointing out how SMUCKER'S SALES & SERVICE IjP ■ . The Deutz 912 series engines are different because they have direct fuel injection! 2 Cyl. F2L-912 We Have SR2 12 h.p. Lister Diesels, as is or rebuilt. • Good used diesel * New Sputnik wheels engines and parts We mount diesels on balers, crimpers, cornpickers, etc. Install a blower fan for better diesel & refrigeration cooling. Longer life on diesel. LET ME BREATHE! WE ARE NOW ALSO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FOR PROMPT SERVICE CALL 717-354-4158 OR IF NO ANSWER CALL 717-354-4374. new District 14 members are in the Co-op’s activities, urged them to become a part of MCMP. “Gain a background in the Co-op and industry you are involved in,” he said. He said MCMP is offering a series of three or four Young Cooperator training sessions open to any member 21 to 35 years of age. He said he learned about RD #2, BOX 21 NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557 DISTRIBUTOR FOR: LISTER, PERKINS & SLANZI DIESELS DEUTZ DIESELS 3 h.p. to 4SO h.p. coops by reading magazines and papers, and it took him three or four years to gain an understanding of what was going on. He said the Cooperator sessions could do the same thing for a dairyman in a few sessions. A membership that is informed, involved, and interested will mean prosperity for the Cooperative, he con cjuded.—CH £ For lower cost per hour power, rely on JMer) DIESEL POWER