A2B—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 29,1980 PFA annual meeting (Continued from Page Al) upcoming Pennsylvania milk promotion referendum. He said the measure “needs some teeth” so an agriculture secretary must follow the 20-representative board’s recommendations. He said it was likely the original voting period slated for February would be delayed until kinks can be ironed out. Delegates also heard from former U S Secretary of Agriculture Earl Bute at the Tuesday evening awards banquet. In the annual election, encumbent PFA President Eugene Thompson was re elected to his third term of office Eight district director slots had to be filled. All eight incumbents were re elected, including John Ackerman, Northampton County; Christian Wolff, Columbia County, Richard Barto, Lycoming County, Mrs. Carolyn Rutter, York County, Kenneth Loht, Mifflin County; Theodore Hoover, Cambria County, Jack Waddell, Crawford County; and Boyd Wolff, Westmoreland County One new Womans Com mittee member was ap pointed Mrs. Nyna Lucas, R 2 Belfonte, Centre County, was named to represent District 6 Througnout the three day meeting. PFA delegates '•accused and voted on policy items ranging :rom farm partnerships to film por nograohy Here s what delegates said Dairv resolutions We recommend that any promotion referendum that is approved be administered bv the Pennsylavnia Department of AgncuJture with an advisory board of fanners, and not provide for farmer ask-outs, and that the referendum provided Biggs wins PFA service award HERSHEY - The Penn sylvania Farmers’ Association presents its Distinguished Service Award Tuesday evening to a former leader, Gerald A. Biggs of Fulton County who served as PFA president for 16 years. Biggs served as PFA president from 1953 to 1969. Under his leadership PFA grew from a fledgling agriculture needs incentives HERSHEY - Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz told leaders of the Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association that the world’s number one problem is how to feed 75 percent more people in the next 25 years. Butz, who served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1971-76, addressed the Awards Banquet Tuesday evening during the 20th Annual Meeting of PF A. Butz told the convention gathering that fanners can rise to the task of feeding a larger popluace only il agricultural research continues to get priority and only if individual freedom and real incentives are funds be used for generic advertising only and under fl<) nrciiTncfonpoc neoH fnv brand advertising. ’ ’ Also in dairy-relatea measures they said, “We recommend that the milk support program remain at 80 percent of parity No concessions in percentage of parity be made without a comparable reduction in imports, and CCC purchases remain at five percent or more of production. Parity should be reduced to discourage over production.” They seek to amend present American Farm Bureau policy to include support for development of a new pncin® zr.z advertising program tor milk withich will reflect the nutritional value of the components of milk and an increase in the minimum sohds-not-fat standards for milks School taxes They approved a school tax policy Delegates recommended “that a combination of locally-levied flat rate earned income tax and property tax for the purpose of school finance be im plemented and the rate and proportion be at the discression of local taxing authorities ” “The provisions of Act 319 and 515 should be continued, and nuisance taxes levied under Act 515 be eliminated, ’ they said Land use PFA wants ‘The Federal and State Government to show restraint in funding projects (public or private) which will result in the conversion of any prune, unique, or locally important agricultural land to non agnculturally related uses " Egg pricing Egg mterests within PFA organization to over 10,000 members strong. He oversaw the start of many PFA member services in cluding the Farm Management and Business Analysis Service, the In surance Service, the Penn sylvania Agncutural Cooperative Marketing Association and the Safemark Supply Company. He also encouraged vigorous Butz tells PFA provided for farmers who are willing to strive for them. Said Butz, “Too few national governments have made the committment to assure that changes in techniques would provide real incentives to the in dividual farmer. “Too many nations in terfere substantially with trade in farm products. ‘Too many nations, in cluding our own, have an underlying, but powerful, urge to pursue a cheap food policy - making it difficult for the man on the land to reap the reward for the Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association President out. During his address Thompson cited tax reform Eugene Thompson told members the nation has and land use planning as key areas for farmer used democracy to get itself into its current dif- activities, ficulties and needs to use democracy to get itself backed a resolution that “Urner-Barry varied pricing of eggs be replaced by a regional pricing council consisting of egg producers, processors, and buyers in the region ” Water policy Water rights and streams also were subjects of policy decisions PFA delegates asked ‘ that PFA support the right of the individual for the use of water in connection with other property rights, including the managment of that water for reasonable and beneficial use ” They also recommended PFA oppose the designation of streams, rivers, lakes, and wilderness areas for wild and scenic uses Toxic waste In a lengthy resolution on toxic waste disposal, delegates recommended that PFA not oppose proper sites for disposal of toxic waste when the sites are approved by DER and Agriculture Department representatives and receive all needed permits They asked that state owned land be considered for county farmers’ association programs. In addition to honoring Biggs, PFA county units were cited during the awards banquet for out standing achievements in PFA program areas. All Star awards were presented for seven categories: membership, advisory councils, women’s activities, public affairs, services, members Earl Butz jmbers convei is wee included, from right, Elvin Brenneman, Amos Funk, Jim Hess, Jim Groff, and County President Earl Newcomer seated behind. waste disposal before private property, and that lop priority be given to developing safer methods of toxic waste disposal information and public relations, and agricultural marketing activities. The Berks County Far mers’ Association led by president John Kooker, Jr. of Blandon was the only county to receive an All-Star award for every program. Three county associations Dauphin, Lancaster and Union received six All Star awards innovations he makes.” Butz also told the banquet audience, “Even though the cost of food is a widespread source of complaint, the plain truth is that we Americans buy more food for a smaller share of our working day than ever before, and for less than any other nation.” Butz said Americans enjoy this affluence, which they take for granted, because of the efficient family farm system Today one farm worker produces enough food tor himself and some sixty other people, Butz said. The Aiiieru an family ti ii i epi t'l t 1 s on- Agriculture Secretary Penrose Hallowed recounted the legislative activity of the past 12 months at the opening luncheon held Monday. Theme of the PFA meeting was "Dawn of a new Decade.” Looking on is PFA President Eugene Thompson. trepi enem ship at ns best It is here that we find a direct relationship between per sonal profit (or at least the hope of profit) and in vestment, innovation, risk taking, and just plain old m write growing Bcrmi fashioned hard work and enterprise,” Butz told the PFA convention. Butz is presently Dean Emeritus of Agriculture at Purdue University. )U AdtiCUUUftC
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