A3o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 13,19C0 BYCURT HAULER HARRISBURG - Plans to attach strings to the Clean and Green tax break, often allowed by Act 319’s preferential ag tax assessement, have met opposition from state farm groups and other organizations.. At a Wednesday hearing, farm groups reacted strongly against methods used to attach regulations to Act 319 which the Penn sylvania Department of Agriculture has proposed. On Thursday afternoon the Secretary of Agriculture announced he would form an advisory committee to review the regulations as submitted and look especially at Section 137.10 C. The Secretary said he will solicit nominees from county commissioners whose job it is to administer Act 319’s provisions, as well as from farm groups. Among other things, the Six Del. win national honors CHICAGO Six Delaware 4-H members received national recognition for their projects at the National 4-H Congress, November 29- December 4. They are Chris Kittila, Valene Moore, Tami Gundry, Steve Majchrzak, Debbie Stradley and Jon B. Harcum. Chns Kittila, of Seaford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan B. Kittila, won a $lOOO scholarship sponsored by Eastman Kodak for his photography project. Chns is a member of the Seaford Blue Jays 4-H Club. Valerie Moore, a member of the Porter Gang 4-H Club, was awarded a $lOOO scholarship for her health project by Kraft, Inc. and Eh Lilly. Valene is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irwin C. Moore, of Bear. In the field of foods and nutrition, Tami Gundry was awarded a $lOOO scholarship by the General Foods Cor SPECIAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING SPONSORED BY EASTERN MILK PRODUCERS WHEN: 8:00 P.M., Monday, December 15,1980 WHERE: Mt. View High School, Route 106, Kingsley, PA WHO’S INVITED: Everyone Come One - Come All The CNi proposal to remove reconstituted fluid milk products from Class I pricing under all Federal milk orders has been resurrected. The future of the Federal milk order program and the livelihoods of all dairy farmers are at stake. Eastern’s economist and a representative from the New York - New Jersey Milk Market Administrator’s office will be present to speak on this critical issue. All dairy farmers are urged to attend. Non members are welcome. ~ MILK PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC Kmne Road. Syracuse. New York 13214 Farm groups oppose strings Green tax law on Clean and new rules would require an approved forestry management plan in order to receive Clean and Green tax treatment for forest reserves. They also would require land in an ag preserve be 60 percent in soil use classes I to VI Both the State Grange and Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association said they believe the Department’s proposal 137 lOC to require a management plan goes beyond the authority granted the Department by the legislature in Act 319. Neither opposed the Department’s general concept, but both were strongly against the methods to implement the program. Farm groups did praise the simplified language of the measure. The Department is under no mandate to change the proposal. If changes are to be made, another hearing will have to be held. 4-H’ers poration. Tami, the daughter of Blanche and John Gundry, Seaford, is a member of the State Line 4-H Club. Steve Majchrzak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennard R. Hill, Seaford, won a $lOOO scholarship award for his 4- H swine project. This award was sponsored by Wilson Foods Corporation Steve belongs to Sandy Field 4-H Club. Jon Harcum and Debbie Stradley were named national alternates. Jon, a University of Delaware agricultural engineering student from Laurel, was recognized for his automotive project. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Harcum, he is a member of the Peach Blossom 4-H Club. Debbie, daughter of David and Margie Stradley, Middletown, won recognition for her breads projects. She is a member of the Ever Ready 4-H Club. The Department wants the regulations adopted before the July 1, 1981 sign-up deadline for this year’s Clean and Green program. Those currently in the program will not have to comply if the new regulations are enacted. PFA said it believes the proposals exceed authority granted the Department under Act 319 and could pave the way for more Clean and Green restrictions such as mandatory conservation plans for farm land In testifying for PFA at a hearing on Wednesday, Leonard Crooke, a Bucks County dairyman, came down hard on the proposed forest land regulation. Crooke told the hearing PFA policy states “gover nment regulatory functions should be based on law.” He added that PFA feels Acts 319 and 515 should be Even our directors make personal calls* At Hamilton Bank one of our primary objectives is to serve and help preserve, the family farm We still believe that agriculture is the backbone of America, and the family farm is the cornerstone of agriculture in our area Hickory Hill Farms Inc atUpperco Maryland WayneL Armacost Icemer) dairy specialist and one ofthe principals ol Hickory Hill Farms Inc is pictured in the 24 stall polygon milking parlor describing the operational features including automatic detachers electronic weighing device and computer production recorder to Members ol the Hanover Advisory Board of Hamilton Bank (left to right) A S Kuhn W J Geisetman C D Weber Paul E Spears also Member of the Board ol Directors - Hamilton Bank N T Washburn Chairman of the Hanover Advisory Board and Member of the Board ol Directors - Hamilton Bank E M Buchen and H E Markle X 1 L \ implemented and ad ministered without the imposition of penalties not provided by the statues themselves. “It is our belief that this exceeds the authority granted under the Act,” Crooke said. “As such, the requirement of a forest management plan for eligibility for forest reserve and the penalties for non-compliance with that plan, must be opposed by PFA,” he said. The PFA representative said the regulations were an movative move, but said the group was “gravely con cerned” by an apparent move to broaden the Act to something other than one granting preferential assessment. The Pennsylvania Grange, while saying they support the concept of requiring a managment plan, opposed regulation as the method to Xvs obtain that end. They said they prefered to see the Department go through legislative chanels. They also said they would like to see the definition broadened to include both Bureau of Forestry and ASCS timber stand im provement as satisfactory to meet Clean and Green requirements. Grangers, represented by Public Relations Director David Weinstock, also asked the minimum acreage go from 10 to 25 acres. What the Grange liked least was the idea that the Department was trying to enforce the measures by bypassing the legislative process. Both PFA and the Grange agreed the proposals go beyond the original intent of the legislators who drew up Act 319, the enabling legislation for Clean and Green. When we work together, through a relationship of mutual trust, we can all continue to move ahead We can continue to keep agriculture strong Contact your local office for complete details on HamiltSn Bank Agri-Finance Program * i ' *