A22—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 8,1981
‘Block Vote 9 Bill
Milk Marketing, Inc .
I have been asked by Milk
Marketing, Inc. General Manager
Gordon Riehl, to make a policy
statement for Milk Marketing, Inc
regarding H 8767, which would
amend the present Pennsylvania
Agricultural Commodities
Marketing Act ot 1968.
Milk Marketing, Inc. is a lull
service dairy marketing co
operative operating in parts ot
eight states. Membership consists
ot 9,200 dairy farmers, ot which
1,200 are in Pennsylvania. Milk
Marketing, Inc. represents its
members in various legislative
eftorts in response to policies
established by the Board ot
Directors and Delegates.
One ot the predecessor
cooperatives ot Milk Marketmg,
Inc., together with other
cooperatives, general tarm
organizations, the Pennsylvania
Department ot Agriculture and
many legislators, spent much
tune, thought and eltort to develop
the present act. It has worked well
tor several commodities.
Producers of Agricultural Com
modities should continue to have
the opportunity to avail them
selves ot the potential increase in
sales of their products that will
result from an accelerated
promotion effort.
Milk Marketing, Inc opposes
H 8767 because we feel the present
act satisfactorily addresses the
proposed amendments. Some ot
the amendments would un
necessarily add to the ad
ministrative expense.
Anew kindc^jPordl
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- / ' V:'
SEE THE FORD LINE AT THE STORE
WHERE YOU GET MORE
, LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR, INC.
iimil-M THE HOME OF THE RELIABLES
BWjßffiHSl 1655 Rohrerstown Rd., Lancaster, PA
_ F)ory Mj|| Ex|t Qff Rt 2g3 7X7-569-7063
(Continued from Page A2l)
Specifically, now to the issues
raised in H 8767:
Voting The present act
assures any individual the right to
his individual vote. However,
many farmers who have formed
and supported cooperatives expect
their elected representatives to
address and take action on issues,
m their behalf. This is in keeping
with our representative form ot
government. The proposed
revision in HB 767 would deny
these producers this right.
Termination Request tor
termination should not be limited
to lb-15 percent, due to the
potential tor minority rule and
harassment. The present act
adequately covers the right to
petition and assures producer
control.
Majority Rule The isue ot
majority rule'is addressed in the
present act and provides to r
adequate assurance of a majority,
since the majority must also
represent the majority ot the
commodity in question. Requiring
a larger majority would hamper
the democratic process and
greatly impede implementation of
programs.
Review the 5-year review
provision in the present act is
necessary to provide adequate
tune to implement and test the
performance ot a promotion
program. To change consumer
buying patterns requires com
mittment to definite programs and
materials. A 3-year review would
prevent long range planning and
; s '
'I
Kent Shelhamer
'My name is Kent Siu 1/ iamer.
and I am from Berwick, Penn
sylvania 1 am a self employed
farmer now, and have been a
farmer continually since 1950.
This committee now has before it
a proposal dealing with certain
individual’s right to vote or their
right not to vote for an issue, and
that also is important in our
democratic process.
House Bill 767 brings to light a
very complicated and intricate
issue It is one that many people
who have engaged in agriculture
all their lives do not understand.
For instance, although there are
over 100 agricultural cooperatives
registered to do business in Penn-
purchasuig and thus decrease the
efficiency ot programs. Further,
more frequent reviews add greatly
to the administrative expense.
Milk Marketing, Inc. teels the
present act resulting from the
combined study ot many co
operatives, general farm
organizations, the Pennsylvania
Department ot Agriculture and
Legislators, is adequate.
DAIRYMEN
We’re back into the swing of our farm producers meetings!
DEC
BOUMATIC
DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT
PRODUCERS MEETING
To Be Held at LEOLA FAMILY RESTAURANT
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 10:00 A.M.
Dr. Richard Card - Subject: Vet looking at small and large herd
problems on nutrition, breeding, calving and mastitis
control.
John Keihm - Subject: Computerized and Herd management of
the cow 1.D., used for milk production, calving, breeding,
mastitis control, heat detection. Recently approved by
FCC.
Dennis Milheim - Subject: What the advantages of black flush,
as a mastitis management control will do for you on your
present milking herd and system.
McCarthy - Herdsman for Turkey Hill Dairy - Subject:
Successful techniques in their dairy herd management,
consisting of over 500 milking cows, w/60 lb. plus
average.
Bill
FREE
LUNCH
WILL BE
SERVED
SHENK'S FARM SERVICE
501 E. Woods Drive Lititz, Pa. 17543
Our Service Trucks Are Radio Dispatched
After 6 P.M.-Call:
Ray Shenk - 717-626-1152 Vic Leninger - 717-653-1378
Mervin Nissley - 717-872-4565 Gary Walton - 215-593-6966
Rick Thompson - 717-627-1530
sylvania, only -a few would be
affected bv block voting.
While its application is basically
to agricultural co-ops, it is not an
amendment to the co-op law
Its application can be to all
commodities now grown in Penn
sylvania, but presently only covers
a few .milk, apples, cherries, and
potatoes.
While there are four com
modities presently covered, only
milk cooperatives exercise the
block voting principle as~far as I
know.
It does point out a glaring
deficiency that exists between
farmers For instance:
Two dairy farmers can live
along side of each other. An issue
can be raised by the Secretary of
Agriculture, as to whether a self
unposed tax sould be levied on
producers of milk.
One farmer can be selling his
milk to an independent milk
dealer. He will have the right to
express himself any way he wants.
To vote “Yes” for taxing his in
dustry, to vote “No” against the
tax, or if he isn’t sure, or may feel
intimidated, to not vote at all. And
by not voting, under section 5 (B)
INVITATION TO
All Brands Of Milking Parlor
Owners and Operators (present
| . and future) and '>
I To All Those Interested In
Plan to attend a
Featuring the Following Speakers:
Call Our Toll Free Number 1-800-732-3532
For Additional Information And Reservation
Looking Forward To Hearing From You
Your Farm Automation Headquarters:
of the present Pennsylvania law
which requires a majority by
number, and a majority by
volume, he is effectively casting a
“no” vote.
Now let us take the plight of the
poor cooperative member. He
may be for the issue. If so, fine. But
if he is not for the issue, he must
receive a notice from his
cooperative telling him how they
officially stand on the issue. The
cooperative will also inform him of
his right to vote agains their
wishes.
But few, if any, dairy producers
with a surplus of milk, will publicly
go against their cooperative. He is
many times intimidated into doing
nothing, and under present law a
handful of men (the directors)
decide how his vote will be
cast...so, in this case a “no” vote is
a “yes” vote.
The right to be intimidated in our
voting procedure has long been an
accepted standard in this country.
Yet this relic from the
Renaissance period has reared it’s
head smce 1922.
The same people who support
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DEC
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COOLING SVSTKM
Phone 717-626-1151
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