D4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 15,1981 ‘Block Vote 9 Bill (Continued from Page D 2) farmers. House Bill 767 seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act of 1968, which sanctioned cooperative bloc voting. Our organization polled every state represented by the National Farmers Union and discovered that Pennsylvania was the only state issuing carte blanche votmg rights to cooperatives in com modity referendums. The accepted practice of cooperatives in other states is to let the individual producer decide if a mandatory advertising program is suitable tor their commodity. If HB 767 is enacted, it will restore the co-op member’s right to control the result of a referen dum by voting for, against or deciding not to vote. By allowing cooperatives to bloc vote for its membership, the co-op automatically assumes that all "no-show” votes are m agreement with that cooperative board’s decision. The last referendum that relied heavily on cooperative bloc voting was the 1973 milk referendum. Of the number of cooperatives castmg bloc votes, only eight of the thirty five agreed with the majority of individual producers who cast ballots. For example, one cooperative cast its bloc votes in favor of the referendum, but 90 percent of the votes cast by individual producers disagreed with the co-op’s decision. Farmers Union members feel a cooperative is remiss to assume that all no show votes are PAUL B. SELF LOCKING FEED THRU FENCE * All cows can be released at one * Heavy duty construction time or individually * Stabilizer on bottom of yoke for * When handle is in lock position, extra strength cow automatically locks as it * Custom built to your specifications enters * You can release all cows or hold * No more chasing cows cows that need treatment ALSO AVAILABLE • Standard Free Stalls • Fencing • Gates (38” - 48” - 54” • Automatic Head Gates high) # Automatic Gate Latches PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. Hardware • Farm Supplies Custom Manufacturing Crane Service in agreement with the opinion ot the board, especially, when the votmg members do disagree at such a substantial rate. When the referedum vote con cerns a mandatory promotion program, shouldn’t the ultimate decision be in the hands ot each producer and not the co-op board? We have yet to see a cooperative agreement stating that the co-op .board shall cast the votes ot all members who tail to vote. If the political parties in this country were given permission to bloc vote tor its registered members who tailed to vote, the electonate would be up in arms. Think ot the havoc bloc voting would cause to our representative term ot government. The same havoc is occurring in rural Pennsylvania. Farmers want to have sole control of their vote in reterendums, even if it means exercising their right not to vote. To clarify a question earlier submitted by a member of this committee, an elected official in the General Assembly does not bloc vote for his constituents. His vote on legislation is a represen tative form ot votmg. It his decisions do not coincide with the wishes ot his constituents, they have the power to vote him out ot office. In a cooperative structure, members elect delegates who then vote tor cooperative board members. The cooperative board member, who decides which way a bloc vote is submitted, is not at the mercy of his members His seat on the board was chosen by delegates. 800000015 Box 128 R D #4, Lititz. PA 17543 Wood Corner Rd 1 Mile West of Ephrata Phone 717-738-1121 —v cni —v OuDDDuI THREE SIZES: SMALL - For Calves Up To 15 Months Old ADJUSTABLE- For Heifers & Cows 8 Months And Older (Pictured) LARGE - For Cows 15 Months And Older So in reality, he is one step removed trom the democratic process. In response to other portions ot HB 767, we teel that a three year review ot the marketing order is tune enough tor produceis to determine whether they are in vesting their dollars wisely. Under current law, it a program does not meet the expectations ot the producer, he must continue to subsidize it tor a tive year period. We teel a three year review is an adequate time trame in which to determine the etfectiveness ot a marketing order. HB 767 also increases the votes needed tor passage ot a reteren dum trom a simple majority and 56 percent ot production, to a two thirds majority without regard to production. By eliminating the production clause, the individual producer stands to gam on two points. First, it would simphty the process ot conducting check-otts. Tabulating production in addition to total votes is a complicated and costly tormula. Secondly, by taking production into account, the vote ot a tarmer who produces an abun dant supply ot that commodity has a stronger vote than the small tamily tarmer with less produc tion. So a man with a million dollars has a stronger voice than a man with a thousand dollars. By elumnmating production considerations and increasing the votes needed tor passage ot a referendum, administrative costs tor tabulation will also be reduced. Under the basic principles ot a democracy, the concept ot "one man-one vote”, with each vote carrying the same weight, is the cornerstone ot a tree society. The tanners ot Pennsylvania, loking bins that have a rhaximum of safety, convenience and construction Brock has over 300 dual purpose and features The bins that make you proud commercial bins in 15’ through 90’ diameters AGR\' CATTLE - HOG - POULTRY EQUIPMENT 2754 Creek Hill Rd., Leola, PA 17540 PHONE: 717-656-4151 STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 to 4:30; Sat. 7:30 to 11:30 SERVING PA. N.J. AND N.Y. See Us At AG PROGRESS DAYS. AUG. 25-27 however, do not have this same basic freedom in commodity referendum votes. Many ot the cooperatives testifying have said that House Bill 767 will inhibit them trom adequately representing their membership in commodity reterendums. What they tail to mention is that bloc voting con tradicts the main principles that guide cooperatives. The Rochdale Principles, which date back to 1644, are the basic rules that most member-owned cooperatives follow. The Rochdale Principles clearly state that the co op is democratically controlled, with each member having an equal vote. There is no consideration tor production or monetary status, and each member controls his own vote. Current law is a direct defiance to these set ot guidelines that cooperatives have followed tor over a century. House Bill 767 will change all that. In closing, may 1 say that the Pennsylvania Farmers Union is Luzerne agent presents paper at nat’l meeting NANTICOKE E.V. Chadwick, /nmistrative management was Luzerne County Extension' judged a state and northeastern director, has been selected to United States regional winner, present a Search for Excellence paper Monday at the annual meeting of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents at Cornell University. Chadwick’s paper on EQUIPMENT, INC. not attempting to be anti cooperative. In fact, the Farmers Union has a long and illustrious history ot forming farmer-owned cooperatives. National Farmers Union has organized more cooperatives in the last 79 years than all other organizations combined. Our mam concern is that each tanner in this state has an equal vote, equal representation and lull control ot their own vote. Producers in Pennsylvania are responsible enough to make their own decisions, especially when it comes to mandatory advertising. It advertising is a good thing in the eyes ot the producer, the vote will retlect it under the proposals ot House Bill 767. But under current law, the mandate ot an advertising program is controlled by the wishes ot a cooperative board, and not the individual tarmer. For these reasons, the Pennsylvania Farmers Union is in tull support ot House Bill 767. He is one of 21 county Extension agents from throughout the United States named to take part in the national association’s professional improvement program. ad- BROOK GRAIN BINS AND FEED BINS \ K BINS ibmes with a 35* the need for roof ich roof panel is iaks and speed AGRI EQUIPMENT INC., OFFERS COMPLETE • SALES • INSTALLATION • SERVICE
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