IT n \R| ]7Tni!irT^EwlMKgHaMMdX^ J^»d^v*3CW^ VOL 27 No. 28 Block seeks total control of dairy support BY DONNA TOMMELLEO WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dairy fanners can expect no change in the long-standing $13.10 dairy support price as a result of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John Block’s announcement, Wed nesday, that he is seeking legislation which will give him complete authority to set the milk price support level. If enacted. Block said he would not adjust the support level until January 1, 1983. Without the legislation, USDA anticipates spending $1.94 billion during fiscal 1983 and up to $4 billion between fiscal 1983 and 1985. The legislation is expected to be introduced into Congress next week. “We will monitor the situation until January 1. On that date we will make the adjustments up or down if they are needed,” Block said. “At this time it does not appear we would have to make, a reduction below $l2 per hun dredweight on January 1. “This action will send an ef fective signal to the industry that production has to be cut,” he ad ded. However, Block’s “signal” triggered outrage from several groups including the National Milk Producers’ Federation, dairy producers’ lobbying voice in Washington and the National Fanners Organization, a collec tive bargaining group. “We are opposed without reservation to giving any Harding, SoUenberger sweep PSU Dairy Expo BY DONNA TOMMELLEO UNIVERSITY PARK - Books, papers and other academic assignments were put aside last Saturday as more than 90 Penn State students competed in the University's 57th Annual Dairy Exposition. The all-day event culminated six Milk’s the official /refresher’ BY JOYCE BUPP Staff Correspondent HARRISBURG - It’s official. Milk is now the “real” drink of Pennsylvania. Sporting a red and white “Real Seal” on his lapel and flanked by representatives of the state’s dairy industry, Governor Thornburgh on Tuesday signed mto law H.B. 1351, which proclaims that “Milk is hereby selected, designated and adopted as the official beverage of Index Page 3 secretary of agriculture total discretionary authority to set price supports,” explained NMPF spokeswoman Doni Dondero. She said the NMPF fears that any person with total authority could be affected by heavy ad ministration pressure and con sequently set the price support at a “disastrous” level. “Without minimum price assurance, farmers will live in total uncertainty,” Dondero remarked. The Secretary’s emergency HARRISBURG - Federal and state budgets have been drawing much attention this week as legislators worked furiously to come up with agreeable financial ledgers for the coming fiscal year. Here in Pennsylvania, the fate of the budget actions met with a more favorable and final end than did the federal budget negotiations, which are still being debated in committees. With almost two months to spare, Governor Dick Thornburgh scrawled his name on the dotted line for the new state budget. With that, Pennsylvania’s governmental agencies received their “spending-money” allowance for the next 12 months, beginning July 1. The state’s Department of weeks of clipping, scrubbing and halter-breaking. Later that evening, participants and guests were treated to a much deserved meal at the awards banquet held in the Penn State Sheraton. One banquet table in particular was near collapse as trophy after the Commonwealth of Penn sylvania.” Milk now joins the white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, Great Dane, mountain laurel, firefly, hemlock and the phrase, “Keystone State,” as official symbols of the Com monwealth. Wedged between other signings of library and banking bills, the “milk biU” ceremony played to a crowd of backers of the three new laws who jammed into the ornate governor’s executive offices on the second floor of te Capitol building Charlene Rohrer, Penn sylvania’s dairy princess, pinned a “Real Seal” pm on the Governor’s dark suit and presented him with a “Milk Is My Bag” tote imprinted with a cartoon cow (Turn to Page A 34) Lancastor Famine. Saturday, May 8, 1982 dairy plan includes eight provisions which do not need congressional approval. But the NMPF charged that the plan does not offer any incentive for fanners toreduce production. Block, however, said recent figures show signs that dairy fanners are beginning to adjust voluntarily. March production was up only I percent over last year, compared to a 3 percent increase seen for the 12-months ending December 31,1981. “With this initiative coming State budget smiles on ag Agnculture fared well ui the final budget allocations, receiving a total of $19,910,000 for 1902-83. This figure is up $1,672,000 from last year's $18,238,000 total, about half of the Department’s ongmal budget request. Out of the approved 1982-83 budget for agnculture, about $lB million will be needed to cover general operating expenses at the Department, such as salanes, benefits, office maintenance, etc. Tins year’s general operations figure is up by about $l% million over last year. With the remaining dollars, the Department of Agnculture will be carrying out its various programs, such as the brucellosis vaccine program. This important disease- trophy accumulated. At the base or the mountain of awards sat a third year student named James Har ding. The Brookville native swept the Expo in all-around competition. Harding was the unanimous choice of judges Bemeta Gable and Peter Jarties Harding, senior, took all themlilles during the 57th Penn State Dairy Expo, last Saturday. The Penn State junior from Brookviile bested more than 90 students and was named Grand Champion Showman and from the producers themselves, combined with other features in our emergency plan, I believe we’ll see some positive results by January 1,” Block said. NFO dairy department spokesman Lindsay Lieser said his organization proposed a -plan during the Kansas City seminar which did offer an incentive to cull cows. “Block wants to cull dairy farmers, not cows,” Lieser charged. The NMPF has indicated that prevention service has received a budget line of $150,000, up $l,OOO from last year, and will help finance inoculations atsl a head. Another area of the Depart ment’s budget that has seen a slight increase in funding "Is research and promotion. The state will have an additional $20,000 to spend in promoting agricultural products and on research, such as stray voltage, with the $220,000 budget approved for next year. And, farmers who have to depopulate herds due to brucellosis, or who lose livestock due to dog attacks will have a larger reimbursement “kitty” at file state level, while federal funds continue to be cut back. The Department’s animal indemnity Witmer for All-Around Champion Showman and Fitter. On his way to the top, the agriculture business major collected the titles of All-breed Champion Fitter and Showman and Holstein Champion Fitter and Showman. ittjf.li£ibg flanked by show judges Berneta Snider liable of New Enterprise and Peter Witmer from Willow Street. More winners inside on page A2O. s7.sop«rytar they do find favor with a couple of Block’s provisions. Increasing distribution of surplus dairy products in domestic feeding programs is a concept the NMPF has supported for a long time, remarked Dondero. The emergency plan also would allow the Commodity Credit Corporation to demate more dairy products to the United States and to needy persons abroad. It proposes legislation which would (Turn to Page A 34) budget has been increased to $275,000, up from last year’s $198,000. But even with this in crease Secretary Penrose Hallowell pointed out “we won’t pick up all that we’re losing with federal indemnity down.” In a slightly related program, reimbursement of kennel -con struction has received $55,000 this year. Moneys in this fund are used to finance municipal or humane league dog kennels. These groups can receive a maximum of $15,000 from the Department: for each dollar they receive, they must spend two, according to a Department spokesman. The farmer who participates in livestock and dairy shows at the (Turn to Page A 34) In addition, Harding was honored for his hard work by the Pennsylvania Holstein Association and'received one of two herdsman awards. Gable and Witmer went with (Turn to Page A2O)
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