Al6—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 5,1983 Farm situation worst since Depression HERSHEY - Like Herbert Hoover 50 years before them, Reagan Administration leaders think they see recovery "just around the corner, but I will become a believer only as soon as I see some positive signs of an up turn in the basic industries, in cluding agriculture,” George W. Stone, president of National Farmers’ Union, said this week. Speaking at the annual con vention of the Pennsylania Far mers’ Union held at the Hershey Hotel, Stone told the 200 delegates, "I hope this time the optimists are right, but last year, montb-by month, everthing got worse, worse. “The purchasing power of farmers dropped successively every month of 1982. Unem ployment went up every month of 1962,” he reported, noting that the U. S. parity ratio, which measures farm purchasing power, in December sagged below the worst level in the Great Depression. During December, the Farmers Union official revealed, 26 percent of the workers in the metal trades were unemployed, 24 percent in the auto industry, 22 percent in con struction, 20 percent in wood products, and 18 percent in mining, all significant in Pennsylvania. Stone observed that housing starts in 1962 were at the lowest level in more than 35 years, and automobile sales very low. “In this situation, the farmer who is forclosed or who liquidates just a step ahead of bankruptcy has no place to go, and the wage earner who gets a pink slip when a steel plant or other commercial venture closes has no place to turn,” he commented. Stone contended that the ef- CONESTOGA SPRING 1983 TRAILER TRUCKLOAD PRICES Analysis 4- 5- 6- 6-18-6 7-21-7 8-16-8 10-10-10 Note: if weather or available space is a problem now, your pre-payment locks in the price and we can deliver or you can pickup whenever you want, as late as May 15,1983. ** Delivery Charges - Add NOTHING for our delivery of a minimum of 18 tons to any farm in Pennsylvania or Delaware within 70 road miles of Gap, Pa. Call for prices on other blends, bulk discounts, customer pickup discounts, and delivery rates for orders of less than 18 tons if you don't go together with a neighbor. WALKER COMPANY GAP, PA 17527 Phone (717) 442-4169 . : : A feetive market demand for products of American farms is severely damaged by the per sistent high rate of unemployment. “Per-capita consumption of red meats has declined by 20 percent in 1961 and 1962, and per-capita consumption of dairy products has been slipping over the past ten years,” he explained. "If we had a condition of full employment, instead of 12 million unemployed, there would probably be shortages instead of surpluses of meat and dairy products.” The Farmers Union head reported that a final court decision on the SO-cent milk penalty tax is still being awaited. "However it turns out, amend ments in the dairy law will be needed and I want to commend Pennsylvania Farmers Union and the milk cooperatives for their efforts towards this end,” he said. In discussing the Reagan Ad ministration’s payment-in-kind program. Stone commented that the Farmers* Union does not believe an entire farm should be allowed to be taken out of grain production. "We believe in the grain reserve program set up by the federal government. However, we agree that a secure payment schedule to grain farmers is better than planting a crop and adding to the grain surplus.” Stone’s comments were echoed by PFU president James Brown, who added that PIK would not have as much impact on Penn sylvania farmers as it will have for grain farmers in the Midwest. Vice president of PFU, Barbara Woods, noted that dairy farmers in Pennsylvania who grow grain for feed are still having to grow com. * ft AH 6* DELIVERED PRICES* * Bags/ton *166.00 139.00 150.00 161.00 172.00 163.00 155.00 Terms - Cash upon delivery (Turn to Page A 27) FERTILIZER Bags/ton *183.00 167.00 142.00 159.00 185.00 163.00 181.00 Analysis 10-20-10 12-12-12 16-4-4 16-8-8 20-10-10 0-10-30 0-10-40 Says NFU president On hand at this week's Pennsylvania Farmers’ Union annual meeting held in Hershey were the organization's leaders, both on the state and national level. NFU president George Stone, center, discusses key farm issues with PFU president James Brown, left, and PFU vice president Barbara Woods. NOW IS THE TIME TO WORM AND GET YOUR HORSES IN CONDITION FOR SPRING WORK KICK MINERALS WILL DO THE TRICK COW LICK for COWS KICK rom HORSES - m uanrm Belgian Horses Stuo Service ■T 2 ROX 2073 AARON RCTCRSHEIM OAR RA 17527 HOUSE***'*’ Mon., Tues., Fri., Sot.: 9 AM - 5 PM; Wed., Thun.: 9 AM - 9 PM GRADE 5 HEX BOLTS - ZINC PLATED QQC per pound (ThisWeekOn^ Buy $5O or more bolts and we will sell you heavy gauge steel FREE HOT DOGS - COFFEE • DONUTS - MILK SODA • CHIPS - PRETZELS We have over 25 million fasteners in stock. Plow bolts - Hex bolts - Clevis pins - Wood screws - Eye bolts - Sheet metal screws - U bolts - Carriage bolts - Hitch pins and Call For Directions TOLL FREE: Pa. Residents 1-800-222-1837 All other states 1-800-223-3627 FARM HARDWARE a division of G & P Fastener and Industrial Supply Inc. 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