E2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 16,1983 The day it rained on Purina’s ‘parade’ i \ * i f Comment By U.S. Ag Sec. John Block laughs from other participants, from left, president, Agri Products Group, Purina; Potterfield, director of mill operations. CENTERVILLE Comparing the dismal steady rains of last Friday to those he experiences in his home state of Illinois, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block addressed the drenched group of farmers and agribusinessmen who gathered for the opening of the new manufac turing plant at the Raison Purina Company. Fortunately for the fanners gathered, the rain was the only cloudy part of the afternoon as Block delivered an optimistic picture of the agricultural economy “This long, dreary recession seems to have run its course," he said. “The farm sector is now rebounding from low prices and large commodity surpluses and will recover within the total recovery framework of the entire economy.” Block referred to the new Payment-In-Kind program as a major reason for expected recovery. “The PIK program,” he said, “is a short-term response to a long-term problem. PIK is giving us breathing time until we can find a permanent solution. The. program isn’t perfect, but the long term benefits outweigh the short term problems." Contending that he is “very much in touch” with agricultural problems because his son, who operates their hog farm in Illinois, calls and asks what he’s going to do about ag problems. Block jokingly told the audience that he made the PIK program for his son. His humor continued, despite the rain, as he told the audience that he realizes any solution will not be painless, but that “the president is so worried about the dairy problem that he is aging faster than the cheese.” When referring to his recent trip to Saudia Arabia, Block remarked that American farmers are the most proficient producers in the SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Two dairy executives with the Northeast Dairy Cooperative Federation (NEDCO) have been elected to new leadership positions within the cooperative. Francis Meehan of Rexville, N.Y., was named to succeed the late Leo Briggs of Arkport, N.Y., as the cooperative’s vice presi dent. Meehan had been assistant treasurer. Filling the vacancy left by Meehanf is Carl Ullman of Sharon Spring, N.Y., a member of NEDCO’s board of directors. NED- at Purina plant grand opening brings hearty Congressman Bob Walker; William M. Jones, Dean Samuel Smith, Penn State; and Tom Flatbed trailer provided haven from rain for some of audience at Purina plant grand opening. world, but that a problem they face is on how to keep this “great food machine” from overproducing. According to Block, one of the biggest boosts to the ag economy will be to improve exports. “If processed food exports were increased IS percent by 1990, it would translate into a two percent increase in the gross national product and create 1.5 million new jobs,” he asserted. In summary, Block told the audience that the long term thrust must focus on production and marketing and that it is everyone’s responsibilty to develop markets. Following his talk. Block was joined on the flat truckbed-tumed stage by Purina officials who presented him with a “ham for participating in the day’s events.” The ham turned out to be a small squealing pig dressed in Purina’s familiar red and white checker board garb. With his address complete, Block waved goodbye to the audience, climbed into his black limousine and exited the gathering as swiftly as he had ax rived. He NEDCO elects 2 CO has a five-uuui executive com mittee. Meehan, a director of NEDCO’s Southern Tier Bulk Milk Producers Cooperative, is one of the state’s top registered Holstein breeders. His milking herd of some 40 Hols teins is known throughout the nor theast and the nation. He is past president of the New York State Holstein-Friesian Association, has served on its executive committee for 10 years and has been the Southern Tier merchandising and wilting agent for the Association A . * > J /• was scheduled to speak in Washington D.C. yet that af ternoon. William M. Jones, president of Ralston Purina’s Agri Products Group, told the audience that he too was optimistic about the future. “Purina is bullish on agricuture’s future. We are con fident because we are teamed up with you, the American farmer, the most productive group of people in the world.” Jones told those in attendance that the company has 63 Chow manufacturing plants, like the new one in Lancaster, and 122 in the world. The new plant will feature a complete product line of dairy, hog and poultry feed with a production capacity of 150,000 tons per year. Williams concluded, “Overall, the agriculture picture is better than it was two years ago, and it has continued to improve since the first of this year. Given the im proved farm prices experienced since the first of the year, we see the total income picture improving nicely in 1983 and beyond.” —DK for many years. Ullman, president of NEDCO’s Schoharie County Cooperative Dairies for the past 12 years, has been a NEDCO director since 1974. The new executive commit teeman is-'' also a director of \ Mohawk Schoharie Farm Credit 1 Association and a member of J Schoharie County Farm Bureau. i * The UUman farm is situated on 700 acres of prime farm land near ' Sharon Spnngs. The herd of 250 Holsteins is considered to be one of the state’s top producers. *«v H - ATLANTA, Ga. Two new synchromesh transmissions. The Deutz-Fahr tractors, the D 6507, D 6507 has BF/4R speeds ranging rated at 60 pto hp, and the D 7007, from 1.5 to 15.2 mph. The D 7007 rated at 68 pto hp, are being in- has 12P/4R speeds from 1.2 to 15.5 troduced at Deutz-Fahr regional mph. dealer meetings and at dealerships A short turning radius gives this spring. maneuverability in tight spots; Like all Deutz-Fahr tractors, power steering is standard; they are available with 2-wheel or hydrobloc on the D 6507, all-wheel (mechanically powered hydrostatic on the D 7007. front wheels) drive. Hydraulic pumps are direct Both tractors are powered by engine driven. A tandem-gear high-torque, 4-cylinder, naturally- pump on the D 7007 delivers 17.7 aspirated engines from the Deutz gpm for extra capacity for front direct, air-cooled diesel engine loaders and remote hydraulic series. The engines deliver both implements. On both tractors the high fuel efficiency and ex- powerful Deutz-Fahr Tran ceptional lugging ability for heavy- sfermatic 3-point lift system gives duty field applications. superb performance, charac- Both tractors are equipped with teristics with 3-point mounted^ implements. ” The Model D 7007 tractor from Deutz-Fahr is rated at 68 pto HP. Deutz-Fahr reports new tractors %Biig I I I
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers