A2O-Uncastcr Farming, Saturday, February 9,1985 Wisconsin NFO members recruit Pa. farmers BY ROBIN PHILLIPS Staff Correspondent DOYLESTOWN - Fifteen dairymen from Wisconsin spent last week going door to door throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Their ef forts were on behalf of the National Farmers Organization, a national collective bargaining organization for farmers. “They believe in this thing enough that they would come this far to tell a story,” states William Gargas, Winding Brook Farm, Warrington, Bucks County NFO president. Although membership in Penn sylvania is sparse, the National Farmers Organization is widely recognized throughout the nation. The group seeks to recruit farmers to join the membership and place their products, whether milk, meat, grain, eggs, etc., behind them. The NFO then bargains with large processors for a better price. The products are never purchased by the organization, just tallied together for greater bargaining power. “Title is never gained to a product,” Gargas goes on to ex plain. “Once you gam title, you can no longer bargain because then you would be trying to get a higher price for something that you’re buying,” he adds referring to the milk co-op’s structure. “We’re building a new system for pricing farmers’ products. The cost production, plus a profit, is our goal,” he states. “Everything was previously priced by whoever buys it. We’re the only industry that let’s this happen. “This is what farmers must do themselves. NFO has the answer,” he concludes. CONSTRUCTION 1 "" r r ' "'■"' J <•'• ■■■*.;■£% v -?>s ... >•**s> SPECIALISTS IN: -' FARM BUILDINGS - EXCAVATING MANURE PITS - SEPTIC TANKS THE “OPEN END” IVANY BLOCKS Manure Pits with: Jl • POURED WALLS K 1 Jar • BLOCK WALLS 1 ' , • LAGOON SYSTEMS ' i HMi • ABOVE GROUND , j <tSSs& SYSTEMS j I SPECIAL FARM PRICES DYNAMIC MASONRY CONTRACTORS Gordonville, PA Mike Fisher Larry Herr (717) 687-6801 After 6 PM. Cali (717) 657-7217 Gargas is a dairy farmer in Bucks County. He currently sells his milk through an NFO contract to Cumberland Farms, New Jersey. Gargas maintains that the NFO needs 15 percent of the nation’s milk production behind them to make their system work. When this is accomplished, he explains, products will be priced through contracts to large processors by the cost of production. Regarding milk contracts, Carol Sukowatey, Spring Valley, Wisconsin, states, “We have more contracts than we have produc tion.” She explains that the con tracts specify amounts and availability and are localized in state areas for NFO members. Sukowatey is one of the Wisconsin visitors in Pennsylvania to talk to farmers about the NFO. “Farmers seem to listen better if we come from another state,” she says. Sukowatey farms 1000 acres and milks 100 cows with her two sons in Pierce County, Wisconsin. A NFO member for 24 years, Sukowatey lost her husband to lung cancer three years ago. She’s an active farmer and states, “We all have to work together to hold that farm together.” “We’re losing our young farmers back home,” she says. “They’re going bankrupt and their farms are being sold. “Basically it’s just because we do not have a decent price for our farm products,” she adds. "We only have about 55 percent of parity and it’s only about half of what we should get.” The county secretary in her own local NFO, Sukowatey continues. “The NFO is the way to go to save ourselves. We block together so we have more power. “We’re competitive and we move milk around. If someone doesn’t want to talk to us, we take it (our products) somewhere else.” She also explains that the NFO has regional offices and local boards (for meat, milk, gram, eggs, etc.) and inspects the products to monitor quality. “We’re also guaranteed a milk check," Sukowatey points out. Contract payments go into a trust fund and payments are made to producers twice a month, regar dless of when the buyer makes payment on the contract. At the end of the month, leftover funds are paid back to the producers after expenses are deducted. "We waited for the co-op structure to solve our problems, but now we (the NFO) have the structure,” she continues. “We’re concerned with all farmers. All we want to is our fair share. ’ ’ The NFO cull cow contracts program in Wisconsin is currently working very well. Contracts are made directly with the packers, beef is gathered and sold directly. If the price falls below 72 cents hanging weight, NFO announces a “marketing vacation” and far mers wait until the price returns to what they need. “I sit right in the middle of that area that produces the most milk in the nation, Minnesota and Wisconsin,” Sukowatey continues. “We argue whether there is definitely a surplus. It might be a surplus in a certain area, but we can move it out and it will be consumed,” she states. She also cites the government for Jake...Oid you hoar?l Did you hour?! J BINKLEY & HURST BROS. Are Having Their OPEN HOUSE On Wed., Feb. 13 je Page C 27, Ja >r information about thi " Special Event. We’ll have a good time eats We must get the tamers convinced that it’s the right way to go and to put their production behind the NFO,” he states. “We’re getting very good ac ceptance from farmers,” Gargas adds. The interstate dairymen exchange program enables far mers to visit with each other, compare state problems and discuss NFO concepts. “It’s very productive,” according to Gargas. He urges farmers to consider the National Fanners Organization and to “band together for greater power at the bargaining table.” For more information or questions the following can be contacted: National Farmers Organization Marketing Office, 202 Bushkill St., Easton, Pa. 18042 (Phone: 215-258-2904); William Gargas, Winding Brook Farm, 3014 Bristol Road, Warrington, Pa, (Phone- 215-348-5514); or DeVone Woodland, National President, NFO, Corning, lowa 50841 York Agribusiness Seminar to feature Walter Beuscher YORK Walter Beuscher, of Sperry New Holland, and Claudi Sperry New Holland, will be the Hess, poultry producer, speaking featured speaker for the 22nd on farm computer use. annual Agribusiness Seminar on Penn State economist H. Ixmis Thursday, Feb. 28, at the York Moore takes a look at the future of Fair Banquet Center. ag marketing, following “Horses Don’t Bet On People.” Buescher’s keynote address, and Buescher’s humorous marketing insurance specialists Walter message, will open the afternoon Jeffers, Agri-Business Insurance session of the day-long seminar on Center, and Kim Patrono, Geesey, the theme of “The American Glatfelter and Zarfoss Agency, Farmer’s Dream.” York County wrap up the day with a look at Extension Service and the York insurance and estate planning. Chamber of Commerce are co- Time is also allotted over the day sponsors. for participants to visit various Other topics planned for the booths and displays by morning program include finan- agribusiness firms, cial management planning, Luncheon reservations are $lO featuring Richard Denison, and are due by Thursday, Feb 21, manager of the Pennsylvania at the York Area Chamber of Farmers’ Association manage Commerce, P.O. Box 1229, York, not publicizing the fact that the diversion program “actually didn’t cost the government anything.” She says, “It made milk shorter and it was harder to fill contracts, but we talked to more farmers so we could fill them.” Sukowatey observes that Penn sylvania “is an interesting place. It’s much older than in our part of the country,” she adds. “The urban sprawl shocks me a little. They’re going to look for someone else to produce their food years down the road,” she states. “The problems seem the same; not enough price for our milk,” Sukowatey continues. “But we can do it (change the prices), and we better before it’s too late. We have a very big job on our hands.” Gargas echoes the same sen timents. “There’s no doubt at all in my mind. The biggest stumbling block is the farmers themselves ment services, and Jack Crane PA 17405. Hear what. Luke > They are! You v iow, Luke, them fell, are always doing' something good T US.'
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers