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Dairy
Business
Newton Bair
v I •
There is a running argument
among farm folks about whether
the Federal Government should be
involved in Agriculture. Most of
the arguments are inspired more
by the heat of the controversy than
by the light of reason.
Whether we like it or not, Uncle
Sam has been looking over our
shoulder, setting supports under
our pay check, playing banker
when money is tight, and pulling
gentle strings on many of our
actions. And this has been going on
for a long time.
We only become conscious of the
strings when they begin to tighten
and restrict our private decisions.
Or when the support begins to sag.
Or the easy money for loans begins
to tighten up. Then the heat starts
to build, and,the light of reason is
harder to keep shining.
The trouble is, if we do not have
some interference and guidance
from the government we begin to
complain that “they” should do
“something.” “They” turns out to
be the Congress, and “something”
is whatever seems to be expedient
at the time.
It’s never an ideal solution for
everyone, and often only a tem
porary solution that gets more
complicated as time goes on. The
support price for milk is an ideal
example.
ZELLER ENVIRONMENTAL
PEST CONTROL SERVICE
BizabethvHle, PA
Serving all of agricultural, residential and
commercial needs for pest control.
No job too large or too small.
Reasonable Rates
Prompt, Efficient Service.
Toll Free In PA 1-800-551-3964
Local Dialing 717-362-3860
ATTENTION FARMERS!!
You are invited to attend a meeting on
soil nutrition Come and hear what
others are doing with our program right
here in your area Come and hear Mr
Stnte explain the program and find out
for yourself what others are already
experiencing
WHEN: March 7, 1986
WHERE: Midway Diner, Bethel, PA
TIME: 1 p m.-4 p m
All Farmers Welcome!
For reservation call before 3/6/86,
If we want to be completely
honest, the dairy industry is still
the most highly favored of all farm
enterprises, because a producer is
The Puma 1000 is a
Steiger that makes a dramatic
break with tradition, but
still preserves the best of
what the Steiger name stands
for: Comfort, Reliability and Power.
But it has an adaptability that makes Puma the
solution to just about every farmer’s problem. It
has a steerable front axle that’s ideal for row crops,
because you can make minor steering adjustments
in the rows and still articulate at the end of the field
f or tight turns The Puma preserves the best of the
Steiger tradition and still takes full advantage of
the latest tractor technology. With all that Steiger
is famous for, the Puma 1000 shouldn’t be a surprise
THE PUMA 1000 is
the Row Crop Alternative
Check The Specifications:
1 I.9smph (3.14 kph) 8 7.41 mph (11 93kph)
2 2.34 mph (3.77 kph) 9 9.l7mph (14.76 kph)
3 2.93 mph (4.72 kph) 10 11.22 mph (18.06 kph)
4 3.51 mph (5.65 kph) 11 13.45 mph (21.65 kph)
5 4.2omph (6.76 kph) 12 16.59 mph (26 7 kph)
6 s.l7mph (B.32kph) R 1 2.55 mph (4.lokph)
7 6.24 mph (10.05 kph) R 2 402 mph (7 43 kph)
The Puma Is Priced Right Surj
|IDOBER O
■ PURSE, PA
guaranteed a price that makes it
attractive to milk cows for a living.
If it were not so we wouldn’t be
faced with the tremendous
national surplus of milk. None of
the alternatives to dairying are
nearly as attractive because they
are not as profitable. It is only
possible because of the support of
the Government.
If the high support price for milk
has produced the surplus that the
government is now buying, the
only solution is to lower the support
price (which creates immediate
problems for heavily leveraged
dairymen), or to attempt some
other drastic and highly unpopular
system like the herd buyout
program.
It is pretty hard to believe that
the “Whole herd buyout” program
will succeed here in the Nor
theastern U.S. The results of the
biddinc '”'' l ""•'ticipr.t' - ''’' ■" *he
4-Wheel DRIVE
ThcA Saving Place
IWOBER
I ■ INTERCOURSE PA .
Engine: Cummins 6CTA, 505C1D 190 HP
Transmission: Full Powersoft, 12 Fwd -
2 Rev Speeds
Ground Speeds : w/18 4x38 Tires
Turning Radius: 12'8" w/steerable Front Axle
Shipping Weight: 17,0001bs
PLUS THE PUMA 1000
HAS ALL THESE
TRADITIONAL
STEIGER FEATURES;
EASY CAB ENTRY SEATING COMFORT
T.M
program are not published yet, so
all we can hope for is that the real
trouble spots like the far West and
the North Central areas have
cooperated to the fullest to reduce
their herds.
We don’t seem to have as big a
surplus here in Pennsylvania, if
the competition between dairies
for milk and markets is any in
dication. I only hope that those who
have submitted a bid for a whole
herd sellout made their bid high
enough to cover their expenses for
the next five years.
Whether we like it or not, the
Federal government will be in
volved in some way with how we
run our business. Despite all the
talk about “free markets,”
meaning no controls on production
or prices, I have talked to no one
who truly believes that we could
operate without some control.
WHAT'S
It's a & STEIGER
And it's here now
w
CAN AFFORD A STEIGER
ALL NEW AND USED PRODUCTS
BACKED BY
HOOBER PARTS
AND SERVICE
a Puma?
min i
I ” :t
(302) 378-9555
If global markets are the issue,
we need the functions of Federal
involvement. It’s pretty hard to
cope with foreign trade as in
dividual producers. Even when we
concentrate on our domestic
markets there will be some con
trols, regulations, and supports
necessary.
The only alternative to Gover
nment involvement in Agriculture
as I see it, is complete organization
within our own industry. We have
too many different farm
organizations, espousing too many
divergent ideas.
If Agricultural leadership could
get together, consolidate their
ideas into a workable plan to
control our own production,
markets, and prices, maybe we
could do without government in
tervention. Until that happens,
we’ll have to put up with whatever
Washington hands us.
J
Right!