016-Lancaster Farming Saturday, October 18,1986
NFO Supports Family Farm Act
CORNING, lowa - In a recent
news conference in Washington,
D.C., the National Farmers
Organization joined with other
farm organizations, labor groups,
consumers and small businessmen
in supporting the Family Farm Act
a new piece of farm legislation
introduced into Congress by Sen.
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep.
Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).
“The Family Farm Act offers a
viable alternative to farmers,”
NFO’s Washington director
Charles Frazier commented. “It
must be recognized that the 1985
Farm Act is not working well for
farmers and time is running out.
Other exporting nations are not
going to give up markets just
because we have lowered our
prices to go-broke levels. If we are
going to save independent, mid
range producers in our rural
communities, there must be a new
approach. The Family Farm Act
would be an excellent place to
start.”
Frazier pointed out that the new
proposal would reduce the high
cost of the current farm program,
help producers get supply into
balance with market demand,
improve prices immediately and
offer farmers an opportunity to
reschedule farm debt on family
sized farms. But, most important
of all, the new legislation permits
all producers of major com
modities to vote in referenda and
control their own futures.
“Producers have shown they are
willing to manage America’s
abundance in return for a fair
price,” Robert Mullins, National
Farmers Union legislative
director, added. “They want to
earn their living in a market that
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• 1755 W. MainSt.,Ephrata, PA 17522
Located on Rt. 322 ( 717 ) 738-1131
• 1515 Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA 17033
(717) 533-4060
• 2274 New Holland Pk., Lancaster, PA 17601
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pays for commodities based on the
cost of production and a return on
management. Consumers are
willing to pay for quality food and
fiber, if they can be assured that
payment will reach producers
instead of being raked off by
middlemen. This bill accomplishes
these goals, in sharp contrast to
current policies that force prices
lower and farmers off their land.”
The bill, designed by Harkin and
Gephardt in conjunction with farm
leaders and other sincerely in
terested rural advocates, proposes
action on the twin problems of
farm income and farm debt. It
contains provisions for wheat,
corn, gram sorghum, barley, oats,
rye, upland cotton, rice, soybeans,
livestock and dairy.
For grain, it contains a tran
sition program with voluntary
compliance for 1987 crops and then
requires a binding referendum on
mandatory supply management
for 1988 through 2000. In a straw
poll, a majority of wheat producers
favored mandatory controls.
Cotton and rice producers would
continue their present marketing
loan program for 1987 and then
participate in a binding referen
dum on production controls. Dairy
producers would vote on
marketing quotas 30 days after
enactment of the bill.
A credit section of the bill calls
for debt mediation, write-downs,
manageable interest rates and
restructuring of existing loans.
(717) 656-2710
“Some will undoubtedly question
the costs of this legislation,’’
Gephardt pointed out to the press,
“but the costs are comparatively
modest. Because federal funds
would be provided to the states as
block loans, the federal govern
ment is assured of full repayment.
The costs are limited to the cost of
funds something on the order of
$6OO million per year if every
eligible farmer participates. It is
time to reverse the 500 percent cost
growth in farm payments that the
administration has incurred while
cutting back so many other needed
efforts.”
“We cannot wait any longer,”
Harkm added. “Rural America is
under siege by the policies of our
own government and it’s time we
end those policies and get on with a
farm program which provides
farmers with a fair price based on
parity, not artificially low world
market prices. And it won’t cost
$35 billion next year, either.”
Specific provisions of the bill
include: producer referenda for
each commodity; elimination of
deficiency and diversion
payments; loan rates set at 70
percent of parity for 1987, in
creasing 1 percent per year
thereafter; established marketing
quotas for each commodity based
on projected demand; use of a
progressive targeting mechanism
to determine acreage set-asides;
use of marketing certificates; and
a family farm debt restructuring
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730 South Broad St.
Lititz, Pa. 17543
on Route 501 6 miles North
of Lancaster
Lancaster County
717-626-2121
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TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:
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and mediation progi am
This bill will not become law
immediately,” Frazier pointed
out, “However, if farmers and
ranchers help elect a Congress this
November, it really must turn this
farm economy around. It is now up
to producers to make some choices
as they approach the upcoming
elections. Are they going to choose
to continue a farm policy favorable
Toy , Train Auction
LANCASTER - TOYS &
TRAINS of Lancaster, a firm
specializing in the sale of antique
toys and trains is pleased to an
nounce the formation of an auction
service. The auctions will be a joint
venture between Roy C. Probst
and Son, Lancaster County auc
tioneers, and Toys & Trains
headed by Anna and Bruce
Manson.
Bruce Manson, former director
of a museum devoted to toy trains
in Strasburg, and current editor of
a magazine with the largest cir
culation specializing in toy trains
stated, “With the large number of
Cross-Compliance
GHAMBERSBURG - Farmers
who plan to participate in the 1987
wheat and feed grain programs
offered by USDA are reminded
that “cross-compliance” will be in
effect for all program crops in
1987, according to R. Gene Stoner,
chairman of the Franklin County
ASC Committee.
According to Stoner, “cross
compliance” means that
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Both PTO units mount on a category 1 3-pt
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to agribusiness interests or are
they going to insist on more
equitable treatment in pricing our
major commodities' 7 ”
Farmers, he said, should think
carefully about these alternatives
and realm 1 the farm program will
be up for serious review in the
upcoming Congressional session,
which begins in January.
Company Formed
toy and Cam collectors in Lan
caster and adjoining counties it
seemed like a natural thing to do.”
Manson further said, "The largest
and finest toy and tram shows are
held within an hours drive of
Lancaster and collectors know the
area well ”
The first auction is scheduled for
Saturday, November 22, at 11 a.m.
at the Bart Fire Hall in
Georgetown, eight miles south of
Strasburg off Route 896.
For further information, contact
the Mansons at 464-4843 or the
Probsts at 464-3190 or 464-3700.'
In Effect For 4 87
producers who wish to participate
in the programs must limit their
production to the crop acreage
base established by the ASCS of
fice for the 1987 crop year. “All
program crops are affected on the
farm which the producer enrolls,
even if he participates in only one
of the crops he cannot exceed his
base acreage on the others on that
farm,” Stoner said.
R. 7 Lebanon, Pa. 17042
Rt. 419 1 mile West of
Schaefferstown,
Buffalo Springs
Lebanon County
717-949-6501