OPINION You May Want To Call Your Congressman About This While the sponsor of Veal Calf Protection Act of 1987 that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives may have the welfare of animals in mind, the implications of this legislation are extremely serious. This bill would make it unlawful for any person who raises a calf for the production of veal to prevent the calf from having physical contact with other members of the same species. We would assume you cou!d a not just raise one veal calf. You would need at least two calves in the same pen. In addition, you must feed the calf solid food after it’s more than two weeks old. Farmers know that ruminating animals that receive hay or grain aren’t very good for veal anymore. So we really couldn’t keep our veal calves on milk replacer for more than two weeks. The fine for violating this act is $5,000 for each calf kept, fed, transported, sold or purchased. | FARM FORUM our readers write J Editor: The summer of 1987 has been extremely dry in small areas across the United States. Though these pockets of drought have been diminutive in total geographic size, the severity of the crop condi tions and economic impacts will be felt by many farmers. There is a group of fanners in Jackson Coun ty, Michigan that is trying to locate these pockets. Through their efforts we have found large areas . in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Mary land, Delaware, New Jersey, Vir ginia, West Virginia, North Caroli na, and others that have been affected by drought. The sad cir cumstances of this are that most of these areas were hit hard two of the last three years. The “Food Security Act of 1985” has made qualification for emergency loans or disaster assis tance unavailable to farmers, unless they are covered by the Fed eral Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). The USD A has been tell ing the farmer that he needs to r »■ Farm Calendar Sunday, December 6 Maryland Farm Bureau Conven- Faith & Fanning IV, Laurelville lion, through Dec. 9, Ocean Mennonite Church Center, ML City Pleasant, 12/6-8 OTIS, THIS IS AAR. LEJEN SKI... HE 'S VISITING OUR COUNTRY TO DO A STDDV ON AMERICAN FARM LIFE > Wow! What a large fine. But here is the real kick in the overalls. Any person may bring an action to com pel enforcement of this act. And any person who brings an action, which results in the imposition of a penalty, is entitled to half of that $5,000 per calf. Can’t you just see people who know nothing about farming and the difference between a veal and a herd replace ment sneaking around farms to report where calves are located in the hope that they might reap $2,500 for each calf the govern ment decides is in violation of this act. From there it would be easy to get the same kind of law enacted for swine and chickens and dairy cows. The prospect for harassment of farmers with this kind of act that lets an interment share in such a large potential fine is incredible. You may want to write your U.S. congressman about this. become more responsible for the crop he plants by using crop insur ance as a management tool in his operation. That would be fine if the yield base they use to calculate benefits on were realistic yields produced by today’s farming prac tices. As it is now, when a farmer buys crop insurance, he feels as though he is buying a dead horse. The “1986 Disaster Payments Program” was made possible by a special act of Congress. This gave eligible farmers for their 1986 crop losses “Commodity PIK Certifi cates” as a form of disaster assis tance. This gave those farms some relief, but with a drought again this year, the devastating economic ramifications without some assis tance are going to be mere than some farmers can withstand. What this committee has set as a goal is to organize enough support to get legislature to pass a special act of Congress, or amend the 1986 disaster payments program, to make PIK certificates available as (Turn to Page A3l) NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent To Obtain Farmer’s Tax Guide We don’t like to talk about taxes but it’s a way of life. The Farmer’s Tax Guide, for use in preparing your 1987 returns, are now avail able at the Extension Office. The Guide is extremely valuable when preparing your return. I realize that many farmers rely on an accoun tant or tax practitioner to file their return, so be sure to pick up a copy and give it to them. There are a number of changes in the tax reg ulations. It would be well to study them, so your records are accurate when you review your accounts with your preparer. A few important tax dates for farmers. You may elect to pay your 1987 estimated income tax with Form 1040-ES by January 15, 1988. You can then file your 1987 Federal Income Tax return, Form 1040 by April 15. If you do not pay with Form 1040-ES at this time, your return will be due March 1, 1988. To Protect Christmas Trees From Thieves Many Christmas tree growers become concerned at this time of year about the possible loss of val uable evergreens to Christmas tree “thieves.” There is a solution; Cor nell Plantations gardener, Gerardo a form of assistance to farmers in need of relief for 1987 crop losses. Also we are asking Congress or the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the crop insurance criteria for emergency loans until FCIC starts using realistic yields of today’s production as a yield base in calcu lating disasters payments. In order to accomplish this, we are asking for your support to help the farmers in need so they may regain some of their operating los ses. We ask you to call your legi slative leaders and give support in this goal. Those of you that are willing to work with us, we ask that you write us at, Cooperative Extension Service, 412 Erie Street, Jackson, Michigan 49202, or phone 517-788-4292 or 517-529-9032. We have a good start in Michi gan, and with help from other states, the accomplishment of this goal can be achieved. Can’t never did anything, but with hard work and determination we think we can. Hank Choate Committee for Crop Disaster Assistance WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE - SEEN VDO THIS AFTERNOON, OTIS WHY THIS £?, .g! PARTICULAR AFTERNOON? °e> O