GAY N. BROWNLEE Somerset Co. Correspondent BERLIN (Somerset Co.) The questions of how far milk prices will drop and what can be done about it were addressed at a meeting held by the Berlin Bro thers valley Young Farmers in the local high school cafeteria. Many dairy farmers, and wives, as well, gathered to hear informa tion presented by the featured speaker, Kenneth Stromski, Medi a, Ohio. He is a public relations manager from the Producers Equalization Agency (PEA). A rangy man, Stromski paced during his fast-moving and very witty talk. Once a dairyman him self, with a very successful herd of calde, he quipped, “I found a easi er way to get milk. I stop at one of those places that have the lights »» on. Over and over he referred to the M & W (Minnesota and Wiscon sin Series), saying that here is where the national milk prices are set. For cheese, it is the Green Bay Cheese Exchange. Western pro ducers can produce milk at lower A New View Of Rootworm Control Now’s the time to look at rootworm control in a whole new way. Only LORSBAN* 15G granular insecticide gives you the rootworm control you’re looking for, yet is one of the least hazardous to handle of all soil insec ticides. LORSBAN 15G is the only leading granular; at Trademark of DowElanco Regardless of the insecticide you choose, Purdue Road ALWAYS READ THE LABEL BEFORE USE AND ALWAYS CAREFULLY FOLLOW ALL LABFL DIRECTIONS AND PRECAUTIONS lor safe use Indianapolis IN 46268 1189 Somerset Fanners Hear About Benefits of PEA costs because of a warmer climate, unlike their eastern counterparts who have the additional overhead costs of providing both feed and shelter for their animals at least part of the year. “You got a floor,” said Strom ski, “but only on the gross, not on the net. It used to be called a ‘safe ty net,’” he said, “Now, it’s called ‘layin’ on the floor,’ you gotta look up to see it,” he said regard ing the present low prices farmers are dealing with. The purpose of the meeting was to interest dairy farmers in band ing together and as a group de mand higher prices for their milk. Lowell Friedline, a director in the PEA and a Somerset County farmer, was recently quoted as saying that the December final milk check and the federal order milk price dropped to $11.33 per cwt. He said this figure is a drop of $4.16 from last year, adding that, based on predictions by the USD A in the December issue of Hoard’s Dairyman, the blend price in 1991 could average below $l2 per cwt. DowElanco Lorsban jHEßmmmlNSEcnmEfbßjhE’QQs At the meeting, Fnedlme assur ed the group that all contracts by individual farmers to join the PEA would be confidential. The success of the group de pends on having at least 90 per Equipment Manufacturers Project (Continued from Pege A 1) veyed for this report predict a 4.7 percent decrease in retail unit sales of farm tractors in 1991 from 1990, with self-propelled com bines up by 2.0 percent. Dollar volume for both field machinery and farmstead equipment is ex pected to continue at 1990 levels. The State of the Industry pro jections represent the medians of the range of survey responses by 33 major farm field machinery producers and 27 major manufac turers of farmstead equipment. Equipment Manufacturers Insti tute member companies were ask ed to respond only to questions pertaining to products they manu facture or sell, and to make predic tions on an industry-wide basis, rather than just for their company. The companies that participate plant insecticide with a CAUTION signal word and is not Restricted Use. For a new view of rootworm control, as well as control of other crop-damaging insects, see your ag chemical dealer for LORSBAN 15G.' 15G cent of the local farmers joining by contract. There would be no dues to pay and the dairy farmers control the agency. Premiums arc paid in the third quarter milk check. in the survey manufacture more than 90 percent of the field ma chinery and farmstead equipment sold in the U.S. They arc all mem ber of the Institute, the major in dustrial trade association serving manufacturers of agricultural, construction, forestry, materials handling, and utility equipment. In 1990, EMI member manu facturers sold 108,350 tractors, 1.7 percent more than 1989’s total sales, according to the EMI “Flash” monthly statistical report released January 12, 1990. This was slightly less than the industry had expected to sell based upon their predictions in the State of the Industry report released in January of 1990. Sales of smaller tractors, the “under 40 hp” category, continued DowHanco Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 9, 1991-A2l Also present, to update farmers on 1991 USDA programs, was Spencer Williams, executive director of the Agricultural Sta bilization and Conservation Pro grams (ASCS). a downward trend in 1990 but still accounted for about 39 percent of total tractor sales. EMI member companies surveyed for the 1990 State of the Industry report ex pected sales in the “under 40 hp” category to remain constant with 1989 but instead saw the figure drop 10 percent. They now predict a similar drop for 1991. FARM WHEEL TRACTORS In 1990, according to the “Flash” report, “100 hp and over” two-wheel drive tractors had an 10.7 percent increase in unit sales for a total of 22,797. Sales in this same category for 1991 arc ex pected to be at the 23,020 level. Unit sales of 80,451 in the “be low 100 horsepower” two-wheel drive tractor categories in 1990, are forecast to slide to 76,740, for a decrease of 4.6 percent, in 1991. A drop in sales of four-wheel drive tractors ol 11 percent from the 1990 “Flash” report figure of 5,102 units to 4,541 units in 1991, is predict ed by member companies in the State of the In dustry report. GRAIN HARVESTING EQUIPMENT Sales of self-propelled combines continued their upward trend started in 1989, according to the “Hash” report, with 10,432 units sold in 1990, 14 percent above 1989. Manufacturers predict unit sales will show a continuing in crease of 2.0 percent in 1991, and a further ex pansion to 10,854 units in 1992. Sales of Farm Loaders, a new reporting cate gory in this year’s State of the Industry report, are expected to be less in 1991 than they were last year, then increasing slightly in 1991. TILLAGE EQUIPMENT Tillage equipment sales, when final figures are available for 1990, are expected to show some increases over 1989, but manufacturers of field cultivators, disk harrows and chisel plows forecast no increases for 1991. Disk harrow sales arc predicted to decrease by one percent in 1991. Sales of field cultivators and chisel plows are forecasted to remain flat. HAY AND FORAGE EQUIPMENT The market for rectangular balers is expected to drop by 5.0 percent in 1991, according to the Stale of the Industry report. Round baler sales are expected to remain flat this year. Forage harvester unit sales arc forecast to de crease by 1.5 percent in 1991, according to the State of the Industry report. Manufacturers’ unit sales of mowcr-condi tioners in 1991 are forecast to go down 2.5 per cent. Sales of self-propelled windrowers arc ex pected to decrease 10 percent this year. Manure spreader sales will be off by 1.5 per cent in 1991, but increase slightly in 1992. Grinder mixers sales arc forecast to remain constant over this year and next. FARMSTEAD EQUIPMENT Dairy and beef mechanization equipment sales are forecast to show no change in 1991 over 1990, with a slight increase seen for the fol lowing year by the reporters in the EMI State of the Industry. Hog mechanization equipment sales arc expected to see no gain until 1992. Milking machine sales are forecast to show a 2.5 percent decrease from last year before gaming 5.5 percent in 1992, according to the manufac turers. EMI, the national trade association and coor dinator for the industry survey, provides to manufacturers services in such areas as engi neering, legislative and government relations, product liability, public relations, safety and sta tistics. Copies of the 1991 State of the Industry re port and subscription forms for the monthly “Rash” reports are available from the Equip ment Manufacturers Institute, 10 South River side Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606-3710.
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