Farm Forum (Continued from Pag* AID) granted a $1.05 per cwL Premium on Class I (fluid) milk used in Pennsylvania. This $1.05 pre mium gave several other states the courage to implement some price relief to their dairy farmers. However, the $1.05 premium in Pennsylvania had some shortcom ings. Many dairy farmers in Pen nsylvania did not receive any direct benefits from the premium. New York State During the late 1930’s as tur moil developed in Central New York State as a result of low milk pices being paid to dairy farmers; (sound familiar) the legislators in the Empire State passed legisla tion which allows dairy farmers to petition the state for a milk hear ing in an attempt to secure a statewide milk order. Independent and small milk cooperative directors of R.C.M.A. pursued the idea of a New York State milk hearing under the guidelines of the Roger Allen Law. Finally, obstacles were over come and R.C.M.A. moved aggressively and successfully in obtaining a hearing in New York State, which resulted in a favor- Editor: I have never felt that premiums paid to dairy farmers, could or should replace a stable milk pric ing system. However, the last two administrations that have been elected in Washington D.C. have failed to listen to the needs of dairy farmers, as they have tried to obtain a realistic milk pricing system. As a result of Washington’s ineptness, dairy farmers have found it necessary to pursue alter native avenues in an attempt to improve milk prices. Dairy farmers have grouped together in over-order pricing agencies, such as R.C.M.A. In addition, dairy farmers have suc cessfully negotiated voluntary premiums from milk handlers. As Washington continued to exhibit a deaf ear towards the plight of dairy fanners; several states in the northeast took various steps in an attempt to rectify the inadequate prices paid to dairy farmers. The Commonwealth of Pen nsylvania took the lead as the Pen nsylvania Milk Marketing Board Talk to a seed com salesman, and he’ll sell you more seed com. Talk to Agway and we’ll show you how to make more milk, more profitably, more often. Like you, we know there’s more to making milk than just growing com. Your Agway Farm Enterprise sales person has everything a dairy farmer needs to succeed. Of course, it includes seed com. But not just one. We offer over 20 hybrids WHO SHOWS YOU HOW TO MILK THE MOST OUT OF AN ACRE? An Agway Firm Enterprise Salesperson checks the milk line m an car of com from 0 B Snyder's stand at Singing Brook Farm m Bedford, PA specifically bred for high yields in your local growing conditions. And we offer more than just one brand seed com, too. Only Agway lets you choose from an outstanding selection of Agway varieties as well as DeKalb, the country’s other leading name. Your Agway represen tative can help you develop the most cost-effective ration balancing program for your herd size, forage quality and milking goals. And he can help you get AGWAY, THAT’S WHO. (agway) able decision for dairy farmers. However, dairy fanners all across the Northeast have just had the rug pulled out from under them, as an attempt to amend the New York State order, to allow for compensatory payments, has been turned down, as the amendment failed to obtain a 66% percent favorable vote. The sad part of the defeat is the fact, that at least two dairy cooperatives voted against the amendment It has been reported that up-state milk coop from the western part of New York and Dairylea Cooperative of Syracuse, New York voted NO in a bloc vote for all of their members. In a letter to their members, Dairylea tried to defend their vote; saying, “because too many serious economic issues resulting from the order remain unresolved.” To their argument I say “hogwash”. Of course, premiums that are not reasonably unified in a given area will cause problems. But aren’t these nice problems to address as opposed to having no price increase to dairy fanners. Actually the people that should have been upset were the majority of dairy farmers across the north ern and central part of Pennsylva nia that did not benefit from either The New York State order or the Pennsylvania $1.05 Premium. more milk per acre out of every ton of com you ensile with products like Silage Fresh Plus. So cows will get more of the dry matter and protein energy they need to produce. If you want to know about com, talk to a seed com salesman. But if you want to know about making more com, milk and money, talk to an expert in the field. Your Agway Farm Enterprise Salesperson. Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Octobar 12, 1991-A2l Within Pennsylvania Pro-Ag and with coops like North Penn, Northern Tier and Scenic Moun tain have been actively pursuing legislation that would allow the $1.05 in Pennsylvania, to be paid to all Pennsylvania dairy farmers. And you know, we thought we could use the New York State order as an example. Is it any wonder that dairy far mers feel they are knocking then heads against a stonewall. At a milk hearing in Harrisburg, Pen nsylvania last spring we listened to an economist testify for several dairy cooperatives and he urged the P.M.M.B. to lower the Class I Premium from $1.35 down to $1.05. Now along comes two dairy cooperatives and knock out a pric ing order that could have started the ball rolling to provide some stability to our northeast dairy farmer. During the milk hearing held in Washington D.C. this past sum mer the national milk producers federation testified for the support price on manufactured milk to be set at $11.60 per cwt., the House Sub-committee raised the level to $12.60 per cwt. Maybe some of the reasons why dairy farmers have not been sue 1990 Pcttibone B-66 ■ 1,175 Hours ■ 4-Wheel steer (P 199) Agway Inc ccssful in Washington D.C. are starting to surface. As the old-time minister said, “Father, don’t help me from my enemies, save me from my friends.” October 1 is past The Rogers- Alien petition failed to attract enough “yes” votes and 18 cents just went down the drain. Why did the vote fail? It failed because it was not a vote of the farmers. Thirteen hundred eligible fam ers did not even return their bal lots, resulting in 1,300 “no” votes. Whatever happened to “one man, one vote, and a simple major ity of those voting?” What has happened to the gov ernment of the people, by the peo ple, for the people? Has it been replaced by a government of the politicians, by the bureaucratic corps for the corporate bottom line? Where do we go from here? We refile the petition possibly with a new set of numbers that really would put a floor under the milk price in New York. We have a moral responsibility to do this in the interest of our neighbors in New England. Beyond this action, the farm community must get behind RCM A and strongly consider pric ing of our product on Nov. 1,1991. RCMA is the vehicle through which we can have a price for our product that approaches cost of production. We need solidarity. We don’t need a lot of independent producers out there doing their own things, making their own deals, and believing what their handler tells them. It is time, my friends, to get yourself an application for mem bership (1-800-634-3723), fill it out, send it in, and stand up and be counted. The farm sector is the only one that lets someone else set the price for their product and it is time for a change. We also do not need farmer cooperatives believing more in a power pro SPECIAL OFFER ■ 4-Wheel disc ■ Rockwell Planetary Axle brakes ■ 4-Wheel drive ■ Clark power shift transmission NOW! CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-832-2228 or (717) 354-4241 power pro equipment Arden Tewksbury Pro Ag Organization (Turn to Pag* A 36) 44,900
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers