A36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 14, 1991 EVA MARTIN Maryland Correspondent ORLANDO, Fla.— Addresses to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Annual Meet ing and Dairy Summit were intended to be informative and challenging to the members as they face the 1990’5. The Honorable Fowler C. West, commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, gave his views on ‘The Future in Dairy.” West said, “Dairy farmers need the ability to limit their production and there must be some compen sation for what they are giving up. The pending bill tried to do this, but it seems a bit unfair to put those costs on the back of the dairy farmer entirely. There is a national interest in maintaining an efficient dairy industry.” West encouraged members to continue to press for justice for dairy farmers. “Bear in mind,” he said, “that all is not lost because the bill was not brought up. It was not defeated.” He said he feels dairy farmers are fortunate to have a House Sub committee and committee with excellent leadership and with bipartisan outlook hardly matched elsewhere in the House or Senate. “Listen to their counsel,” he pleaded, “and be prepared as an organization to leave decisions of strategy largely to them. They must navigate through rough legi slative waters.” NMPF will fragment their legi slative influence if they are not unified within their organization West said. He said NMPF needs to keep working, and to be open to other ideas and problems of others. “It is not easy, but your welfare Potato Club To Meet ITHACA, N.Y. The Empire State Potato Club’s annual meeting will be held on Wednes day, January 29, during the 1992 New York State Vegetable and Direct Marketing Con ferences at the Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, N.Y. The meeting will be at 4 p.m. in the Genesee Room of the Holiday Inn/Genesee Plaza. Business of the Associa tion will be conducted, plans for the coming year discussed, as well as the election held of members of the board of directors. The Empire State Potato Club Inc. was established in 1928 for the benefit of potato growers around the state. One of its major events each year is Empire Farm Days. It publishes a newsletter and is involved in a number of other projects on behalf of New York’s potato growers. For more information about the organization, contact the executive secretary, Chris Kimball-Peterson, at (607) 722-9588. and dairy’s contributions to the world are worth the effort,” he said. Quoting the late Congressman Poage, West said, “It’s better to get 50% of something than all of nothing.” Sen. James M. Jeffords, R-Vt., gave his thoughts on the “Future Role of Government in Agricul tural Programs.” He said he is optimistic and believes it is possi ble to regroup and reenergize efforts to support passage of an effective dairy program. He recommended launching an aggressive communication prog ram and building new coalitions of support. Direct talks between dairy farmers and beef producers to explain how dairy programs have operated in the past and what is at stake in the future is a necessity. United States imported 1,000,000 cows this past year to meet the beef demands of consumers. “If a reduction of the dairy herd is necessary, it is in both interests that the additional cows be removed in a way to minimize the impact on beef prices,” he said. “The price cut, bankruptcy route will eventually put all the excess dairy cows on the beef market. But it is a slow and dehumanizing process. Let dairy farmers exit with dignity instead of bankruptcy.” He said the dairy industry ought to be considered the consumers’ hero. The tremendous gains in dairy farmer productivity have done more to increase the number of people served by WIC nutrition programs and have provided more food to the needy than any other industry, he said. A successful dairy strategy can be devised, but it is important to build as broad a coalition as possi ble, Jeffords said. John E. “Jack” Gherty, presi dent and CEO of Land O’ Lakes Inc., addressed the issue of “A Dairy Cooperative Looks at World Markets.” Gherty said there is some movement toward reduced subsi dies and trade barriers in some nations and feels that will result in greater opportunities for world This Chris FOWL'S FEED SERVICE INC. Lancaster Pika Peach Bottom, PA 717-548-2376 GOOD'S STORE, INC. RD #2 Eaet Earl, PA 717-354-4026 BOMBERGER'S STORE Elm, PA 717-664-4660 KEY AID DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 1739 W. Main St. Ephrata, PA 717-738-4241 GERMAN FEED HAmwAnr 1 NORMAN D. HUBER'S ANIMAL MILL, INC. f WWMwrn CLARK & SON HEALTH 44 N. 3rd St. EQUIPMENT CO. 8T.75 SUPPLIES Denver, PA e . e 501 Honey Grove, PA 810 Tulpehocken Rd. 215-267-5585 S ' of PA 7 ? 4^68^ , Myerstown 717-949-6817 It Loysvfll* (717) 789-3117 717-866-2246 Speakers Address Dairy Issues trade in dairy products. Gherty noted that currently, global trade in dairy products con stitutes less than 5% of total dairy production. Though small, this trade is critically important to nations like Australia and New Zealand which export a significant portion of their national production. He explained that the United States produces 16% of the world’s milk production, Euro pean countries 25%, Australia 2%, and New Zealand 2%. The United States exports 1%, European countries 10%, Austra lia 25%, and New Zealand 85%. United States has 4% of the world trade while European coun tries have 60%, Australia 8% and New Zealand 15%. With regard to the value of dairy exports, the United States is $289 mm, European countries $3,540 mm, Australia $409 mm, and New Zealand $1,039 mm. Gherty said that the United States would do significantly bet ter in world markets if trade rules gave us a level playing field, because we enjoy a very favorable competitive position in terms of efficiency and cost of production. dark cloud he SSSZ2 Best SCC Management emment and its lack of substantive ™ the U.S. dairy industry. for Keeping Cows Clean, Cool Since 1980, Land O’ Lakes has attempted to carve out a plan and SUSQUEHANNA (Wayne gain some experience in world Co.) Sometimes there are no markets. Using a two-fold secrets, no “tricks to the trade,” as strategy, the cooperative has they say. launched efforts in international In the case of the dairy farm marketing and economic develop- managed by James Slocum and ment activities. wife Joan, simply keeping the “We got involved in the inter- cows clean and moisture-free, national arena because we felt we keeping the stalls cool, and keep couldn’t afford to sit on the side- ing an eye on the stock garnered lines and watch the forces of glo- the farm the honor of the state’s balization move along without top-ranked herd in mastitis us,” Gherty said. “Now, 10 years management later, we’re convinced more than According to Pa. DHIA records, ever that moving from intemation- the Slocum farm had a linear score al isolation to' international improvement of 34 percent and an involvement will play a signific- overall somatic cell linear'score of ant role in our ability to serve the 1.9. By keeping the somatic cell long term interests of our count (SCC) low by careful man members.” agement, the farm was best in the The experience and exposure state, didn’t come cheaply, but Gherty “There’s really no secret to it,” said he remains convinced that it’s said Joan Slocum. “Nothing fan- been beneficial for Land O’ Lakes. Gherty said, "We can look at the world market as an opportuni ty, a challenge, or a threat. What we can’t afford to do is operate as if the world market was of no con cern to us.” He said other cooperatives should include international activ ity in their annual business plans, aggressively seeking international experiences for the board mem bers and staff. The National Dairy Board export advisory task force, the Dairy Export Incentive Program ' and USDA market promotion programs are resources available to cooperatives interested in inter national activity. Gherty said he challenges cooperatives to keep focused on projects that will benefit their members. "It’s a difficult decision to cut your losses and abandon a project that’s becoming too expensive. But don’t lose sight of the fact your goal is to benefit farmers.” James J. Miller, leader of the Dairy Analysis Section in the Eco nomic Research Service for USDA gave “USDA’s Economic Outlook for Dairy.” According to Miller: 1992 is expected to be char acterized by little expansion in milk production, slightly higher farm milk prices and improved commercial sales of dairy products. The dairy sector will face challenges associated with possi ble changes in Federal Milk Mark eting Orders and possible partial removal of trade barriers under GATT. Expansion plans in 1992 probably will be conservative pri marily because income prospects are not too bright. The exit rate of dairy farms is not expected to be as large as during 1991. Milk production is expected to finish the year 1991 about even with a year earlier. Milk produc tion in 1992 is projected to stay close to 1991 during most of the year. Milk cow numbers probably will average well below a year earlier. Milk surplus to decline in 1992 with U.S. exports of dairy products expected to increase sub stantially from a year earlier. cy, really. We lowered the vacuum on the pipeline down to 13. S (most milk with a setting of about 14,1 think). We also keep the tempera ture at about 37 degrees in the bam. And all cows are treated the same no one gets anything special.” Also, the cows’ teats are washed off and the milkers are kept dry from cow to cow. The farm uses sawdust supplied by shavings from a furniture factory as bedding, which provides cow comfort and absorbs moisture to help manage SCC. The Slocums have been dairy ing for 24 years. The farm man ages 25 registered Holstein and 20 replacement stock, and includes 500 acres (80 of which are till able). The herd includes Red and White Holsteins. Milking is from a stall bam to pipeline. erYourTree!\ ! I I 8 8 8 a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ZIMMERMAN'S FARM SERVICE Bethel, PA 717-933-4114 WEAVER'S STORE, INC. 1011 Dry Tavern Rd. Denver, PA 215-445-6791 PIKEVILLE EQUIPMENT, INC R.D. *2 Oley, PA 215-987-6277 SHARTLESVILLE FARM SERVICE RD 1, Hamburg, PA 215-488-1025 UMBERGER'S OF FONTANA Rt. 322 at Fontana 717-867-5161
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