Tour Group Encounters Worsening Conditions In Moscow
(Continued from Pago A 1)
Communist Party headquarters.
Ironically, until a few months ago,
it would have been unthinkable to
even visit, much less sit, in the
chambers where hardliners had sat
for three generations plotting their
strategy in strictest secrecy,
according to officials.
"The devil has lived here for
many years,” said Rubin, in refer
ence to the death of the communist
system.
The group visited farms, an
experimental station, and an ag
equipment test facility. They were
given a firsthand view of the deter
iorating food conditions in the new
Soviet commonwealth.
Hosted by Oleg S. Marchencko,
head of the Soviet department for
agricultural mechanization, the
group was posed with the question
how can the new common
wealth feed the masses of its peo
ple, according to Marchencko,
especially in the large cities where
gardens are not available?
According to Marchencko. the
ability to process and distribute
food has deteriorated to the point
of nonexistence. Government offi
cials desire to see American far
mers share technology, and even
more importantly, to receive
teaching by example with the Rus
sia farmers, who are more aggres
sive and would desire to operate
independently in an enterprising
setting.
In the 120-mile region of Mos
cow, say officials, there are more
than 17 million people. Numerous
lines of people were seen waiting
to receive milk, meat, cheese, and
any other staples.
Group members reported that
not one restaurant was observed to
be open for business in Moscow
because of severe food shortages.
The bottom line is, said Mar
chencko, if you see a food line, get
in it. because there is something
there worth having.
The group senses a "searching
for spiritual direction, a reaching
for something or someone to hold
onto as most other ‘secure’ things
around them continue to shake and
crumble.”
Officials say that most Russians
are concerned only with survival,
despite the years-long oppression.
As long as workers are working,
from what the group observed,
nothing else matters. Proficiency
is of little consideration.
The group visited a mill and
feed processing facility which pro
duced a maximum 2,300 tons of
animal feed in a 24-hour day. No The short growing season prohi
truck delivery of feed was offered, bits the growth of com for ear
so all 480 employees were involed harvest
in the internal processing. Farm The meals which the group was
trucks, most in the 6-10 ton size, served in the university included
were lined up and waiting to load cabbage and bread in every case,
the feed, which must be ordered 10 and potatoes, meat and tea in
to 45 days in advance. most Drinking water is rarely if
In the Moscow region, wheat ever served. And. unlike past vis
hay, forage beets, potatoes, car- its, even brand-name American
rots, and cabbage were produced, soft drinks were nonexistent
PDPP Names Dupuis
Director, Adds Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Betsy has already been forging the
Co.) With many expanding ' communications leadership within
programs and activities, the Pen- our program."
nsylvania Dairy Promotion Prog- In her new responsibilities,
ram (PDPP) has enlarged its staff Dupuis will be charged with
and reorganized assignments to directing all communications
provide a more efficient promotion activities of the program. These
program. include the production of the
Specifically, Elizabeth Dupuis PDPP's annual newsletter, press
has been named communications relations and brochure develop
director and Nadine Houck has ment She will also be the coordi
recently been hired to take on the nator of the PDPP's consumer
position of promotions specialist promotions activities which
"Due to the creation of new include the PDPP's special June
directions, we wanted to increase and July promotions,
our staff size to accommodate our Dupuis, a graduate of Penn State
work load," said Brian Ross, PDPP University, joined the PDPP in
program manager. "Nadine will be January 1989 as a promotions spe
a valuable asset to our program and cialist Prior to joining the PDPP,
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 21, 1991-A29
' ‘There is not one bottle in all of
Moscow,” said one Russian.
Another indication of the grow
ing difficulty in Russia to purchase
foreign goods is the country’s
sorely devalued currency. Under
the present system, many Russians
receive the equivalent of $S U.S.
dollars per month from the govern
ment, while prices for goods con
tinue to skyrocket.
she worked with the American
Society for Engineering Education
as a federal liaison.
A native of Centre County,
Dupuis was a former county Dairy
Princess and owner of Jersey
cattle.
As promotions specialist,
Houck will be responsible for
coordinating all of the PDPP’s loc
al promotion efforts. In addition,
she will be conducting the PDPP’s
industry relations activities,
including functions at Penn State's
Ag Progress Days, breed associa
tion meetings, dairy cooperative
meetings, and other industry
related events.
Houck, the daughter of Hun
tingdon County Holstein breeders,
comes to the PDPP from R/K Agri-
Service Inc. in Lancaster.
She graduated in December
1990 from Penn State University
with a degree in agricultural busi
ness management. While at Penn
State, she was employed as a
senior student research assistant at
the USDA Regional Pasture
Research Laboratory.
A member of the National Agri-
Marketing Association, Houck
also spent one summer as an
undergraduate research intern with
the Queen's University of Belfast
in Northern Ireland, where she
assisted in forage and animal
research.
Most recently, Houck com
pleted a marketing research project
for the New Zealand Department
of Scientific and Industrial
Research.
Sewing you . .
Your.
f''] [ AGRI-KING
I /JAkev to profit
Area
Manager
For the best in
personalized livestock
feeding programs . .
Ph. 717-258-4282
Michael Hart