(Conllniwd from Pag* AlO)
The fault for these prices cannot
and should not be placed on the
sales bams, because these outlets
are vital to our agriculture
producers.
In our opinion the fault lies in a
marketing system that encourages
low prices to agriculture produc
ers, while at the same time sock
ing the consumers on the other
end.
Ask some cash farmers in Brad
ford County how things are in that
business. Top quality hay is in
short supply, but adequate prices
can not be paid for the hay,
because of the short fall in cash
flow being experienced by most
animal growers.
Because of an over abundance
of production by fanners who
grow com to sell onto the open
market, they are experiencing a
difficult time to obtain a price that
covers their cost of production. .
Then, there are the prices that
are being received by the dairy
fanners. December’s blend price
in 1994 of $12.83 cwt. was 610
lower than 1980’s $13.44.
Most of the above agriculture
products are being produced and
sold at a price substantially below
the average cost of production.
Producers are being urged to pro
duce more products ata time when
the'same producers are being told
their prices are tow because of
over production.
The lime has come when all far
mers must sift through the above
double talk. The time has come for
farmers to realize there are ample
prices available in the market
Pennsylvania Tobacco Growers Association
Pott Office Box 645, Federal Square Station, Harritburg, PA 17108-0645
Tobacco Grower Meeting
THE 1995 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TOBACCO GROWERS
ASSOCIATION WILL BE HELD:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH, 1995
PARADISE TOBACCO AUCTION BARN
BEGINNING AT 9:00 AM.
GROWING TRANSPLANTS USING THE FLOAT SYSTEM
Growing Tobacco Transplants using the float system has become very
popular in southern tobacco growing regions.
This year the educational program will be presented by Dr. W. David Smith,
extension tobacco specialist at North Carolina State University. Dr. Smith has
been active in tobacco research since 1978. He began looking at the greenhouse
for transplant production in 1982, and has been working with the float system
since 1984. He will be discussing the advantages of the float system and how best
to manage the production of transplants. He will also be talking about the control
of tobacco diseases and insects during the transplanting process.
NOTICE: THIS IS CORRECT DATE FOR THE
MEETING. DISREGARD DATES IN FEBRUARY
NEWSLETTER.
All Pennsylvania Tobacco Growers Are Invited!
Keeping The History, Pride And Tradition Alive
place to cover the farmers cost of
production, plus a reasonable
return on the fanners investment
The people who preach the
physiology that farmers must
accept current prices are not the
ones receiving the ridiculous farm
prices.
Many farmers feel the present
marketing system is so embedded
against the farmer and so con
trolled by the money people, con
sequently they feel that there is no
chance of making any changes.
Changes will be hard to come by;
if changes were simple then they
would have been made years ago.
In the early 1980’s the money
people made a decision that the
way to increase the consumer pur
chasing power (many times for
unneeded items) was to deplete
agriculture prices at the farin'
level.
Consequently, a box of com
flakes contains only 120 worth of
grain, a loaf of bread selling for
$1.50 may have 70 of grain and
many dairy products being sold at
high prices the return to the dairy
fanner is only one third of the sell
ing price.
The Madison Avenue firms are
reaping a substantial amount of
moneys from agriculture products
as a merchandise and promote one
product against another with no
consideration for the agriculture
producers.
1995 Farm BUI
Regardless of how anyone
feels, there will be a 1995 Farm
Bill developed this year. Already
hearings arc being held and input
gathered for the bill. However, the
majority of input does not reflect
> Coffee and Donuts
> Annual PTGA Business Meeting
> Tobacco Industry Representative
> Legislators and Guest Speakers
> Free Lunch
> Pesticide Credit Course (afternoon)
prices paid to farmers
It now is time for fanners to
stand up and demand a fair share
of the funds available in the mark
et place. It’s time for farmers to
stand up and say it’s time for a
farm bill to be a Farm Bill It’s
lime for the farm bill to have pric
ing formulas for farmers that
reflect the cost of production.
Many national organizations
are working on a dairy bill for
1995 that would price milk on the
cost of production, plus allow pro
ducers to produce for the real
market, plus allow producers to
produce for the export marketT
plus the bill would cover the needs
of the special nutritional prog
rams. plus the bill allows for a for
mula to cover conservation and
environmental programs. All this
can be obtained and cost the
USDA far less money than exist
ing programs and give the dairy
fanners a fair price.
Pro Ag is working with the
National Family Farm Coalition
on this bill. Other farmers will be
working through organizations
like NFU, NFO, the WIFE Orga
nization, some State Granges and
others for the same purpose. Far
mers need to support the efforts of
these organizations in order to
have a realistic 1995 Farm Bill.
A continuation of where we are
today is only a suicidal path for
the majority of farmers.
Arden Tewksbury
Meshoppen
I would like to take this oppor
tunity to write about the EP.A.
(Environmental Protection Agen
cy) review of the Triazine herbi
cides. (Bladex, Princep, and
Atrazine)
Most of the com growers in our
area as well as across the country
use some form of Triazine herbi
cide in their weed control prog
ram. We use it because it is fairly
inexpensive, it works well in all
types of tillage practices, it tank
mixes well with a number of other
herbicides, and it is relatively safe
to handle.
Should the EP.A. ban Triazines
we would also lose more than
twenty pre-tank mixes such as
Bicep and Laddok.
If you are concerned about an
EP.A. ban on the Triazines please
write to the EP.A. and let them
know why it would be a hardship
to you in your fanning operation.
The address to write to is;
Public Response and Program
Resources Branch
(OPP-30000-60)
Field Operations Division
(7506 C)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection
Agency.
401 M St. SW
Washington, D.C. 20406
Remember, if you don’t write
and these products are banned,
you have nothing to cgmplain
about.
One other thing I would like to
mention is the 1994 record com
crop. According to the latest
U.S.D.A. crop report the Ameri
can com growers produced a 10.1
World Dairy Expo
Seeks Award Nominees
MADISON.
Wis. Outstanding dairy leaders
horn both domestic and interna
tional arenas are being sought for
World Dairy Expo’s annual recog
nition awards.
“We’re encouraging people to
nominate someone who has
demonstrated exceptional leader
ship in the dairy world,” said Tom
McKittrick, World Expo general
manager.
“Recognizing these individuals
during World Dairy Expo certainly
adds to the excitement of Expo and
demonstrates some of the leader
ship excellence which is present in
the dairy industry.”
Nominations are to be accepted
through April 1 for four awards.
The awards are for industry person
of the year, dairy woman of the
year, dairyman of the year, and
international person of the year.
The industry person of the year
award is presented to an ihdividual
in recognition for excellence in
research, development, education,
marketing, manufacturing, or
other fields which are part of an
industry or institution that pro
vides goods or services to the dairy
industry.
ADC Is the Place To Be
Member education and youth programs - the outstanding
benefits that George and Theresa Inhof refer to - are among the
strengths of the premier dairy cooperative in the region.
Atlantic Dairy Cooperative has a 78-year history of excellent
service to its members. Financially strong, ADC guarantees a market
for all member milk and excels in maximizing returns. ADC is a
leader in providing equity payments, quality bonuses and over-order
premiums to members.
Nearly 4,000 dairy farmers agree that "ADC is the Place to Be."
For free information on how you can secure the future of your
dairy farm operation, write or call:'
'Atlantic Dairy Cooperative •
1225 Industrial Highway In
Southampton, PA 18966 I.IWWVJ
1-800-645-MILK
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 4, 1995-A37
billion bushel com crop with an
average yield of 138 bushel per
acre. This is a remarkable feat
when you consider that it has only
been 40 odd yrs. since the national
average yield was only 38 bushels
per acre.
Unfortunately, record crops
come with lower prices. That’s the
bad news. However, there is some
good news in the U.S.D.A. report.
This is the com usage figures.
Exports are projected to be 1.95
billion bushels, feed use is pro
jected at S.6S billion, and crush at
1.7 billion for a total of 9.3 billion
bushels. This equals the size of the
second largest crop in U.S. his
tory. With a 7.5 percent set aside
in 1995 we will need to produce
another 138 bushel per acre crop
just to meet demand.
When you look at these figures
it is hard not to be a little optimis
tic. Let’s hope 1995 is one of
those rare yrs. which bring both
good yields and good prices.
The dairyman and dairy woman
of the year awards are for those
people who arc active dairy pro
ducers and whose primary source
of income comes ftom their dairy
enterprise. The farming operation
needs to demonstrate and excel in
efficient production and breeding
of quality animals. Progressive
management practices and a his
tory of achievement will also need
to be evident. Involvement in com
munity, government activities,
marketing organizations, and other
aspects of the dairy industry are
also considered.
The international person of the
year award is for those whose con
tribution to improved international
relations and/or development of
the dairy industry internationally.
Selected awardees are to be hon
ored during the 29th World Dairy
Expo, set for Oct. 4-8, in Madison,
Wis.
Official applications are avail
able through the World Dairy
Expo office at (608) 251-3976.
The expo is the largest commer
cial dairy agri-businesses trade
show and dairy cattle exhibition of
its kind. This past year, 66,000
guests attended, including 3,200
visitors from 70 other countries.
“Atlantic Dairy Cooperative's youth
programs provided us with a
beneficial learning experience. We
learned more about co-ops,
developed our leadership skills and
made new friends. ”
Curt Rakestraw
MontoursviUe
—George Inhof
and sister, Theresa
Spring City, PA