0 It "II A24-Lancaster farming! Saturday, March 25,' 1995 State Grange Meets With Federal Legislators HARRISBURG (Daupin Co.) —Nearly 100 Pennsylvania State Grangers visited their feder al legislators during the annual Washington Legislative Tour to discuss pertinent issues concern ing agriculture and rural affairs. Among the issues discussed during the March 21-22 visit with U.S. Congressman and Senators are the cuts being made to agricul tural programs, rural health care reforms, wetlands legislation and food safety proposals. Brenda Shambaugh, PA State Grange legislative director, said the Washington tour presents an opportunity for the Grange to voice its position on issues that have been developed through the Grange’s grass-root policies. A summary of the issues and Grange policy follows: Government programs that sup port agricultural prices and far mers’ incomes are facing their most serious attack since the early days of the Agricultural Adjust ment Act, which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in 1936. Congress is proposing to reduce target prices by 3 percent a year. This proposal would reduce gov ernment spending in support of agriculture in two simple, but drastic, steps. It would reduce spending by almost $l5 billion over the next five years. And, it would scuttle export subsidies, which would save $3.4 billion, and cap off $11.5 billion by phasing-down crop subsidies. The Grange, according to Shambaugh, realizes that farm programs are in for an overhaul due to the decreasing number of farmers and, therefore, supports an initiative that would pare down present programs. ‘The Grange, like most farm and commodity organizations, favors a shaved-down version of present programs,” Shambaugh said. “Reduction in payment acres, reduced or no set-asides. DON'T THROW AWAY UP TO 45% OF YOUR HAY. Losses occur when crops are stored-regardless of the storage method. Those losses are real -colorless, odorless and invisible— you can’t see them, but they’re there The air trapped within stored feed begins the fermentation process -and fermentation continues until all the air is consumed. The less air within the stored feed, the less loss. Because bunker silos are not easily packed, losses in bunker silos range from 27% to 45%. If the feed is valued at $3O per ton, every 1000 tons stored in a bunker would suffer losses from $B,lOO to $1 3,500. Tower silo losses range from 3% to 8%, or $9OO to $2400 for every 1000 tons. Those losses occur for every 1000 tons-every time feed is stored, year after year. Before investing in any storage method, consider the total cosfs--including fermentation loss. Compare the various methods of feed storage. Contact the Crop Storage Institute for your free copy of" Methods of Crop Storage" and “Know the Facts." Crop Storage Institute 219N.4thSt. P.0.80x560 Lafayette, Indiana 46902*0560 more flexibility in crop bases and a loan rate that is tied to the aver age world prices are methods the Grange supports to reach that goal.” The Grange’s interest in health care reform dates back decades. At the national level, the Grange has sponsored a multi-year, politi cal, educational and action prog ram called “Health Care in America.” The PA State Grange supports: reform of the insurance market; providing 100 percent deductibili ty for the self-employed; making coverage for children more afford able; helping workers who lose their jobs to keep coverage; and making a wide range of home and community-based options accessi ble and affordable for families that are caring for a sick parent or dis abled child. The Grange opposes employer mandates, government interven tion except to revise current laws and regulations and raising taxes to pay for health care reforms. “The Grange is continuing its fight to bring about health care reform,” Shambaugh said. “The Targeted Individual Health Insur ance Reform Act focuses on indi vidual health insurance reforms and portability, non discrimination, renewability and fair rating standards. It also limits an insurance company’s ability to use pre-existing conditions to deny coverage.’' The Grange, along with a coali tion of 13 other national farm groups, are addressing their con cerns regarding a Memorandum of Agreement that put the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service, as the lead federal agency for delineating wetlands on agricultural land as part of the" Clean Water Act (CWA). “Unfortunately, the MOA is not meeting its stated goals and should be modified immediately” the Grange wrote in a letter to President Bill Clinton. “The problem the Grange has with the MOA is that although its purpose was to put the NRCS in charge of wetlands delineation or agricultural land, the actual lan guage of the agreement allows the Environmental Protection Agency to preempt such authority,” Sham baugh said. “Technical changes need to be made to the MOA to truly place the NRCS in charge of agricultural land delineations and provide a consistent determination for farmers and ranchers from all federal agencies.” The Grange is seeking a mora torium on the MOA and delinea tions of agricultural wetlands until passage of the 1995 Farm Bill and is supporting legislation intro duced by Bud Shuster, R-PA, that creates an adminstrative appeals FEEDER WAGON WITH HEADLOCKS Featuring 24 Zimmerman adjustable headlocks for animals 10 months and older. Coated with Baked On Top Grade Polyester TGIC Powder Mounted on s’x2o’ trough with adjustable tongue FARMCO FEEDER WAGON * 15" implement wheel (6 bolt) * 2 jacks on front corners for added stability PAUL B. u 295 Woodcorner Road Moivthru Frl. LMItZ, PA 17M3-9165 7 to s 1 Mile West of Ephrata sat 7 to 11 (717)738-7365 f?m— 9?«—rasa iPnamta 9?i—