Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Hold District Meeting LOU ANN GOOD the cooperative during the past Lancaster Farming Staff year. WAKEFIELD (Lancaster Co.) ‘The most important people are you the producers,” said Russell Wachter, president of the Mary land and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Inc. Wachter said that just as his name means watchman, it has been his ambition to look out for the pro ducers’ interests in the coopera tive. During the district meeting held in Wakefield on Tuesday, Wachter elaborated on the efforts to always keep members’ interests in the forefront With milk prices up, Wachter said the cooperative decided to pass along the 74 cents in over order premiums now instead of waiting to include the bonus in the 13th check distributed in February. Although over-order premium checks were distributed early, members can expect the 13th check in February to be substantial from special allocations. In his presentation, “The Year At a Glance,” George Walgrove, secretary and general manager, reviewed the events that affected Mahoning Outdoor Furnaces Cut Your Heating Costs With Our Outdoor Furnace Standard Model Bums Wood, Coal or Wood by-products Multi-Fuel Model Bums Wood, Coal, Oil or Gas Corning Catalytic Combustor Option Available on all Models Adapts to any existing heat system Installation & Accessories Available Estate Planning for Farm Families • Wills, trusts and tax planning • Charitable giving Business Planning for Farm Families • Farm partnerships and corporations • Succession Planning/Farm Transfers Real Estate • Tax-free exchanges of real estate • Real estate settlements • Public sales Estate Settlements • Prompt settlement (most completed in 3 months) • Tax planning during settlement 54 Queen Road, P.O. Box 497 Intercourse, RA 17534 (717)768-7100 Offices also in: New Holland Willow Street Despite last year’s dour forecast by economists, milk prices have set new records with $15.37 in Sep tember and are expected to exceed $lB in November. Walgrove explained how the events on the West Coast resulted in a domino effect to raise the basic formula price determined by cheese in Wisconsin. The events included a succession of heat waves in some major areas in the country, which resulted in higher grain prices and less quality. Sev eral producers sold out, which resulted in less milk production in states such as Minnesota, Wiscon sin, lowa, and Montana. Also, the cooperative sent more milk into the Southeast than ever before in its history. Although the market has sof tened in the last two weeks and cheese prices are expected to drop, Walgrove said that he expects higher milk prices will be main- (Turn to Page A 22) 4 v „ ♦ Working to make the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, Inc. a suc cess, from left, are George Walgrove, secretary and general manager; R. Steven Gray beal, director; Russell Watchter, president; W. Thomas Moore, field representative, and Alan Grove, field representative. When you need a loan for a truck, we’ll be there... generation after generation. Before you get a standard truck loan, talk to Farm Credit. As a cooperative owned by the people who use us, Farm Credit has served the needs of rural Americans for generations. In fact, for over 75 years we have been a dependable source of credit to agriculture. We make loans at competitive interest rates for all kinds of purposes, like an equipment loan for that pickup or tractor. Our loan officers are knowledgeable and can help tailor a financial package to fit your situation. So, whether you are a commercial operator, a part-time farmer or simply like living in the country. we want to do business with you. And we’U he there for future generations. Farm Credit 4 Customer Owned Business 11 •vV /' Southeastern PA Keystone Farm Credit (800) 477-9947 Western PA Penn West Farm Credit (800)998-5557 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 19, 1996-Al9 Northern PA Northeastern Farm Credit (800) 326-9507 South Central PA York Farm Credit (800) 503-8957