Maryland Holstein Convention Held (Continued from Pago A2O) The ladies program included a visit to the Maryland home and Garden Show, held at the exhibition hall at the fair grounds. After touring the show the ladies had how-to-seminars and lunched at the exhibition hall. The juniors held their meet ing on the light rail train on their way to Camden Yards. In the afternoon they toured the Baltimore Aquarium, and returned on the train. (See Award Winner Placings Next Week) Dairy Co-ops Want Compact Legislation EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.) —"The old status quo of dairy fanning is out die door,” says Gor don Hoover, Lancaster County daily producer. “Dairy compacts are another tool that fanners can use in these changing times for pricing their milk." Hoover, a director of Land O’Lakes, was one of several dairy cooperative leaders and staff rep resentatives who met last Friday with Senator Noah Wenger, acting chairman of the state Sen ate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, to discuss the issue of dairy compacts. Joining for ces in the drive for compact legislation to be ad dressed in Pennsylvania are Dairylea, Dairy Farmers of America, Land O’Lakes and Mary land and Virginia Milk Producers. On Match 10, Senator Wenger’s office an nounced an informational bearing on dairy com pacts to be held April 3 in Williamsport for in dustry and public input on the legislative issue. The hearing is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Professional Development Center of the Pennsylvania College of Tech nology, with time allowed in the agenda for pro ducer comments. Dairy cooperatives are taking a lead role in pushing for compact legislation to be addressed in Pennsylvania. Though Senate Bill 170 went to the Senate Ag Committee in January 1997, a House Bill. HB 2302, was introduced and refer red to the House Ag Committee on March 11, co rponsored by 40 of the state’s legislators. Push for the compact legislation comes on the heels of higher Class I milk prices being paid to dairy producers involved in the New England Dairy Compact That compact, birthed under the auspices of the 1996 Farm Bill and upheld through court challenges since taking effect last rummer, has established a $16.94 hundred weight price on all Class I milk sold in the com pact area. As the federal order Class I price fluc tuates with seasonal formula price swings, the Compact collects the additional monies above the federal order level and returns it to dairy pro ducers within the pricing area. Under the statutes of the compact structure. Rates contiguous to a compact state can join in die umbrella of regional compact pricing. How ever, to do so. a joining state must have identical thiry compact legislation passed in its state (oveming body. New Jersey has passed compact legislation. It has passed in New York’s Senate and is under debate on the Assembly side. Dairy cooperative leaden eye having Pennsylvania legislation passed and in place if New York’s is successful. With the compact’s current pricing structure set to run only to April 1999, when Federal Order (Turn to Pago A 22) Progressive genetics herd award winners, from left, Cam Davis, Unicom Associates; Donna myers, Windsor Manner; Harold Smith, My Lady’s Manor; Marlin Hoff, Coldspiings; and Mike Allen, Glen-Toctin. When you need an operating loan, we’ll be there... generation after generation. Before you got an operating loan, talk to Fatal Credit. As a cooperative owned by the people who use us, we have served die needs of rural Americans for generations. In fact, for over 75 years we have been a dependable source of credit to agriculture. We make operating loans at competitive interest rates for purchasing feed and fertilizer tp living expenses. Our loan officers am knowledgeable and can help tailor a financial package to tit your situation. So, whether you are a commercial operator, a part-time farmer or simply like living in the country, we want tp do business with you. And we’ll be there for future senerations. A Fam Credit A Customer Owned Business "Visit us on the web at: www.agflrst.com ’’ Progressive breeders registry award winners, from left, Mike Allen, Glen-Toctln; Shannon Harrison, Dun-Loafln; Clndee Savage, Savage-Lelgh; Oren Bender, Cove-Run; and John Morris, presenting awards. A V% . 7 Southeastern PA Keystone Farm Credit (800)477-9947 Western PA Penn West Farm Credit (800)998-5557 Lancastartaming: Saturday, March 21,1998-A2l Northern PA 'Northeastern Farm Credit (800) 326-9507 South Central PA York Farm Credit (800) 503-8957 S3S