CAMP HILL (Dauphin Co.)
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is call
ing foe a strong show of support
from Hairy farmers for legislation
to enable Pennsylvania to join the
Northeast Interstate Dairy Com
J.W. Welch, president of Pro
gressive Dairymen’s Cooperative,
enthusiastically reported to the
members on the progress of the
cooperative. The occasion was the
co-op’s annual meeting on Satur
day. February 21, at the Edge
wood Restaurant in Troy. The
well attended meeting of the co
op’s members and families was
upbeat. Welch, in his report to the
membership, cited the continual
growth in membership, increased
milk volume shipped, and in
creased premium payments.
Welch emphasized that Pro
gressive Dairymen’s Co-op is the
co-op of family farms. Producer
size is secondary to producer qual
ity and all farmers should have the
privilege of being dairy farmers
without respect to their cow num
bers. “We want to serve the family
farm.” be sated.
Welch’s enthusiasm was infec
tious as he reported to the filled
room.
James Patsos, CEO of United
Ag Services, was asked to address
the members. He started by pre
senting quality awards to the lop
quality producers for 1997, com
menting on how close the placing
was. Each recipient received a cer
tificate and a check. First place
went to Paul Allen of Granville
Summit, second to John and Bon
nie Kendrick, Mainesburg. A
four-way tie for third was held by
Roger Alexander, Mansfield; Ro-
Sa Acres (The Ron David Fami
ly), Warren Center, Steven and
Theresa Coleman, Towanda; and
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pact PFB is urging dairymen to
attinH a hearing taking place in
Williamsport on Friday, April 3
on S.B. 170. The state Senate
Agricultural and Rural Affairs
Committee will conduct the hear-
Progress In Progressive
Dairymen’s Co-op
Fred Toothaker and Carol Myfelt,
Ulster.
Patsos, in his discussion, stated
that there has not been a time
when there was so much excite
ment or so many challenges in the
dairy industry. Co-op mergers,
new co-ops being formed to sup
ply niche markets, dairy plants
changing hands, federal order re
forms, and Class I differentials ate
just a few of these challenges. He
also explained the value of the
Northeast Dairy Compact and
how important it is for the New
York State Legislature to approve
joining the Compact Since Com
pact legislation requires the states
to be contiguous. New York must
join before Pennsylvania is able to
join.
Patsos then spoke of the value
J.W. Welch has been to Progres
sive and to United Ag Services,
serving as their president also. His
knowledge, concern for his fellow
dairy farmers, and leadership
qualities have been invaluable.
Patsos also commented on Pro
gressive’s growth this year and
suggested that the members dis
cuss with their neighbors the ad
vantages of belonging to their co
op. Members can receive an in
centive bonus for signing up new
members or making referrals that
result in new members.
Bonnie Keil, Commercial Loan
Officer of Northeastern Farm Cre
dit was the guest speaker. She
spoke about the growth in various
segments of the dairy industry.
She feels confident that conditions
are improving and that there is a
Please Call Today.
"Thanks for
your business.
Route 22; Salem, NY
Dairymen Urged To Attend
Northeast Dairy Compact Hearing
ing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the
Penn College of Technology.
“Farm Bureau strongly sup
ports the Northeast Compact
legislation and will testify on its
behalf,” said PFB president Guy
good future in dairy farming.
Jeffrey Ammeiman of Athens
was elected to the Board of Direc
tors. Don Hamilton of Millerton,
Doug Stewart from Rome, Steve
Coleman of Towanda, and Bruce
Berguson from Mansfield, were
re-elected directors.
In closing, J.W. Welch thanked
the members and the Board of
Directors for their support the past
three years. He has enjoyed his
work with his fellow dairy farmers
and hopes to be able to continue to
work on their behalf. Welch is un
able to continue as president of
Progressive Dairymen’s Coopera
tive since be recently sold his
dairy.
At the Board of Directors meet
ing immediately following the an
nual meeting Douglas Stewart was
elected president, Don Hamilton,
vice president, and J.W. Welch,
sccretary/treasurer.
United Ag Services is a federa
tion of cooperatives that provides
marketing, quality control, ac
counting, producer payroll and
employee payroll services to small
and medium size agricultural or
ganizations and individual farm
ers. United is located at 12 North
Park Street, Seneca Falls, NY
13148. They can be reached at 1
(800) 326-4251 or (315) 568-
2750.
Ideal Leaf Tobacco Company
If you plan to process your tobacco, call
Ideal Leaf Tobacco Company.
THERE WILL BE NO COST TO THE
FARMER UP FRONT.
If your tobacco was stripped in high moisture,
you will not be able to keep it from going
through a sweat. This will destroy the quality of
your tobacco.
All tobacco that is sold in Maryland will be
marked Out-Of-State-Tobacco.
I don’t know what it will sell for if it will be
sold at any price. All tobacco for processing
will be loaded in two weeks and shipped to a
processing company.
Donaldson. “Other organizations
will also be weighing in on the is
sue. But legislators need to see
how important the Compact is by
having dairy farmers from every
comer of the state in attendance at
the heating. A big show of support
from dairymen can back up our
words to the committee.”
The Northeast Interstate Dairy
Compact has been in operation in
six New England states Con
necticut, Rhode Island, Massachu
setts, Maine, New Hampshire and
Vermont since last July. A
26-membcr Northeast Dairy Com
pact Commission, which includes
producers, consumers, processors,
supermarket representatives and
government officials, sets a price
for Class I milk produced and sold
in the Compact slates.
The price, which stays in effect
for six months, was set at $16.94
per cwt “Not only does the North
east Compact guarantee price sta
bility to producers,” said Donald
son. “But at its current level, the
average Pennsylvania dairyman
would be receiving an additional
70 cents lo 80 cents per hundred
weight on milk sold for drinking.
And, in today’s marketing condi
tions, the Compact would not re
sult in higher milk prices for con
sumers.” In addition to a more
stable price, the Compact would
price all milk sold in the compact
region. The Pennsylvania Milk
Marketing Board would still be re
sponsible for enforcing minimum
wholesale, retail and farm milk
prices.
The Northeast Interstate Dairy
Compact can be expanded to cov
er contiguous slates. That means,
in order for Pennsylvania to be
able to join. New York must first
become part of the Compact.
Contact Joe Irving for processing.
717-529-6416
or Mitch White
717-687-0990
“Legislation has already passed
that stale’s Senate and is sup
ported by the governor” Donald
son said.
Upon passage of S 3. 170 in
Pennsylvania, Congress must ap
prove Pennsylvania’s inclusion in
the Compact “We’ve already
talked to our congressmen about
Pennsylvania joining the Compact
during a recent visit to Washing
ton by about 200 of our state farm
bureau leaders,” said Donaldson.
“But our immediate priority is to
get a bill passed by the General
Assembly.
“We must act quickly and we
need fanners to show their support
by attending the hearing in Wil
liamsport If dairymen are serious
about wanting the Northeast Dairy
Compact the upcoming Hearing
on S.B. 170 in Williamsport is the
place to show it”
The hearing will be held at the
Professional Development Center
of the Pennsylvania College of
Technology in Williamsport.
Directions to the site are:
From Route IS follow to
Williamsport and take the May
nard Street exit
From Interstate 80 East exit
ca Interstate 180/Rt 220 at Exit
318, or take Exit 26 on Rt 220, if
traveling from the west Follow to
Williamsport and the Maynard
Street exit
All traffic from Maynard
Street Exit, should travel north on
Maynard Street At the second
traffic light, turn left onto West
Third Street, and travel almost two
blocks, just past Park Street The
campus buildings appear on both
sides of West Third Street The
Professional Development Center
is located on the left, between Park
Street and College Avenue.