IS THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN The devastation left in the wake of a massive swath of ice can be total or partial... but it's always expensive, and all the good farming practices in the world won't keep it from happening to you. This coverage protects: • Your Capital • Your Lender's Capital • Your Family Income Acre by Acre Quality Protection on your • Tobacco • Cranberries • Apples • Peaches Call for complete list of crops For more information on Crop Hail Insurance: Contact a Crop Growers key partner today Chapman Lampson Inc. ALL STATES Call 1-800-234-7012 or Fax 315-682-1095 Momssey Agency PENNSYLVANIA Call Kelly Momssey 717-336-3894 or Fax 717-336-3729 Augustine Agency NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY Call Todd McNutt 914-338-6694 or Fax 914-338-0132 CROP GROWERS INSURANCE A Fireman’s Fund Company • Blueberries • Tomatoes c* Agriculture Groups Call For Action ST. LOUIS, Mo. The American Soybean Association and 11 other agricultural organiza tions sent a letter to House and Senate leaders calling for Congress to take specific actions to boost agricultural exports and support farm income. The letter cited the need to follow through on Congressional assurances made at the time the Federal Agriculture Improve-ment and Reform (FAIR) Act was enacted in 1996. Under FAIR, farmers agreed to accept reductions in income support payments based on government pledges to provide “safety net” policies to improve global competitiveness, enhance risk management, and expand agricultural research. “In our view, it is essential for the adminis tration and the Congress to recommit their sup port for basic programs that will ensure the via bility and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture over the short and long terms,” stated the letter signed by the American Soybean Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council of America, National Grain Sorghum Producers Association, National Grange, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Pork Producers Council and National Sunflower Association. Specific areas of concern identified in the let ter include deterioration in support of U.S. agri cultural trade policy, reduced government sup port for export assistance and promotion pro grams, and delay in providing adequate funding for the federal crop insurance program The let ter also cited the inability of Congress and the administration to agree on agricultural spending priorities, including national agricultural research initiatives. The groups urged the following actions to address these concerns: 1. Fast Track negotiating authority must be Sandy Lake Man Appointed To Board To Bolster Farm Safety Net Lancaster Fanning. Saturday, May 23, 1998-Al9 actively sought by the administration and approved by Congress; 2. Legislation to provide $lB billion to replen ish the International Monetary Fund should be immediately passed by the Congress; 3. The administration and Congress should modify U.S. sanctions policy to allow greater flexibility for food exports to restricted countries, including Iran and Cuba; 4. The administration should commit to seek agreement to end unfair trade practices in the next round of multilateral trade negotiations. 5. Congress should appropriate $35 million for the Foreign Market Development program to allow continued operation at the current level; 6. Congress should restore funding 'o allow the Market Access Program to operate at ds cur rent level of $9O million; 7. The administration should immediately expand the Supplier Credit Guarantee Program under GSM-102 and -103, and increase the amount of risk covered under the program to 85 percent from the current level of 50 percent. The GSM-5 Direct Credit Sales Program should be reactivated; 8. Budget baselines equal to annual outlays permitted by the WTO should be provided for the Export Enhancement Program. EEP should be used to combat unfair trade practices, or unused funds should be shifted to other WTO-legal export programs. 9. Congress should immediately pass the Conference Report on the Research Title of the FAIR Act (S. 1150) providing $470 million for delivery of federal crop insurance and $6OO mil lion for national agricultural research objectives; 10. Income averaging for farmers and ranch ers and full deductibility of health insurance pre miums should be made permanent in the next tax bill; 11. Farm and Ranch Risk Management (FARRM) accounts should be authorized in the next tax bill BOZEMAN, Mont H. Rob ert “Bob” McQuiston, Sandy Lake, has been appointed to the 16-member board of trustees of the American Simmental Associa tion (ASA). McQuiston owns and operates Haven Woods Farms, an opera tion of 200 Simmental brood cows on 800 acres. He’s also president of Flexospan Steel Buildings, Inc., president of McQuiston and Com pany, and secretary-treasurer of Clark Development Corporation. Five other new trustees, includ ing Bob Finch, Ames, Iowa; Jerry Ayers, Snyder, Okla.; Tom Nel son, Wibaux, Mont.; Lora Rose, Colville, Wash.; and Verlouis For ster, Smithficld, Neb. were also installed at that meeting.
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