A24-L(tocaster Farming, Saturday, November 21, 1998 Tobacco Marketing Cooperative Asks Farmers To Join Now (Continued from Page A 1) Association will attempt to attract the southern tobacco buyers for Type 609 cigarette tobacco to the county by holding auctions, hope fully beginning after the start of the new year. Jane Balmcr, a Mt. Joy tobacco farmer who is voluntarily spear heading the effort, said they want to have as many of the 1,100 tobac co farmers as members as possible. Those who support the effort need to get their membership returned before December 1, so that the committee can know how many farmers wish to be part of the effort and how many of the 20 million pounds of tobacco grown each year they will have for sale. “The committee will decide shortly after December 1 if we have enough cooperation to move forward with the effort," Balmer said. “How many of the farms or what part of the total poundage we need to be effective is the tough question. We arc hoping for 70 per cent but may be able to make it work with 60 percent But if far mers want to see some effort put forth, they need to get their mem bership to us now. “The question is raised, “What if it doesn’t work?” Balmer said. “But I tell farmers we have nothing to lose. We have no market now, and if we can’t get it to work, we will return a good part of the $5O membership fee back to the fanner. We will need to hire a lawyer to make sure the cooperative is legal in Pennsylvania, but I work cheep, for nothing. So what do you have to lose? Maybe $lO or $l5. And we wouldn’t be in any different situa tion than we are now. But suppose it does work? United we stand, divided we keep on rolling down hill." In talking to buyers, local far mers have some favorable verbal indications these buyers think the cooperative marketing effort is a good move. But because of the ongoing litigation against the tobacco companies, they have been advised by their lawyers to not dis cuss marketing to anyone. Not only does the loss of the tobacco market put hardship on individual farmers, the supporting agri-businesses feel the lost revenue as well, tbbacco money pays off production loans, farm mortages, and equipment and ser vice purchases. About 25 percent of the county’s tobacco is Type 41, used in cigars and chewing tobacco. Lancaster Leaf, a local company, usually buys the bulkof this crop so there is less pressure to find buyers. The committee hasn’t decided if Type 41 will also be marketed through a cooperative. Balmer tells the far mers to list seperatcly the number of pounds of each type they have for sale. If a majority of the county’s tobacco fanners support the effort, committee members expect the cooperative to be up and running in a few weeks. Members will elect a nine-member board of directors. If there is not enough support, the cooperative will dissolve and those who paid a membership fee will receive a partial refund. An agreement form is printed with this stoiy. Balmcr said far mers who wish to suppon the effort may cut the form from the news paper, fill out the necessary infor mation, and mail it with their $5O fee to the Lancaster County agent’s office. The address is: Penn State Cooperative Extension, % Robert Anderson, extension agronomy agent, 1381 Arcadia Road, Lancas ter, PA 17601. For more informa tion you may call Anderson at (717) 394-6851. Additional meetings were sche duled for Thursday night at the Terre Hill Community Building and the Kirkwood Auction Bam. The meeting held Thursday night at the Terre Hill Community Building attracted 110 fanners. Balmer was pleased with the num ber who came. An additional meet ing in the series was scheduled for Friday night at the Kirkwood Auc tion Bam after our press deadline. , a producer of agricultural products, hereinafter referred to as "Producer " 2?”“! agncreofagreemcnu similar hereto, propose to organize a cooperative association under ibe laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the purpose of marketing tobacco. &=aM«^.Qr The Association shall be organized with suitable articles of incorporation and bylaws as determined by an organizational committee consisting of the following persons: Name 1. Jancßalmer 2. Vernon Balmrr 3. Daniel S Dicnncr, Jr. 4. Victor Dohncr X ”?* y VOtC 0f a of its ®“*c* increase its membership, fill any vacancy therein, ana appoint any subcommittees deemed necessary to conduct its affairs. The committee may incur neccssarv ?L^!!f^!!!i ei,ecc^“^l^a, * ukcan^^ advisable to Anther flic organization of the association 2]!!!!!!!!?™. Pro<^, S TOto^»l^=toeapwmmtW < »iniiiaaUlhetype6o^'r Y r* tobacco produced by Ptodacer. on land owned orleased by Prcdacer, to the association for q, processing, or other disposition as the association sees fit. Producer estimates aich production will total (pounds) in 1998 JL ASS ° dM “ m - ““tbotoostptovidc A*<i«onv,ith 7*™* romrmtinrnt Producer agrees to pay a membership fee of $ 50.00, payable when this * CCCP u Ud by AssocUtion °° cs a ibis membership agreement and the attoaatKm is activated, member must pay association commissions even though he may sell to an off-farm Mtrtinc K 0r brfolC Dcccmbcr the organization comnuttee is of S ? acnt ** I be “ to the Association to oper2ed^7.T f** 11 *** * ttmc P l 3" for * m c«ing of those persons who have signed this agreement to . by majority vote, whether to proceed with the formation and operation of die and to consider such othtt-business as may be deemed appropriate awodauoa. tCT tbtys before the meeting, notice of the time and place of the meeting shall be sent to all signers be published in one or more topers of in the area in which those who signed agreements like this one reside. general circulation S pic o«EMii2alioo ronuniuee shall kcqi detailed, accurate acoonnls of all lucrioig board of diiiy, f f . 1 s * u^ iavc such accounts audited and render a written report thereof to the And it shall thereupon turn over tofoeassociatioii any Association is no, organized, such tmcxpc«Wb2L A«ociatiOTL* ted amonB, ** rttUmCd t0 * tho “ Wbo contribu,cd to * c oißamzatioii fond. This is a non-profit Date Producer's Name ■umber Producer's Siputure Date Paid: Cooperative Extension Offers Two Agronomy Workshops DAUPHIN (Dauphin Co.) Penn State Cooperative Extension in Dauphin County is offering two agronomy work shops on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Elizabethville Public Library. The morning workshop is “Crop Rotations That Make Sense (and Money) on Dairy Farms.” This workshop explores the application and benefits of different crop rotations on Pennsylvania dairy farms. A video will be shown that features five Pennsylvania pro ducers sharing their experiences with crop rotations on their farms. The producers will dis cuss short a corn and alfalfa rotation; incorporation of soy beans and rye, or barley, into a 3. David S. Esh 6. Henry S. Esh 7 Benual Fisher 8. Darnel S. King 199* J Paid By; Cash _ Check; Received By; com/alfalfa rotation; three-year alfalfa and two-year corn rota tions; and short growing season rotations. The afternoon workshop is “Using the Agronomy Guide to Make Crop Management Decisions.” Over the years the Penn State Agronomy Guide has become the standard reference for crop production in Pennsylvania. The workshop will provide an overview of the Guide and how to use it to make crop management decisions regarding weed control, fertiliz er recommendations, nutrient management, variety selections,- and budgets. Those registering for this workshop should bring a recent edition of the Agronomy Guide to the workshop. Assqi Name 9. Aaron Lantz 10. Lawrence Martin 11. David Riehl, Jr. 12 Daniel B.Zook Address Social security number or Tax LD. Number. For Association Signature Participants can purchase the new 1999-2000 Penn State Agronomy Guide at the Dauphin County Extension office. Participants can attend one or both workshops. Cost is $5 for each workshop. Lunch is on your own. Registration forms are available by contacting the Dauphin County Cooperative Extension office (717) 921-8803 during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 4. got milk?
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