A42-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 20, 1999 Center For Rural Pa. (Continued from Page A2B) The point being that the con sumer doesn’t know the conditions under which those birds were pro duced, but the connotations of the word “Amish” means something to the New York consumer, and that is why that specialty line is able to command a higher price. According to Wenger, the bot tom line is that each in agriculture has a responsibility to become aware of what is demanded by the market, the costs of production, etc., and then decide to make changes to fulfill that demand, or decide to not get involved. State Grange William Steel, master of the the Pennsylvania State Grange, testi fied next. The Grange is largely an organi zation that represents rural intei ests, much of which is dependent and represented by those involved in agricultural production and processing. According to Steel, the Pennsyl vania State Grange has 30,000 rur al members and about half of them live on small single or multiple family run farms. He also informed the Center representatives Rep. Miller and Center secretary Joe Dudick that he was represent ing the policy of the Grange mem bers, who annually decide policy generated from policies submitted from local Grange members for consideration by the state organization. Because of the importance of agriculture to rural communities it serves as the economic engine for many the Grange position is that protections are needed for rural agriculture. “There is no question as 'to Teaale shredders VERSATILE • Chop and feed the wettest silage bales. • Chop dry hay, straw, and corn stalks • Discharges to either, or both sides for free stall bedding • Optional hose attachment for hard to reach areas and mulching application • Models available to handle all sizes of round and big square bales MANEUVERABLE • 3 point mounted to operate in close quarters EASY TO OPERATE • Load bales with 3 point bale handler, no loader required • Simple durable construction • Operate with as little as 60 hp Serving Farmers Through Farm Equipment Dealers Since 1961 whether or not farmers are being impacted from low commodity prices. Feed grain and hog farmers in Pennsylvania are in a financial crisis. “Many of them are receiving less for their product now than they have for the last 60 years. Hog prices have plummeted. “The real questions are: ‘Why have the drops occurred?’ ‘What can we do to help the farmers through this crisis?’ and ‘What can be done to prevent this same sce nario from happening in the future?’” Steel said. Steel explained that he believed the collapse of the Asian economy, an increase in imports, especially from Canada, and the loss of export markets have compounded the damage to Pennsylvania’s rural economies. He discussed the reactions by the USDA in light of the unfore seen sharp decline in hog producer prices, such as the USDA postpon ing certain loan repayments for certain farmers; as well as using its authority for debt rescheduling and loan forgiveness to assist needy farmers; bonus buying $95 million worth of pork products; and USDA Secretary Dan Glickman meeting with retailers to encourage them to feature pork and ensure that retail prices reflect the price received by farmers. He said that what really needs to be done is to discover a means so as to prevent future unexpected surpluses of domestic product. “While we hail the efforts of Secretary Glickman, and our own (state) Secretary of Agriculture Sam Hayes, the Grange believes that we must analyze our import and export trade agreements as well as why the markets have plummeted. CUMMINGS and BRICKED, Inc. 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If consumers had been given a bigger price cut earlier, perhaps the domestic demand would have increased, thus diverting, at least in part, the current crisis of the hog industry." He said the USDA should also examine deficiency payments based on the loan rate, as compared to the pre sent market price of a commodity. “If loan rates ate too low, especially in a dought year because yields arc taken into consideration for defi ciency payments, the farmers will not be suf ficiently helped.” Steel said that more investigation and analysis needs to be done into apparent monopolization within agricultural production, supply and processing industries. (Turn to Page A 45) BALE these great options accessory package includes mounting * $250 in ACCESSORIES OR plate wmng harness and Hawse > ZERO DOWN. ZERO PAYMENTS fairiead Hurry' This otter ends ? /V" ZERO INTEREST. May 31 1999 For 90 days at participating dealers ‘' POLARIS RIDE THE BEST J & H Cycle Accessories, Inc. 717-653-5672 1090 W. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers