SENECA FALLS. N.Y.
1998 was a period of continuing
growth for United Ag Services,
according to Robert Nichols,
United Ag president, during a re
cent annual meeting in Seneca
Falls, N.Y.
United Ag Services is a federa
tion of dairy cooperatives that pro
vides management, marketing, ac
counting, administrative report
ing, and employee and producer
payroll to the member coopera
tives.
The federation also makes these
services available to other small to
medium size businesses both agri
cultural and non-agricultural.
United also provides these ser
vices to individual farmers to help
them better manage their busi
nesses. Member cooperatives are
located in New Yoik and Pennsyl-
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United Ag Services Leaders Discuss Business
vama.
Nichols reported that although
growth in memberships and mem
ber milk volumes did not quite
meet goals, the management and
accounting services to other busi
nesses improved. In spite of the
current downward trend in the
dairy industry, the programs avail
able to members have helped them
stay competitive, he said.
Nichols, of Addison, N.Y., is
also president of Addison Milk
Producers Cooperative, an affili
ate of United Ag Services. He and
his family maintain a herd of 80
cows and youngstock and also
produce maple syrup. The family
farm was started by his father se
veral years ago. His father was a
former president of Addison Co
op, but has since retired.
James Patsos, CEO of United,
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30x4-1 (3 left) 50 x 100 (2 left)
40*1-2 i-t left) 55 x 150 (? left)
l -4 11 tOI Ottu-I SIXC I^
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r* J *
discussed current economic con
ditions. With a strong national
economy predicted to continue
with moderate growth this coming
year, the market for dairy products
should remain strong, he said,
adding that the price enjoyed by
dairy farmers the past few months
will see significant downturns in
the coming months.
Overall he said dairy farmers
should see prices below 1998, but
not at the disastrous level of 1997.
Therefore, he said, it becomes in
creasingly important that dairy
farmers enlist die aid of their Con
gressmen to get the necessary
legislation passed which will al
low New York and Pennsylvania
to join the Northeast Dairy Com
pact
The Compact will act as a safe-
ag-c
EQUIPMENT
ty net for dairy farmers while not
appreciably increasing the retail
price of milk for the consumer, he
said.
Patsos also stated that United
was acquiring new, faster comput
ers to assist them in their contin
ued effort to better serve their
members and customers. United is
Y2K ready, he said.
He also announced a new initia
tive to help reduce members
operating costs through the ser
vice’s Dairylmpact program.
Oairylmpact is designed to reduce
the cost of input, both in feeds and
supplies, through a group buying
effort. Volume buying allows for
discounted prices.
Guest speaker Peter Fredricks,
agriculture economist for the
Federal Milk Market Administra-
EQUIPMENT CO.
■vs 1 ->
tT
\r
FRANK RYMON & TEST DRIVE
JKS. ORBTODATI
Lancaster Farming, Saturday. April 10, 1999-A2l
tor, discussed pricing mechanisms
under the present Federal Order 2
system. He also gave insight into
the new pricing system being de
veloped by the USDA and Secre
tary Glickman.
The proposed rules are to be im
plemented by Oct. 1. There is to
be a review by Congress and, if
approved, producer referendum
during this period. Producers,
through their cooperative or indi
vidually, are to vote on the pro
posed changes. A negative vote
would result in the discontinuance
of the federal orders.
Following the annual meeting,
the board of directors re-elected
Nichols as president; Douglas Ste
wart, Rome, Pa., vice president;
and Leslie Gilbert, Pitcher, N.Y.,
secrctary/trcasurer.
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Bechfefcvffle.PA 19505
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. 307 Edgar Am
: Btoomsburg, PA 17815
(717)784-5217